Rail Industry News
CSX, NS tout intermodal investments in South, Midwest
Eastern U.S. railroads CSX and Norfolk Southern are involved in two projects aimed at bolstering intermodal infrastructure and assets in the South and Midwest.
MBTA reallocates $500 million to safety, grants, worker retention
The Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority has reallocated $500 million in operating costs to invest in one-time projects, thanks to a steady influx of federal emergency relief funds that have given the agency flexibility.
NS: About 30 cars derail near Bluefield, W.Va.
An intermodal Norfolk Southern train derailed 30 cars near Bluefield, Connor Spielmaker, media relations manager for Norfolk Southern, said Monday.
BNSF locomotive catches fire in North Dakota
It appears a mechanical failure was the cause. No injuries were reported.
Q&A: RRB reports performance under customer service plan
The Railroad Retirement Board’s Customer Service Plan promotes the following principles of quality public service: openness, accessibility, accountability, feedback, and timeliness standards.
Get the latest labor news from the Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters updates the news section of its website each day with the latest regarding the Teamsters, domestic and global labor and trade issues, state and living wage battles, social justice, the War on Workers, and many other important...
BLET says BNSF move toward new attendance policy violates Railway Labor Act
BNSF Railway’s plans to institute a new attendance policy while a new labor agreement is under negotiation is contrary to the terms of the Railway Labor Act, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen argues in a new court filing.
KCS sees opportunities for “productivity gains when volume recoveries occur”
Although refined products volumes to Mexico have been curtailed by a government crackdown on companies seeking to avoid paying taxes, Kansas City Southern still expects growth opportunities for shipping imported refined products into Mexico in the long term, KCS executives told investors Thursday while they were on a fourth-quarter 2021 earnings call earnings call with Canadian Pacific.
U.S. DOT announces availability of $1.5 billion in RAISE Grants
The popular program helps communities around the country carry out projects with significant local or regional impact.
STB to AAR: Sorry, no extension in reciprocal switching case
The Surface Transportation Board on Jan. 28 issued a decision denying a request from the Association of American Railroads to extend the procedural schedule in Docket No. EP 711 (Sub-No. 1) et al., Reciprocal Switching; regarding the Board’s NPRM (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking) on reciprocal switching regulations.
Union Pacific addresses ongoing safety issue of stopped trains blocking roads in Houston area
Houston-area residents have voiced concerns for years about stopped trains blocking major roads. Representatives with Union Pacific Railroad met with Houston City Council to see what can be done to address the problem.
UP to purchase 20 battery-electric locomotives for testing in yard operations
Union Pacific Railroad plans to purchase 20 battery-electric locomotives for testing in yard operations.
More than 80 years ago, California had steam high-speed rail
More than 80 years ago, California got a glimpse of high-speed rail with Santa Fe steam engine No. 3751.
Q&A: RRB reports performance under customer service plan 1
The Railroad Retirement Board’s Customer Service Plan promotes the following principles of quality public service: openness, accessibility, accountability, feedback, and timeliness standards.
Get the latest labor news from the Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters updates the news section of its website each day with the latest regarding the Teamsters, domestic and global labor and trade issues, state and living wage battles, social justice, the War on Workers, and many other important...
CP reports Q4 and full-year 2021 results
Canadian Pacific Railway Limited today announced its fourth-quarter results, including revenues of $2.04 billion, operating ratio (“OR”) of 59.2 percent, adjusted OR of 57.5 percent, diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) of $0.74 and adjusted diluted EPS of $0.95.
U.S. Class Is employed more people than last month
U.S. Class Is employed 114,499 people in mid-December 2021, a 0.48% increase compared with mid-November’s employment level, but down 2.78% compared with the same month in 2020, according to Surface Transportation Board (STB) data.
AAR reports rail traffic for the week ending January 22, 2022
For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 477,462 carloads and intermodal units, down 9.8 percent compared with the same week last year.
CP opposes Class I requests for KCS merger concessions
Other Class I railroads should not be able to use the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger process as a way to improve their competitive positions, CP CEO Keith Creel says.
JB Hunt invests in intermodal as rail congestion hampers operations
Rail congestion is hampering J.B. Hunt’s performance, President of Intermodal Darren Field said on an earnings call Tuesday.
BLET News
BLET members proud to work Bush funeral train
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen proudly worked as crew members aboard the special Union Pacific funeral train for President George H.W. Bush yesterday.
Ballots mailed in tentative BLET, CF&E agreement
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative contract agreement with the Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern Railway (CF&E). Ballots were mailed yesterday to active members of the BLET employed by CF&E who are eligible to vote in the ratification of this agreement.
Ballots mailed in tentative BLET, CN-Wisconsin Central agreement
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative contract agreement with Canadian National’s Wisconsin Central (CN-WC) subsidiary.
Final Open Enrollment of 2018 for the BLET Short-Term Disability On-The-Job (Part B) Coverage
The final open enrollment of 2018 for the BLET’s Short-Term Disability On-The-Job (Part B) insurance ends on November 30, 2018. Those who enroll will have their coverage take effect on December 1, 2018.
Important notice: Open enrollment for former railroad employees and/or their dependents under group policy GA-23111
United Healthcare is conducting open enrollment throughout November and December 2018 for former railroad employees and their families under the GA-23111 plan. Additionally, there is also an open enrollment period for those covered under plan GA-46000 and are eligible to apply for coverage under GA-23111 Plan E. The effective date for this open enrollment is January 1, 2019.
George Hucker, former BLE-Canada Vice President, 1943-2018
Thomas George Hucker, former BLE International Vice President and National Legislative Representative-Canada, has passed away. He was 75 years old.
Thanksgiving 2018
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President At Thanksgiving, I ask our membership to join me in a moment of reflection for those who are away from their families at this special time of year. Let us remember our service men and women, who are fighting overseas or are stationed at military bases throughout the world. Let us also remember our own BLET Brothers and Sisters, who are sitting in the cab of a locomotive or in a hotel instead of at the Thanksgiving dinner table with their families.
GA-46000 Lifetime maximum adjusted for 2019
The lifetime maximum benefit for the Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit Plan (also known as ERMA or GA-46000) will increase from $162,500 to $166,400 on January 1, 2019.
Call to defend against Right-to-Work law in Ohio
Every BLET member in the State of Ohio and their family members are urged to immediately contact their State Representative regarding House Bill 53. HB 53 is a divisive piece of legislation that would force Ohio’s public sector employees into a right-to-work situation, despite the fact that Ohio residents overwhelmingly opposed similar legislation by referendum vote in 2011.
Veterans Day 2018
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President For more than 155 years, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen has proudly welcomed our fighting men and women home, and back to work. And on this Veterans Day, the BLET wants all of our veterans to know how thankful we are for your service to our Nation.
