Rail Industry News
Dubuque businesses join city leaders in opposing CP-KCS merger
Some businesses are now joining Dubuque city leaders in opposing a possible merger of two railroad companies.
Officials say recent STB decision on Utah rail project “pours gasoline” on climate emergency
The Surface Transportation Board recently approved a new rail line in Utah, and officials can’t say enough against it.
Work to electrify Mexican railroad begins
Work to supply electric power to the Mérida-Cancún stretch of Mexico’s Maya Train will begin this month at an estimated cost of $73.7 million.
RRB names new Director of Retirement and Survivor Benefits
The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has selected Letitia C. Carthans as the agency’s next Director of Retirement and Survivor Benefits, effective January 3, 2022.
RRB Q&A: Annuitants may need to increase tax withholding at age 62
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, December 21, 2021) CHICAGO — Certain portions of a railroad retirement annuity are treated differently for Federal income tax purposes. The following questions and answers explain these differences and address the...
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...
“Alabama-USA Corridor:” Rail work to improve supply chain infrastructure
A nearly $232 million project funded mostly by Norfolk Southern Corp. will upgrade rail transportation between the Port of Mobile and central Alabama, the governor’s office said Tuesday.
Hedlund sworn in as STB’s newest member
Democrat Karen J. Hedlund on Jan. 3 was sworn in as the newest member of the Surface Transportation Board (STB), succeeding Republican Ann D. Begeman.
About 700 NJ Transit workers test positive for COVID
NJ Transit is maintaining 97% of full weekday scheduled rail service and 94% of full weekday scheduled bus service despite the spike in positive cases.
Winter storm leaves Amtrak passengers stuck on train for 30 hours
An Amtrak train en route to New York from New Orleans was stuck on the track in Virginia for more than 30 hours because of a winter storm.
Hoffa: Increased resolve needed in New Year to tackle worker concerns
As we turn the page on 2021, the Teamsters have much to celebrate. Years of hard work in Washington culminated with a multiemployer pension fix that will protect the hard-earned retirement nest eggs of more than 1 million Americans.
Results of CN executive search could impact service
A takeover by TCI Management, who owns 8.36 per cent of CP Rail and 5.2 per cent of CN, is concerning because it potentially means a change to service levels, which would affect Canadian farmers.
Railway Association of Canada issues 10-year rail performance snapshot
The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) has published the 29th edition of its Rail Trends report, providing a ten-year performance overview (2011-20) of its member passenger and freight railroads.
RRB Q&A: Annuitants may need to increase tax withholding at age 62
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, December 21, 2021) CHICAGO — Certain portions of a railroad retirement annuity are treated differently for Federal income tax purposes. The following questions and answers explain these differences and address the...
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...
Metra asks STB to order CP to provide more merger-related data
Metra has asked federal regulators to force Canadian Pacific to hand over more documents that would help it evaluate how the proposed CP-Kansas City Southern merger may affect commuter service in the Chicago area.
CSX coal terminal explosion under investigation
An explosion occurred on Dec. 30 at CSX’s Curtis Bay coal facility in Baltimore. The cause of the incident remains under investigation. All employees are accounted for and there were no injuries.
Vermont drops opposition to CSX-Pan Am merger
CSX Transportation has ironed out a wrinkle in its proposed acquisition of New England regional Pan Am Railways by reaching an agreement with Vermont Rail System and the Vermont Agency of Transportation.
PATH’s November ridership only half of 2019 level
The Porth Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) announced last week that November 2021 ridership on Port Authority-Trans Hudson (PATH) trains remained at about 50% of November 2019’s level.
CSX and NS: Amtrak didn’t track Gulf Coast service impact
The Surface Transportation Board should not be swayed by the political winds that appear to support Amtrak’s ambitions when it comes to restoring passenger rail service between Mobile, Alabama, and New Orleans, attorneys representing CSX and Norfolk Southern said recently.
BLET News
BLET to host Local Chairman class in November 2018
The BLET Education and Training Department will host a Local Chairman training class from November 11-15, 2018, at the BLET National Division headquarters and Training Center in Independence, Ohio. This class is a rescheduling of the April class. The class is designed to help Local Chairmen develop and hone the skills necessary to provide the best representation possible to our members. Due to the upcoming triennial elections and the convention later this year, the November class will be the only class for Local Chairmen in 2018.
RRB announces additional 2018 informational conferences
The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has announced additional dates for the agency’s 2018 informational conferences
Trumble elected to second term as Michigan State Legislative Board Chairman
B.J. Trumble was reelected by acclamation to his second term as Chairman of the Michigan State Legislative Board at the Board’s Fourth Quadrennial meeting in Lansing, Mich., March 19-20, 2018.
BLET preparing comments on automation in the railroad industry; Members can also give their input
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen is currently drafting comments in response to a request by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) regarding automation in the railroad industry. The notice was published in the Federal Register on March 22, 2018, and the comments are due no later than May 7, 2018.
Plan ahead for BLET’s Washington D.C. regional meeting
The deadline for room reservations is less than three months away, but BLET members and guests are encouraged to register now for the BLET’s regional meeting at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C., August 13-17, 2018. Also, registration is continuing for the BLET’s Monterey regional meeting, June 18-22, 2018.
Teamster rail unions join with Mexican union to endorse NAFTA improvements
The Teamsters’ rail conferences in the U.S. and Canada today joined with unionized Mexican freight rail workers in calling for the inclusion of language in a revamped North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that would ensure that all industry workers on the continent are treated fairly and equitably.
BLET reaches tentative contract with New England Central
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a Tentative Agreement with the New England Central Railroad (NECR) governing rates of pay, benefits and work rules for 35 operating employees.
Reminder: May 17 is the deadline for hotel reservations at BLET’s Monterey regional meeting
BLET members and guests attending the BLET’s regional meeting in Monterey, Calif., have just over a month to make their hotel reservations. The meeting will take place from June 18-22, 2018, and hotel reservations must be made by May 17.
BLET members ratify Amtrak contract
By better than a 9-to-1 margin, members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with Amtrak on April 2, 2018.
Elections Have Consequences – the Wheeling & Lake Erie Saga
By Dennis R. Pierce, National President My last article detailed an attack by the Indiana legislature on the rights provided by the Federal Employers’ Liability Act to railroad workers who are injured or killed as a result of negligence by their railroad employer. This article is to update you on a years-old struggle being waged by 180 active BLET locomotive engineers and trainmen who work for the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway (W&LE).
