Rail Industry News
Woman sentenced to prison for “shunt” attack on BNSF track in Washington
A 28-year-old Bellingham, Washington, woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 12 months and one day in prison and three years of supervised release for committing an act of violence against a railroad carrier,
STB extends comment period for CP-KCS environmental review
The public now has until Jan. 3, 2022 to provide comments on the scope of environmental review for the proposed Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) reported on Dec. 17.
Karen Hedlund confirmed to STB
By unanimous consent, Democrat Karen J. Hedlund was confirmed by the Senate late Dec. 16 to the five-member Surface Transportation Board (STB).
Analysis: Do railroad mergers match their rosy growth projections?
Do railroad mergers live up to the hype? It’s a question that’s been rattling around in my head as federal regulators review the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger, the first between Class I railroads in two decades.
CN to name new CEO next month as Vena drops out of the running
Canadian National Railway Co. said Jim Vena, a former executive favored by shareholder TCI Fund Management Ltd. to take over the company, has dropped of the running to replace Chief Executive Officer Jean-Jacques Ruest.
OIG: Amtrak HR staff shortage creates hiring challenges
Amtrak’s human resources department does not have sufficient leadership or staff to effectively recruit, screen, hire and onboard new employees, which will likely hinder the railroad’s plans to add 2,500 to 3,500 employees this fiscal year, an Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG) report last week found.
Riders pay tribute to beloved Metra conductor
“I was born in a train,” Metra Union Pacific West Line conductor J.J. Keigley said with a serious expression before breaking into a laugh. But the joke was a little bittersweet for the 73-year-old, retiring after 54 years.
Governors weigh in on Vegas-Victorville high-speed rail progress
With Christmas and New Year celebrations both landing on a weekends this year, the Interstate 15 will likely see some backup near the Nevada-California border.
Q&A: Reporting events than can affect Railroad Retirement benefits
Rights to benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act also carry responsibilities for reporting events that may affect the payment of these benefits to the employee or to members of the employee’s family.
COVID-19 vaccine mandates and Unemployment and Sickness Benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA)
The Railroad Retirement Board has prepared a list of frequently asked questions regarding those situations in which an employer’s vaccine mandate has adversely affected an employment situation.
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, KCS now shipping heavy Canadian crude to Gulf Coast
The bitumen-by-rail project to produce and transport a type of heavy Canadian crude oil to the U.S. Gulf Coast is now fully operational, according to project organizers US Development Group (USD) and Gibson Energy.
CP-KCS merger would triple number of trains through Quad-Cities
A pending railroad merger would nearly triple the number of trains per day traveling through the Iowa Quad-Cities, raising concerns among Davenport and Bettendorf leaders about noise, safety and the implications for future riverfront development and access.
STB clears path for Uinta Basin Railway project
In a decision issued December 15, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) granted the exemption sought by the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition to construct the 85-mile line to connect oilfields in western Utah to the national rail network at a junction with Union Pacific at Kyune, Utah, subject to environmental mitigation conditions proposed by the STB’s Office of Environmental Analysis.
High winds blamed for BNSF derailment in Oklahoma
High winds are being cited as the cause of a derailment of a BNSF Railway intermodal train near Enid on December 15.
AAR reports rail traffic for week ending December 11, 2021
For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 513,366 carloads and intermodal units, down 6 percent compared with the same week last year.
UP to report Q4 2021 earnings on January 20, 2022
Union Pacific Corporation will release fourth quarter 2021 financial and operating results on Thursday, January 20, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. ET. The company’s management team will host a conference call and live webcast at 8:45 a.m. ET.
BNSF to pay $1.5 million after oil train spill in Iowa
BNSF Railway has agreed to pay a $1.5 million settlement arising from an oil spill into northwest Iowa waters in 2018, according to court documents filed Thursday.
Hoffa: Apprenticeships play pivotal role in boosting U.S. trucking, supply chain
The following is a statement from Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa on the Biden administration’s new Trucking Action Plan, which is focused on bolstering the trucking workforce through increased registered apprenticeships to ensure a more robust U.S. supply chain.
Q&A: Reporting events than can affect Railroad Retirement benefits
Rights to benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act also carry responsibilities for reporting events that may affect the payment of these benefits to the employee or to members of the employee’s family.
BLET News
SMART TD ratifies new collective bargaining agreement
Members of the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART TD), a partner union of the Coordinated Bargaining Group (CBG), announced on December 1 that its members have ratified the new national agreement by a nearly 4-to-1 margin.
BLET members ratify national contract
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC).
Signalmen become second CBG union to ratify new national agreement
Yesterday, the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS), a partner union of the Coordinated Bargaining Group (CBG), announced that the union’s members had ratified the new national agreement.
ATDA ratifies the national mediated collective bargaining agreement
The American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA), a partner union of the Coordinated Bargaining Group (CBG), announced on November 27, 2017, that nearly two-thirds of its members voted for ratification of the national mediated collective bargaining agreement.
CP Rail members urged to vote YES on Tentative National Agreement
The following is a letter from General Chairman Pete Semenek, CP Rail-US/Metra North/Indiana Southern RR/DM&E GCA, to his Local Chairmen, urging them and all GCA members to vote in favor of the Tentative National Contract.
Thanksgiving 2017
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President As we approach Thanksgiving, I ask our membership to join me in thanking those who are away from their families at this special time of year.
Can you spare less than two minutes to vote?
The following is a statement from BLET Missouri State Legislative Board Chairman Brian Kelley in support of the Tentative National Agreement.
Duplicate ratification ballot schedule for Thanksgiving weekend
Voting continues on the question of approving the Tentative National Agreement until 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, November 30th. Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, the National Division Office will be closed on Thursday, November 23rd and Friday, November 24th.
Dehart reelected NS-Northern Lines/CFE General Chairman
Dewayne L. Dehart was reelected to his second term as General Chairman of the BLET’s Norfolk Southern-Northern Lines/CF&E General Committee of Adjustment at the GCA’s quadrennial meeting in Indianapolis, Ind., September 30-October 2, 2017.
CSX Northern Lines members urged to vote YES on Tentative National Agreement
The following is a statement from CSX Northern Lines General Chairman Bill Lyons encouraging his members to vote in favor of the Tentative National Agreement.
