Rail Industry News
Report: Railroads adapted to volatile pandemic conditions
(Source: Progressive Railroading, July 8, 2021) The freight-rail industry demonstrated resilience and reliability during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report by the Northwestern University Transportation Center (NUTC). Full story: Progressive Railroading
AAR reports rail traffic for week ending July 3, 2021
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, July 7, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending July 3, 2021, as well as volumes for June 2021. U.S. railroads originated...
Bidding war for KCS ensued behind the scenes for over nine months, says proxy filing
(Source: Canadian Press, July 8, 2021) TORONTO — A behind-the-scenes bidding war for Kansas City Southern took place over nine months before culminating in a blockbuster US$33.6-billion offer from Canadian National Railway Co., a newly released document reveals. Full...
Federal watchdog to study freight rail safety following Motherboard investigation
(Source: Motherboard Tech by VICE, July 8, 2021) NEW YORK — The Government Accountability Office will launch an investigation into precision scheduled railroading, a business philosophy embraced by North American freight rail companies that a Motherboard investigation...
Biden targeting Class I rail mergers?
(Source: Railway Age, July 8, 2021) NEW YORK — President Biden on July 9 will sign an Executive Order directing federal regulators to “confront consolidation and perceived anticompetitive pricing” in the railroad and ocean shipping industries, among many others, “as...
UP closes line through Siskiyou until Lava Fire damage is repaired
(Source: Mount Shasta News, July 7, 2021) MOUNT SHASTA, Calif. — Since the Lava Fire damaged Dry Canyon Bridge near Hotlum and a yet-undetermined length of track on June 28, Union Pacific has closed its line that runs through the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Since...
Amtrak’s Downeaster bouncing back from pandemic
(Source: Associated Press, July 8, 2021) BRUNSWICK, Maine — Amtrak's Downeaster passenger rail service is steaming toward pre-pandemic norms as the coronavirus recedes in New England. Full story: www.usnews.com
Hoffa: Teamsters unite to take on Amazon threat
(Source: Column by Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa published in the Detroit News, July 7, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Teamsters Union at its 30th International Convention late last month made a historic decision to commit and unite the union to protecting and...
CN, KCS file voting trust replay; Next move is STB’s
(Source: Railway Age, July 7, 2021) NEW YORK — Proposed merger partners CN and Kansas City Southern (KCS) have submitted to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) a reply to comments filed on the railroads’ voting trust agreement. They detailed why the trust should be...
KCS sets special meeting date for vote on combination with CN
(Source: Kansas City Southern-Canadian National Railway joint press release, July 8, 2021) KANSAS CITY and MONTREAL — CN and Kansas City Southern (“KCS”) today announced that KCS has scheduled a virtual Special Meeting of Stockholders (“Special Meeting”) to vote on...
Rail traffic gains build in Q2 2021
(Source: Railway Age, July 7, 2021) NEW YORK — In the second-quarter, total U.S. carloads were the highest since fourth-quarter 2019; carloads excluding coal were the highest since third-quarter 2019; and intermodal and chemical volumes were “both the highest for any...
Amtrak to acquire advanced Siemens trains to upgrade aging fleet
(Source: Forbes, July 7, 2021) NEW YORK — Amtrak intends to spend $7.3 billion as part of wide-ranging efforts to overhaul the U.S. passenger rail service and tapped Siemens’ California unit to supply a new generation of less-polluting, more comfortable trains to...
Colorado governor signs Front Range passenger rail bill
(Source: Progressive Railroading, July 6, 2021) Colorado Gov. Jared Polis last week signed a bill that creates a taxing district to oversee the formation of the Front Range passenger-rail corridor that could lead to new Amtrak service. Full story: Progressive...
California Transportation Commission invests $1.18 billion in infrastructure projects
(Source: Transport Topics, July 6, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The California Transportation Commission has allocated $1.18 billion for infrastructure projects throughout the state. The commission, which is made up of 13 members, is responsible for programming and...
Brightline acquires site for Las Vegas terminal
(Source: Railway Age, July 7, 2021) NEW YORK — Brightline Holdings has bought 110 acres of land at the south end of Las Vegas Boulevard for a Brightline West terminal, part of its planned $8.4 billion high speed rail project connecting Las Vegas and Southern...
Fallen trees, heavy rain cause widespread delays on NJ Transit
(Source: NorthJersey.com, July 7, 2021) BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. — People trying to get home on NJ Transit Tuesday night faced delays of up to 90-minutes as severe weather felled trees and created overhead wire problems. Full story: www.northjersey.com
Opinion: Cowen’s take on Class 1 Q2 2021
(Source: Railway Age opinion column by Jason Seidl, July 6, 2021) NEW YORK — At Cowen and Company, we are adjusting our rail models in advance of second-quarter earnings reports due later this month from the Class I railroads. The models reflect carloads in the...
CN to report Q2 2021 earnings on July 20
(Source: Canadian National Railway press release, June 30, 2021) MONTREAL — CN will issue its second-quarter 2021 financial and operating results after the market close on July 20, 2021. CN's senior officers will review the results and the railway's outlook in a...
CSX to announce Q2 2021 earnings on July 21
(Source: CSX press release, July 7, 2021) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Corp. will release second-quarter financial and operating results after the market close on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. This will be followed by a conference call and live webcast hosted by the company’s...
Western fires halt hundreds of Canadian rail cars, slowing exports
(Source: Bloomberg, July 6, 2021) CALGARY — Hundreds of rail cars have been halted by wildfires that damaged tracks in western Canada during the region’s severe heat wave, creating a bottleneck of exports and delaying imports. Full story: Bloomberg
BLET News
Piekarski reelected by acclamation in Illinois
Paul S. Piekarski was reelected by acclamation for the third time, his second full term as Chairman of the Illinois State Legislative Board, at a quadrennial meeting held in St. Louis, Mo., September 8-9, 2014.
Voting for two person train crews
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President Your choices at the ballot box will go a long way toward protecting crew size.
BLET’s 79th annual Southwestern Convention Meeting begins in St. Louis
More than 350 members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen convened here today for opening ceremonies of the 79th annual Southwestern Convention Meeting (SWCM).
John Edgar Thomson Foundation provides financial assistance to daughters of deceased railroaders
The John Edgar Thomson Foundation, a nationally recognized non-profit organization, provides limited financial assistance to daughters of deceased railroad employees.
New Division monthly trustee audit report and process available
The National Division has revised the monthly trustee audit report form and audit process in order to streamline the monthly audit procedure. Under the revised process, the Division Secretary-Treasurer will provide the information contained on the monthly trustee audit report, which will then be reviewed and verified by the Division’s Trustees as required by Section 1(a) – National Division Rules of the BLET Bylaws.
Bryan Aldridge reelected by acclamation in Kentucky
Bryan T. Aldridge was reelected by acclamation to his second full term as Chairman of the Kentucky State Legislative Board at quadrennial meetings in Newport, Ky., August 12-13, 2014.
2014 BLET Third National Convention hotel deadline extended to September 3
Delegates and guests now have until 5 p.m. PDT on Wednesday, September 3, 2014 in order to make hotel reservations for the BLET’s Third National Convention at the guaranteed $99 special convention rate. There will be no further deadline extensions after September 3.
Labor Day 2014
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President Labor Day is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It is an annual national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our nation.
In the line of duty: Chance J. Gober
Chance Jason Gober, 40, a member of BLET Division 182 (North Little Rock, Ark.), was killed in the line of duty on August 17, 2014.
Life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance benefits under BLET National Agreement
Active and retired railroad employees covered under The Railroad Employees’ National Health and Welfare Plan may be eligible for Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) benefits from MetLife.
