Rail Industry News
Party planned for Amtrak return to Vermont after pandemic
(Source: NBC Boston, July 4, 2021) BOSTON — Officials are planning a celebration to mark the return of Amtrak passenger trains to Vermont later this month. The July 19 event at the Montpelier Amtrak station will also include officials from the town of Berlin and the...
NS to announce Q2 2021 earnings on July 28
(Source: Norfolk Southern press release, July 2, 2021) NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern Corporation will announce its second-quarter financial results during a conference call and live internet webcast at 8:45 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 28. Quarterly earnings results...
INVEST in America Act would send $13.5 billion to the Northeast Corridor
(Source: The Center Square, July 2, 2021) BILLINGS, Mont. — The U.S. House signed off on legislation that could send billions of dollars to Amtrak for the Northeast Corridor. H.R. 3684, the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in...
CSX files new application with STB to acquire Pan Am Railways
(Source: Progressive Railroading, July 2, 2021) CSX Corp. today announced that it has submitted an amended and supplemented application to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) as part of the previously announced agreement to acquire Pan Am Railways Inc. Full story:...
Cost a hurdle as railroads test battery-powered locomotives
(Source: Los Angeles Times, July 5, 2021) LOS ANGELES — With little fanfare, however, America’s railroad industry has begun operating locomotives that run on stored electrical power, moving toward a future in which toy shops are not the only source of battery trains....
NTSB Chairman Sumwalt leaves government service
(Source: National Transportation Safety Board press release, June 30, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt ended his nearly 15 years at the NTSB, as he retired from government service Wednesday. Vice Chairman Bruce...
CSX completes acquisition of Quality Carriers
(Source: Progressive Railroading, July 1, 2021) CSX Corp. today announced it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Quality Carriers Inc., a North American provider of bulk liquid chemicals truck transportation, from Quality Distribution Inc. Financial...
U.S. Department of Labor orders CSX to pay whistleblower nearly $222,000 in back wages, damages
(Source: U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) press release, July 1, 2021) NEW ORLEANS — An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found that CSX Transportation...
U.S. Department of Labor orders CSX to pay whistleblower nearly $222,000 in back wages, damages
(Source: U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) press release, July 1, 2021) NEW ORLEANS — An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has found that CSX Transportation...
80 lawmakers back more high-speed rail funding
(Source: Auburn Citizen, July 1, 2021) AUBURN, N.Y. — A coalition led by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is asking congressional leaders to increase funding for high-speed rail and include it in an infrastructure plan. Full story:...
Teamsters applaud House passage of INVEST in America Act
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, July 1, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — On July 1, the Teamsters Union applauded the House of Representatives passage of the INVEST in America Act (H.R. 3684) which will ensure that the nation’s roads, bridges,...
AAR reports rail traffic for week ending June 26, 2021
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, June 30, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending June 26, 2021. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 516,167...
RRB names Mark Blythe as Director of Field Service
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, June 30, 2021) CHICAGO — The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has appointed Mark Blythe as its Director of Field Service, effective May 24, 2021. He replaces Daniel J. Fadden, who was named the RRB’s Director of...
ALSCO workers join Teamsters Local 991
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, June 30, 2021) PENSACOLA, Fla. — Drivers at Alsco Laundry in Pensacola, Fla. have voted overwhelmingly to join Teamsters Local 991. “We represent workers at other Alsco Laundry locations, and we are...
Colorado takes its biggest step yet toward Front Range passenger train system
(Source: Colorado Sun, June 30, 2021) DENVER, Colo. — Colorado on Wednesday took its most significant step yet toward building a Front Range passenger train system as Gov. Jared Polis signed into law a bill creating a special taxation district for the proposed rail...
Teamsters Local 135 meets with Labor Secretary Marty Walsh
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, June 29, 2021) INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — On June 24, Teamsters Local 135 Business Agents Michael Winegar and Randy Black joined several other unions in a round table discussion with U.S. Secretary of Labor...
Teamsters call on Bill Gates’ money manager to step down from Republic Services’ Board
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, June 29, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Ken Hall is calling on Michael Larson to step down from the board of Republic Services, Inc. The demand follows allegations that...
Weekly coal carload counts continue to outpace 2020
(Source: S&P Global Platts, June 30, 2021) HOUSTON — U.S. coal carloads totaled 66,595 in the week ended June 26, down 1.8% from the prior week but up 30.3% from the year-ago week, data from the Association of American Railroads showed June 30. Full story: S&P Global...
AAR: Slower traffic growth pattern continues
(Source: Railway Age, June 30, 2021) NEW YORK — For the week ending June 26, 2021, total U.S. rail traffic was 516,167 carloads and intermodal units, increasing 12.4% from the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads reported on June 30. That included...
Opinion: CN-KCS voting trust approval better than even
(Source: Railway Age opinion column by Jason Seidl, July 1, 2021) NEW YORK — Following the closing of the public comment period for the CN voting trust, which ended June 28, we are re-calibrating our expectations and now believe there to be a ~60% chance the Surface...
BLET News
BLET to conduct Advanced Local Chairman workshop, November 2-7, 2014
The BLET Education & Training Department, in conjunction with the BLET Arbitration Department, is proud to host an Advanced Local Chairman Workshop at the new BLET Training Center in Cleveland from November 2-7, 2014.
2014 BLET Third National Convention hotel deadline extended to August 29
Delegates and guests now have until 5 p.m. PDT on Friday, August 29, 2014 in order to make hotel reservations for the BLET’s Third National Convention at the guaranteed $99 special convention rate.
Rail Hazmat Chemical/Emergency Response Training Programs for 2014-15
The Rail Workers Hazardous Materials Training Program is hosting five HazMat/Chemical Emergency Response Training Programs in 2014 and 2015.
Rail hazmat ””train the trainer”” courses planned for 2014
The Rail Workers Hazardous Materials Training Program plans to offer three “train the trainer” workshops this year. The program prides itself on providing the most valuable worker safety training available, and these “train the trainer” classes are widely popular and successful because most of the course curriculum is delivered by peer trainers.
BLET to host Secretary-Treasurer Class in October 2014
The BLET’s Education and Training Department is hosting an expanded Secretary-Treasurer Training Class in Cleveland from October 13-17, 2014.
Notice to members planning to attend upcoming SWCM in St. Louis
Brother Dave Grimes, Local Chairman of BLET Division 42 (St. Louis) and host chairman of the 2014 Southwestern Convention Meeting, reports that the St. Louis Hilton at the Ball Park is sold out for the upcoming SWCM.
2014 BLET Third National Convention hotel deadline extended to August 26
Delegates and guests now have until 5 p.m. PDT on Tuesday, August 26, 2014 in order to make hotel reservations for the BLET’s Third National Convention at the guaranteed $99 special convention rate.
BLET Safety Task Force investigating after BLET member killed in Union Pacific accident at Hoxie, Ark.
The BLET Safety Task Force has been dispatched to assist the National Transportation Safety Board with the investigation of a fatal head-on collision near Hoxie, Ark. Two train crew members were killed and two others injured when two Union Pacific trains collided at approximately 3 a.m. on August 17.
Hotel deadline of August 21 for 2014 BLET Third National Convention is fast approaching
Delegates and guests have just two more days to make hotel reservations for the BLET’s Third National Convention at the guaranteed $99 special convention rate. As a reminder, room reservations must be made by 5 p.m. PDT on Thursday, August 21, 2014 in order to lock in this special rate.
Fund established to help family of BLET member who is in intensive care
BLET member Jared W. McNew is in a fight for his life. The 40-year-old Local Chairman of Division 130 (Kansas City, Kan.) was involved in a motorcycle crash and has been in intensive care for over three weeks. He sustained a number of critical injuries and has endured several surgeries since.
