Rail Industry News
Concerns mount over CN, KCS merger as timetable set for regulatory review
(Source: Transport Topics, June 14, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Surface Transportation Board is taking public comments until June 28 on the proposed multibillion dollar merger of Class I freight rail companies Canadian National and Kansas City Southern. The STB also...
Ocasio-Cortez, Gillibrand and Moulton call for more high-speed rail funding in infrastructure package
(Source: The Hill, June 16, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) on Wednesday called on Congress to increase funding for high-speed rail in the infrastructure package. The...
Senate committee approves bipartisan $78 billion rail and transportation safety bill
(Source: Washington Post, June 16, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Senate Commerce Committee approved a bipartisan $78 billion transportation funding bill on Wednesday designed to boost the competitiveness of the nation’s freight networks, improve its passenger rail...
Amtrak’s Flynn: CSX-Pan Am merger would hurt passenger rail service
(Source: Progressive Railroading, June 8, 2021) CSX's proposed acquisition of Pan Am Railways "represents a significant threat" to current and future intercity passenger-rail service, according to Amtrak Chief Executive Officer Bill Flynn. Full story: Progressive...
Amtrak shows off upgrades to long-distance trains
(Source: Chicago Sun-Times, June 15, 2021) CHICAGO — Amtrak passengers headed west out of Chicago will soon notice some big changes on board. On Tuesday at Union Station, Amtrak unveiled upgrades being made to its double-decker long-distance Superliner trains. Full...
Amtrak has big dreams, but freight lines have other ideas
(Source: National Public Radio, June 9, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Like a lot of us, Amtrak had a rough 2020. Ridership fell nearly half from the prior year. But with the worst of the pandemic seemingly in the past, Amtrak doesn't just want to get back to where it was...
Plan would restore passenger rail service to big swatch of the Midwest
(Source: Associated Press, June 12, 2021) MISSION, Kan. — Proponents of expanding passenger rail service through Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas hope an anticipated influx of federal infrastructure funding will get the long-discussed route off the ground. Full story:...
High-speed rail getting last minute push in Congress
(Source: The Hill, June 15, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — High-speed rail is getting a last-minute push from lawmakers and lobbyists as Congress debates how to revamp the nation’s infrastructure. Full story: The Hill
Fernandez confirmed as FTA head
(Source: Railway Age, June 15, 2021) NEW YORK — The U.S. Senate on June 10 confirmed Nuria Fernandez as the 15th Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Fernandez is also the first Senate-confirmed woman of color to lead FTA, and the first confirmed...
NTSB completes documentation of derailed tank cars in 2020 oil train crash near Custer, Wash.
(Source: National Transportation Safety Board press release, June 10, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Transportation Safety Board announced Thursday completion of its investigation to document the performance of DOT-117 rail tank cars involved in the Dec. 22,...
NTSB issues preliminary report on Pan Am Railways accident that killed conductor in Newington, N.H.
(Source: National Transportation Safety Board press release, June 9, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — On May 19, 2021, at 2:15 p.m. local time, a Pan Am Railways conductor of train Pan Am Local D01, was fatally injured while dropping off and picking up railcars in the SubCom...
District judge derails UP’s plans for Palestine closure
(Source: Palestine Herald-Press, June 14, 2021) PALESTINE, Texas — The city of Palestine and Anderson County battled Union Pacific in the 369thDistrict Court in Cherokee County presided over by Judge Michael Davis on Monday in ongoing litigation with regard to the...
Military stumped by stolen box of armor-piercing grenades
(Source: Associated Press, June 15, 2021) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The green, metal box was stuffed inside a bright pink pillowcase and stashed in the bushes behind Christopher Zachery’s house. He hauled it out for a better look. Stenciled on the box: “Cartridges for...
CN, KCS voting trust review moves ahead; CP fires another salvo
(Source: Railway Age, June 15, 2021) NEW YORK — Per the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) request, proposed merger partners CN and Kansas City Southern (KCS) have filed financial documents that will help STB decide whether or not to approve their voting trust...
Railroads moved more transborder freight in March
(Source: Progressive Railroading, June 7, 2021) The volume of freight moved by rail between the United States, Canada and Mexico in March was worth $16.7 billion, up 30% compared with February 2021’s level and up 11.4% compared with March 2020, according to the U.S....
FRA’s Bose, Southern Rail Commission discuss interstate rail pacts
(Source: Progressive Railroading, June 7, 2021) Federal Railroad Administration Deputy Administrator Amit Bose expressed support for the formation of interstate rail compacts, pointing to the Southern Rail Commission (SRC) as a model organization at the SRC's...
How BNSF manages mud, rock, water and snow detection
(Source: Railway Age, June 7, 2021) NEW YORK — Most railroads operate through at least some mountainous territory along their lines, but perhaps no road faces a greater challenge than BNSF. Full story: Railway Age
STB Chairman addresses current rail issues at annual grain association meeting
(Source: Progressive Farmer, June 7, 2021) CHICAGO — The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) celebrated its anniversary year with nearly 400 attendees gathered at its 125th annual convention at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs on June 2-4. The convention's...
NJ Transit: We’re ready for your return
(Source: Railway Age, June 7, 2021) NEW YORK — New Jersey Transit recently launched a new informational campaign for riders called While You’ve Been Away “to educate them about the extensive safety measures in place as well as systemwide improvements made as they...
CSX plan to buy Pan Am Railways rejected
(Source: Transport Topics, June 7, 2021) SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Federal regulators recently rejected CSX’s plan to buy Pan Am Railways Inc., which operates 1,200 miles of track. In its ruling, the federal Surface Transportation Board cited concerns that the CSX-Pan Am...
BLET News
BLET families win 19 Hoffa scholarships for 2013-14 school year
Nineteen BLET families were winners of scholarships from the James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund for the 2013-14 academic year, including two top level $10,000 recipients.
Memorial Day 2014
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President Since its formal inception in 1868, Memorial Day has been a special day set aside to honor and pay tribute to the men and women who have served in the military and to thank them for defending our country and our way of life.
Hotel rooms going fast for 2014 IWC
Brother Dave Brown, host chairman of this year’s International Western Convention (IWC) in Minneapolis (http://www.2014iwc.org/), reports that hotel rooms are going quickly and he is urging all BLET members who wish to attend to make their room reservations as soon as possible.
BLET’s Western General Chairmen conclude annual meeting
The BLET Western General Chairmen””s Association (WGCA) held its annual meeting in Las Vegas from May 12-14, 2014.
Colorado bill seeks to preserve Amtrak’s Southwest Chief
Last week, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper signed legislation to preserve the current route of Amtrak’s Southwest Chief, helping to secure the jobs of locomotive engineers and other unionized crafts.
Teamsters offer disaster relief assistance in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi
The Teamsters Disaster Relief Fund is accepting applications for assistance from members who live in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi after severe weather caused major damage to homes and property from April 28 through May 6, 2014.
BLET to hold strike authorization vote at SEPTA
National President Dennis R. Pierce announced that preparations are underway to poll members to authorize a strike in the event one becomes necessary to attain the Organization’s bargaining goals at SEPTA.
Teamsters offer disaster relief assistance in Arkansas
The Teamsters Disaster Relief Fund is accepting applications for assistance from members who live in Arkansas after severe storms, tornadoes and flooding caused major damage to homes and property on April 27, 2014.
Brian Kelley elected to third term as Chairman of Missouri Legislative Board
Brian P. Kelley was reelected by acclamation to his third full term as Chairman of the Missouri State Legislative Board at its quadrennial meeting in Jefferson City, Mo., on May 5.
BLET Education & Training Department to conduct General Chairman workshop
The BLET Education & Training Department, in conjunction with the BLET Arbitration Department, is offering a General Chairman’s workshop in Cleveland during the week of July 21, 2014.
