Rail Industry News
Game over for CP-KCS? Maybe, maybe not
(Source: Railway Age, May 13, 2021) NEW YORK — The activity involving Kansas City Southern and its two potential merger partners, Canadian Pacific and CN, took yet another turn late on May 13. CN appears to have come out on top, but don’t count CP out, at least not...
Norfolk Southern issues $500 million of green bonds to fund sustainable business initiatives
(Source: Norfolk Southern press release, May 12, 2021) NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern Corporation today closed a $500 million green bond offering to fund investments to reduce the company’s carbon emissions and help customers reduce their supply-chain emissions....
CSX buys chemical trucking business
(Source: Associated Press, May 12, 2021) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX railroad is buying a trucking company that specializes in hauling liquid chemicals. The Jacksonville, Florida-based railroad said Wednesday that it had agreed to buy Quality Carriers Inc. to help it...
Cracked I-40 bridge in Memphis indefinitely closed, disrupting supply chain
(Source: National Public Radio, May 12, 2021) MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Traffic on and below a major bridge over the Mississippi River near Memphis could be halted for several days or longer, causing significant disruptions to motorists and shipping, officials said on...
Key federal approval for Gateway Tunnel expected soon
(Source: www.nj.com, May 12, 2021) NEWARK, N.J. — After waiting three years for it, a coveted federal approval that would allow engineering to start on the long awaited Gateway Tunnels under the Hudson River is expected to be issued in two weeks. Full story:...
Amtrak, ATF offer $10,000 reward for information about Beech Grove fires
(Source: Television station Fox 59, May 12, 2021) INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Amtrak and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are asking the public to help find a person of interest in two building fires. Full story: www.fox59.com
Industry constituents weigh in on proposed CP-KCS merger
(Source: Progressive Railroading, May 12, 2021) Tony Hatch was watching an NCCA men’s basketball tournament game late on March 20 and discovered an online Financial Times news story. Justin Long was alerted to breaking news the morning of March 21 after attending a...
CN’s KCS merger proposal fuels concerns about more freight trains in Chicago suburbs
(Source: Chicago Daily Herald, May 12, 2021) CHICAGO — A replay of a 2008 battle to stop the Canadian National Railway from acquiring another railroad is emerging in the suburbs with similar concerns about spiraling freight train traffic. Full story:...
Workers are essential to the future of freight industry, Teamsters tell Senate
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, May 12, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Teamster official told members of a Senate subcommittee yesterday that the safety and wellbeing of workers must not be overlooked by lawmakers as they continue to weigh...
45-year-old NJ Transit employee dies from COVID
(Source: www.nj.com, May 12, 2021) NEWARK, N.J. — As NJ Transit officials reported the first significant ridership gains since the coronavirus pandemic began, they also had to pause to honor a member of their employee family claimed by the virus. Michael Travisano,...
AAR: Intermodal continues to deliver
(Source: Railway Age, May 12, 2021) NEW YORK — For the week ending May 8, 2021, U.S. intermodal volume came in at 287,290 containers and trailers—climbing 26.3% from the same week last year and continuing a double-digit growth pace, reported the Association of...
Project seeks to link Boston-NYC by 200 mph high-speed rail
(Source: Boston.com, May 11, 2021) BOSTON, Mass. — Boston to Manhattan by train in 100 minutes? It’s possible, so say the organizers of the North Atlantic Rail Initiative, who are now seeking to drum up support from the Biden Administration, as it works to sell its $2...
New MBTA trains “acting abnormally,” will remain out of service
(Source: CBS Boston, May 11, 2021) BOSTON — The MBTA said Monday that it can’t say when new Orange and Red Line cars will be able to return to service, though it may know more next month. During a meeting, a T official said an investigation into March’s Orange Line...
Canada, CP expect to complete Lac-Megantic rail bypass by 2023
(Source: Progressive Railroading, May 11, 2021) The Canadian government today announced its plan to complete the Lac-Megantic rail bypass by 2023. Full story: Progressive Railroading
Florida anti-union bills stopped thanks to Teamsters
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, May 6, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Florida Teamsters faced a daunting task during the 2020-21 state legislative session – holding off a Republican-controlled Legislature that seemed dead set on rolling back...
U.S. DOT weighs in on Amtrak Gulf Coast service
(Source: Railway Age, May 11, 2021) NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) “stands ready” to work with Amtrak, CSX, Norfolk Southern (NS) and other stakeholders to restore “long overdue” passenger service between New Orleans and Mobile, it wrote in a...
MTA posts single-day rail ridership record since pandemic’s start
(Source: Progressive Railroading, May 11, 2021) The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced yesterday that the New York City Transit (NYCT) subway, Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North Railroad have reached pandemic ridership records. Full story:...
KCS advises shareholders to reject mini-tender offer from Titus Rockefeller LLC
(Source: Railway Age, May 11, 2021) NEW YORK — Kansas City Southern has received notice of an unsolicited “mini-tender” offer by Canadian outfit Titus Rockefeller LLC (a.k.a. TRC Capital Investment Corp.) to purchase up to 500,000 shares, or approximately 0.55%, of...
UP bridge catches fire in Oregon
(Source: The Register-Guard, May 10, 2021) EUGENE, Ore. — The Union Pacific train trestle in Springfield caught fire early Monday morning, causing "moderate" damage to the bridge before it was put out by firefighters. Trains still are able to use the bridge, although...
NS responds to blocked crossing complaints near Danville, Ky.
(Source: The Advocate-Messenger, May 10, 2021) DANVILLE, Ky. — A recent vehicle accident on White Oak Road in Junction City brought to light a problem with trains that’s becoming more common and dangerous — longer trains that are passing through town, stopping to...
BLET News
Division 34 seeks support for families in need this holiday season
For the ninth year in a row, the members of BLET Division 34 (Columbus, Ohio) are generously sharing their good fortune and helping those in need through their annual Adopt-A-Family program.
Rail worker health care coverage extended to legally married same-sex spouses
Effective January 1, 2014, The Railroad Employees National Health and Welfare Plan (GA-23000), The Railroad Employees National Dental Plan (GP-12000), The Railroad Employees National Vision Plan, and the Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit Plan (GA-46000) will provide dependent coverage for legally married same-sex spouses of eligible employees.
BLET calls for Positive Train Control following Metro-North fatality
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen represents more than 51,000 active and retired locomotive engineers and trainmen throughout the United States. While we are the largest union representing locomotive engineers in America, we do not currently represent locomotive engineers at Metro-North and, therefore, have refrained from commenting on the December 1 derailment or the ongoing investigation. In light of the multiple requests for comments on the derailment from various news outlets, BLET has issued the following statement from National President Dennis R. Pierce.
GA-46000 Lifetime maximum adjusted for 2014
The lifetime maximum benefit for the Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit (also known as ERMA or GA-46000) Plan will increase from $136,200 to $141,400 on January 1, 2014.
Thanksgiving 2013
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I would like to express my thanks to all BLET members, officers and staff for their hard work and dedication throughout the year.
Members urged to call their member of Congress after BLET lobbies for two-person crew bill
The BLET, working jointly with SMART-Transportation Division (formerly the United Transportation Union), made nearly 150 visits to members of the U.S. House of Representatives this week in support of H.R. 3040, the Safe Freight Act. The bill would mandate by federal law that two qualified individuals are in the cab of each freight train operating in the United States.
BLET supports creation of coal export facility in Washington state
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) is supporting the building of a job-creating coal export facility in Washington state.
Veteran’s Day 2013
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President On behalf of the entire Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, I offer thanks to all veterans and active-duty military on this Veteran’s Day 2013.
Enrollment deadline extended through December 1 for Health FSA
A special enrollment extension for the Health Flexible Spending Account (Health FSA) begins today and runs through December 1, 2013. This enrollment extension is only for the Health FSA benefit — enrollment for all other 2014 Railroad benefits closed on November 2.
BLET to host final Secretary-Treasurer workshop of 2013
The BLET’s Education and Training Department is hosting the final Secretary-Treasurer training workshop of the year in Cleveland from December 15-19, 2013.
