Rail Industry News
Amtrak to pay for repairs at train stops along Gulf Coast route
(Source: www.al.com, March 5, 2021) MOBILE, Ala. — Amtrak will pay for the repairs and upgrades needed at the train stops along the Gulf Coast route ahead of returning passenger rail to the line in early 2022. Full story: www.al.com
Teamsters celebrate Women’s History Month
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, March 4, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Every year the Teamsters commemorate Women’s History Month in March, and International Women’s Day on March 8. We honor women’s achievements every day because the Teamster...
Florida transportation officials place Brightline under the gun
(Source: Railway Age, March 5, 2021) NEW YORK — Brightline is under renewed pressure to complete negotiations with several Florida entities by July 31 before it can secure approval for a proposed expansion to Tampa. Full story: Railway Age
Amtrak investigates bomb threat on train heading through South Carolina
(Source: Television station WYFF, March 8, 2021) WILLIAMSBURG COUNTY, S.C. — Amtrak police are investigating a bomb threat on an Amtrak train heading through South Carolina, according to the Williamsburg County Sheriff's Office. Full story: www.wyff4.com
Worker dies during cleanup of NS derailment in Virginia
(Source: The Winchester Star, March 7, 2021) WINCHESTER, Va. — A West Virginia man died from injuries sustained early Friday morning while helping with the cleanup of a train derailment at the Riverton Junction. Full story: www.winchesterstar.com
NTSB investigating fatal accidents involving BNSF, KCS workers
(Source: Progressive Railroading, March 5, 2021) The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has begun investigations into two recent fatal accidents involving Class Is. The agency is investigating a March 3 accident in La Mirada, California, in which a BNSF...
Teamsters laud Senate passage of COVID-19 stimulus package, securing pensions for workers, retirees
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, March 6, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Teamsters are elated over the Senate’s approval of a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus measure containing a provision bolstering financially-troubled multiemployer...
Amtrak expansion faces hurdles
(Source: New York Times, March 7, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Over the past few years, Amtrak's plans for expansion have stirred the politics of some communities across the South and complicated the rail agency's attempt to bolster passenger service in the region. Full...
Trottenberg commits to Gateway Project
(Source: Railway Age, March 4, 2021) NEW YORK — If confirmed Deputy Secretary of Transportation, Polly Trottenberg will make the Gateway Tunnel Project a priority, she said during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and...
Lac-Megantic case appears to run aground in 1st Circuit
(Source: Courthouse News, March 3, 2021) BOSTON — A massive lawsuit over the 2013 Lac-Mégantic train explosion put the First Circuit at odds Wednesday over whether legal technicalities are more important than fairness to the victims. As argued by lawyers for dozens of...
BNSF train derails near Ludlow, spilling thousands of gallons of hazardous liquid
(Source: Victorville Daily Press, March 4, 2021) VICTORVILLE, Calif. — A BNSF train derailed in the Mojave Desert on Wednesday afternoon, causing thousands of gallons of flammable liquid to spill from a railcar before crews stopped the leak. Full story: Victorville...
AmeriStarRail wants to privatize Amtrak service on Northeast Corridor
(Source: WHYY, March 4, 2021) PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — AmeriStarRail wants to privatize the rail system on the Northeast Corridor. The group doesn’t want to replace Amtrak, but simply enhance it, they say. Full story: www.whyy.org
NTSB to investigate fatality at BNSF rail yard in Southern California
(Source: Freight Waves, March 4, 2021) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has sent three investigators to determine what led to the early Wednesday morning death of a worker at the La Mirada rail yard near Los Angeles. Full story:...
AAR reports rail traffic for February and the week ending February 27, 2021
(Source: Association of American Railroad press release, March 3, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending February 27, 2021, as well as volumes for February 2021. U.S. railroads...
Bryan Amtrak station to get $3.3 million upgrade
(Source: WTOL, March 4, 2021) BRYAN, Ohio — A multi-million dollar project to bolster transportation is on track for the city of Bryan, Ohio. Built in 1980, the small Amtrak station in Bryan has recently seen an average of 2,600 passengers a year hopping onto the Lake...
Maryland issues environmental assessment for Howard Street rail tunnel project
(Source: Progressive Railroading, March 3, 2021) The Maryland Department of Transportation and Maryland Port Administration (MDOT MPA) have released the environmental assessment (EA) for the reconstruction of the CSX-owned Howard Street Tunnel in Baltimore. Full...
FRA hazmat tank car impact test research
(Source: Railway Age column by Francisco Gonzalez III, March 2, 2021.) NEW YORK — Approximately one out of every four railroad freight cars in North America is a tank car, according to the Association of American Railroads, Railroad Facts, 2019 Edition (p. 38). Each...
AAR says extreme winter weather slows traffic
(Source: Railway Age, March 3, 2021) NEW YORK — The Association of American Railroads, in reporting U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Feb. 27, 2021, as well as volumes for February 2021, noted that volume took a polar vortex hit. Full story: Railway Age
CSX suffers data exposure by hackers
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, March 3, 2021) NEW YORK — CSX has been the victim of a ransomware attack, which became apparent when screenshots of internal CSX files were posted to a "leak site" yesterday. CSX told FreightWaves that it recently discovered the...
Inspector General: Former DOT Secretary Elaine Chao used DOT resources for personal errands, family business
(Source: National Public Radio, March 4, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — In her time as former President Donald Trump's transportation secretary, Elaine Chao repeatedly used her position and agency staff to help family members who run a shipping business with ties to China,...
BLET News
BLET Safety Task Force to investigate Norfolk Southern derailment in Ohio
The BLET National Division has dispatched members of its Safety Task Force to the scene of a major derailment in Columbus, Ohio.
Continuous good standing required to participate in upcoming BLET triennial elections
Triennial elections for BLET Divisions will be held later this year, with nominations being held at each Division’s first regular meeting in September of 2012.
National President’s Staff position available
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) is accepting applications and resumes for a position on the National President’s Staff in the BLET’s National Division Office in Cleveland, Ohio.
Teamsters Rail Conference applauds California vote for high speed rail
The Teamsters Rail Conference applauds the July 6 vote by the California State Senate to pass legislation that will enable high speed rail construction. The new rail system would be the largest public works project in the state and could potentially employ hundreds of unionized maintenance of way workers and locomotive engineers and trainmen who are members of the Teamsters Rail Conference.
Independence Day 2012: Proud to be American, Proud to be Union
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce issued the following statement in honor of our nation’s 236th birthday.
In the Line of Duty: Dan J. Hall, John S. Hall
Three Union Pacific crew members, including two members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, were killed in the line of duty in a head-on rail accident near the town of Goodwell, Okla., at approximately 10 a.m. on June 24.
Whistleblower rights under attack; BLET fights back
The railroad industry has launched a coordinated attack on rights enacted by Congress as part of the Federal Railroad Safety Act (FRSA).
BLETs 85th Southeastern Meeting Association begins in Orlando
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce led members in a moment of silence this afternoon for three Union Pacific railroad workers killed in the line of duty near Goodwell, Okla., on June 24.
Update: New BLET membership cards
The BLET National Division is continuing to receive positive feedback from members after launching a major overhaul of the Organization’s membership card program earlier this month.
Collective bargaining rights are under attack — again
An anti-union bill currently making its way through Congress seeks to undermine the rights of workers to bargain collectively under the guise of higher wages.
