Rail Industry News
STB’s Oberman rips into Union Pacific CEO Vena
One who didn’t receive compliments was Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena, who assumed the role in August.
STB Chairman Oberman will not seek reappointment
Oberman, 78, used his position as a bully pulpit to criticize railroads and encourage them to reach their potential by hauling more of the nation’s freight.
Teamsters end tiered health care at Anheuser-Busch, restore retiree benefits
General President O’Brien said: “This tentative agreement is a resounding victory for our rank-and-file members fighting tooth-and-nail for a record contract at Anheuser-Busch. But there is more ground to cover to make sure workers are protected and respected at this company. The fight is not over.”
AAR: Rail traffic above 2022 levels through first 45 weeks of 2023
U.S. Class I railroads hauled 497,348 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending Nov. 11, 2023 (Week 45)—rising 3.4% from the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Nov. 15.
Railroads once again emphasize interline intermodal as way to compete with trucks
Class I railroads, which pruned their interline intermodal service as the Precision Scheduled Railroading operating model spread in the U.S. over the past few years, have rediscovered joint service and say it’s a way to capture freight moving on the highway.
Ohio business owner sues NS for East Palestine derailment that closed his companies
A business owner with companies near where a Norfolk Southern train derailed and caught fire in February has sued the railroad for $500 million, saying most of his eastern Ohio companies have remained closed and he hasn’t been able to reach a financial settlement with the railroad.
“Do your job.” How the railroad industry intimidates employees into putting speed before safety
To squeeze the most money out of every minute, railroad companies are going to dangerous lengths to avoid disruptions — even those for safety repairs.
BNSF and J.B. Hunt shift Mexico cross-border intermodal service to Ferromex via Eagle Pass gateway
BNSF Railway and J.B. Hunt are shifting their Mexico intermodal service to Ferromex via the Eagle Pass gateway, a route they say is a day faster than the current BNSF-Canadian Pacific Kansas City routing via Laredo, Texas.
STB to form passenger rail advisory committee
The committee will provide nonbinding advice and recommendations on passenger-rail service issues, including those impacting intercity- and commuter-rail passengers and operators, government entities, freight-rail carriers and their customers, railway labor and the general public.
TWU Local 234 members ratify new one-year contracts with SEPTA
The agreements include across-the-board wage increases of seven percent and a $3,000 bonus for each represented employee.
Opinion: Let’s make Colorado’s railroads safer
Recent derailments clearly show the dangers that long trains carrying toxic substances pose for the environment. Shipping toxic chemicals through our communities and alongside our rivers and streams is a horrible idea destined for disaster. We need to do better.
California locomotive emissions regulations can be tougher than federal standards, EPA says
The policy change, which goes into effect on Dec. 8, means the California Air Resources Board’s controversial locomotive emissions regulations will not run afoul of federal preemption of state and local regulations.
BNSF and coal producer settle common carrier dispute
BNSF Railway and Navajo Transitional Energy Co. (NTEC) have reached a settlement that will end the coal miner’s common carrier complaint against the railroad.
Amtrak’s unsung rail renaissance
On several rail-friendly corridors — big city pairs less than 300 miles apart — train travel will go from an eccentric travel option to a perfectly logical one.
AAR: North American rail volume down through first 44 weeks of 2023
Through the first 44 weeks of 2023 (ending November 4), total North American carload and intermodal traffic decreased 3.4% from the same point last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported November 8.
Mexican president wants to force private freight rail companies to schedule passenger service
Mexico’s president announced Wednesday that he will require private rail companies that mostly carry freight to offer passenger service or else have the government schedule its own trains on their tracks.
Railroads and shippers criticize proposed reciprocal switching rule
The Surface Transportation Board received numerous comments on its proposed reciprocal switching rule this week, with predictable results: Railroads say the rule goes too far. Shippers say it doesn’t go far enough. And rail labor says reciprocal switching threatens their seniority rules.
Read rail stakeholders input on reciprocal switching proposal
While STB continues to post comment filings to its website, Railway Age provides highlights on its website at the link below.
Amtrak awarded federal funds for 12 projects of national significance totaling nearly $10 billion across America’s busiest rail corridor
Amtrak has been awarded nearly $10 billion in Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) funding from the Biden-Harris Administration to modernize critical infrastructure, improve stations and support future ridership growth on the Northeast Corridor (NEC).
Cincinnati voters approve sale of city-owned railroad to Norfolk Southern
The city currently receives about $25 million annually from NS. Cincinnati officials announced in November 2022 that they were considering selling the railway to NS for $1.62 billion to help fund city infrastructure improvements.
BLET News
2025 BLET Scholarship Directory: Financial aid is available to the dependents of BLET members
BLET members and their dependents seeking academic scholarships are encouraged to explore the 2025 BLET Scholarship Directory, a resource for a variety of financial aid programs. If you or a family member are looking for scholarship opportunities, don’t delay....
Rep. Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania appointed Vice Ranking Member of House Rail Subcommittee
U.S. Representative Chris Deluzio at a 2024 roundtable discussion on rail safety. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee image ____________________ On January 22, it was announced that Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA) will serve as the Vice Ranking Member of the...
Duffy sworn in as new US DOT Secretary; Tells the Senate he will back FRA two-person crew regulation
In a positive development for rail safety, Sean Duffy, the newly-confirmed Secretary of U.S. Department of Transportation, testified that he would support the Federal Railroad Administration’s minimum crew size regulation during a Senate confirmation hearing on...
Teamsters Rail Conference calls on VP Vance to “hold railroad executives’ feet to the fire in pursuit of safer railroads”
Monday, Feb. 3 marks two years since the toxic train wreck and fire caused by the derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight train in East Palestine, Ohio. Shortly after the wreck and a visit by then-candidate Donald Trump to the crash site, then-Senator J.D. Vance...
BLET meets with new New Jersey Transit CEO
Representatives from the BLET met with New Jersey Transit (NJT) executives, including new CEO Kris Kolluri, on January 30 in an effort to reach a voluntary resolution to the lengthy contract dispute. BLET Vice President Jim Louis, who heads the union’s Passenger Rail...
RRB news: Details on implementation of the REEF Act
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has prepared a helpful list of Questions & Answers regarding the Railroad Employee Equity and Fairness (REEF) Act, which was recently signed into law. Under the new law, benefits paid under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance...
Massachusetts: Chairman Cadogan raises BLET’s issues with Governor Healey
Brother Dan Cadogan (pictured, right), Chairman of the New England Legislative Board, met with Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey on January 13. Representing the views of BLET members in the Bay State, Cadogan addressed quality of life issues for commuter rail...
Attention retirees: New law can increase payments to recipients of public pensions
The Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law on January 5, 2025, will end two statutory reductions for railroad retirees, their spouses, and survivors who are receiving public pensions from work not covered by social security. The repeal of these provisions means...
Career opportunity: BLET seeks applicants for the National Division’s Director of Arbitration
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) is presently seeking applicants for the Director of the Arbitration Department to join our National Division office team. The successful candidate will have the flexibility to work remotely, but will be...
BLET Education & Training Dept. announces 2025 officer training schedule
The BLET Education & Training Department is offering a full slate of training opportunities throughout the coming year. All BLET officers are encouraged to attend, especially first-time officers who were elected during the 2024 Triennial Election cycle. The 2025...
