Rail Industry News
Class I employment continues downward trend
(Source: Progressive Railroading, November 20, 2020) Class Is as of mid-October employed 116,804 people, down 1.12% from mid-September's level and down 13.21% from October's 2019 count, according to Surface Transportation Board (STB) data. All six employment...
CSX employee killed in Fostoria rail yard
(Source: Television 13 ABC, November 22, 2020) FOSTORIA, Ohio — According to a spokesperson for CSX, an employee was “fatally injured while performing work this morning at our rail yard in Fostoria, Ohio.” Full story: www.13abc.com
NTSB, FRA begin investigation into fatal accident in Alabama
(Source: Television station WALA, November 18, 2020) PRICHARD, Ala. — Representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Railroad Administration told FOX10 News they are jointly investigating the matter. In addition, Prichard police late...
MTA’s “doomsday” budget calls for deep service cuts
(Source: www.ny1.com, November 18, 2020) NEW YORK — "Ugly” and “grim” - that’s how MTA officials described a budget that would drastically slash service and jobs - set to hit the riding public in May, unless the agency gets its federal bailout. Full story:...
MBTA employees, commuters rally against proposed service cuts
(Source: NBC Boston, November 19, 2020) BOSTON — A group of MBTA employees and commuters were scheduled to hold a rolling rally outside the agency's Boston headquarters on Thursday morning to speak out against proposed service cuts. Full story: NBC Boston
Carload volume deficit narrows as retail sales climb
(Source: Freight Waves, November 19, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — U.S. carload traffic narrowed its year-over-year deficit last week, with carloads down only 3.1% compared with the same period in 2019, according to the Association of American Railroads. U.S. carload...
More CN layoffs only if business slows dramatically during second wave of COVID, CEO says
(Source: Canadian Press, November 18, 2020) MONTREAL — CN Rail may only have to consider another painful round of layoffs if COVID-19's second wave causes shipping volumes to drop dramatically again, its chief executive said Wednesday. Full story: www.ctvnews.ca
Clock is ticking for 110-year-old Hudson River rail tunnel
(Source: Associated Press, November 19, 2020) NEW YORK — Myriad problems in the Hudson River rail tunnel must be addressed in the next few years to avoid what officials say are potentially catastrophic failures before a new tunnel is finally built, a...
AAR reports rail traffic for week ending November 14
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, November 14, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending November 14, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was...
Teamsters mourn passing of Tom Keegel
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, November 20, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — C. Thomas “Tom” Keegel, General Secretary-Treasurer Emeritus of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, passed away on Thursday, November 19, 2020 following a...
Containerized grain shippers feeling brunt of tight market
(Source: Freight Waves, November 18, 2020) CHATTANOOG, Tenn. — North American containerized grain shippers are feeling the effects of the tight container market and there’s no relief in sight. Full story: Freight Waves
Amtrak, northeast transit agencies launch “Mask Force”
(Source: Progressive Railroading, November 18, 2020) Amtrak, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority(MTA), Port Authority of New York and New Jersey(PANYNJ), New Jersey Transit and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) have joined forces to...
NY legislator calls for reversal of rule allowing LNG by rail
(Source: Rochester City Newspaper, November 18, 2020) ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rep. Joe Morelle is calling on a federal agency to reverse a new rule that allows railroad tankers carrying liquefied natural gas to roll through Monroe County. Full story: Rochester City...
AAR: Intermodal registers double-digit gains in most recent week
(Source: Railway Age, November 18, 2020) NEW YORK — For the week ending Nov. 14, 2020, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 527,462 carloads and intermodal units, up 5.2% compared with the same week last year, based on a double-digit intermodal gain, the Association of...
COVID cases affecting CSX employees
(Source: Jacksonville Daily Record, November 19, 2020) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — After the initial COVID-19 outbreak slowed freight traffic in the spring, CSX Corp. has seen increased business on its rail lines as the economy recovers. However, the recent spike in COVID...
For House Rail Subcommittee, an earful on multiple matters at Nov. 17 hearing
(Source: Railway Age, November 19, 2020) NEW YORK — “Examining the Surface Transportation Board’s Role in Ensuring a Robust Passenger Rail System” was the topic of a virtual Nov. 17 hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and...
NJ Transit is only U.S. railroad in danger of missing PTC deadline
(Source: www.nj.com, November 18, 2020) NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit is the only railroad still at risk of losing the race to have a federally mandated safety system approved and in operation by a Dec. 31 deadline, a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) report released...
FRA publishes Q3 2020 PTC status report, says PTC operating on 99.6% of required route miles
(Source: Federal Railroad Administration press release, November 18, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today released a quarterly status update on railroads’ self-reported progress, as of September...
SEPTA, Amtrak, PennDOT to improve signaling on Harrisburg line
(Source: Railway Age, November 17, 2020) NEW YORK — Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), in conjunction with Amtrak and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), will upgrade the signaling and train control system between Paoli...
BNSF addresses blocked crossings in Grand Island, but state regulators dismayed by slow response
(Source: Nebraska.tv, November 17, 2020) GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — Burlington Northern Santa Fe has addressed concerns about blocked crossings in the Grand Island area, but state regulators are "dismayed" it took formal action to force the railroad to act. Full story:...
BLET News
Sample resolutions available
As BLET National President Dennis Pierce wrote yesterday, the time to get involved is now.
Waiting list established for BLET General Chairman workshop
The BLET Education & Training Department reports that the General Chairman’s workshop scheduled for St. Louis, Mo., the week of April 17 is full. However, a waiting list has been established in case someone drops out.
The time to be involved is now
By Dennis R. Pierce
BLET National President As I have often said, one of the primary objectives of my Administration is to promote increased involvement by BLET officers and members alike. To put it bluntly, trade unionism is not a spectator sport; it is a participation sport where we can ill afford to sit back and let others decide our future. And moving from talk into action was never more urgent than it is today.
BLET members invited to massive labor rally in Indianapolis on March 10
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen is one of many unions planning a massive pro-union rally in Indianapolis at 10:30 a.m. on March 10.
BLET supports member, protects FELA before Supreme Court
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and 10 other Rail Labor unions are headed to the U.S. Supreme Court later this month to protect the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA).
BLET mobilizes to protect democratic representation elections
The National Division has activated the BLET’s national mobilization network to fight an effort by the Republican leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives to turn the clock back on how representation elections are conducted under the Railway Labor Act by the National Mediation Board (NMB).
BLET members rally to stop the war on workers
As a follow up to the BLET’s February 25 News Flash, countless members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen have remained on the front lines in recent days and engaged in solidarity rallies to oppose the war on workers in Wisconsin, Ohio, and other states.
Rigsby reelected Chairman of Georgia State Legislative Board
James Rigsby was reelected Chairman of the Georgia State Legislative Board at quadrennial meetings in Atlanta from February 7-9, 2011.
President Obama nominates Walt Barrows to RRB Labor Member post
Walter A. Barrows, the candidate unanimously endorsed by the BLET and the Teamsters Rail Conference Policy Committee, has been nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as the Labor Member of the Railroad Retirement Board.
Pierce urges BLET members: Join me in Columbus for huge labor rally
BLET National President Dennis Pierce is making a personal plea for BLET members to join him at a huge pro-labor rally tomorrow (March 1) in Columbus, Ohio, to protest the ongoing attacks against public sector unions and middle class Americans.
