Rail Industry News
Part 1: The rise and fall of the Interstate Commerce Commission
(Source: Freight Waves, November 13, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) was the first independent regulatory agency in the United States, and was created in 1887 when Congress passed the Interstate Commerce Act. During its tenure the...
Bridge repairs continue at site of NS train crash in Roanoke County
(Source: Roanoke Times, November 12, 2020) ROANOKE, Va. — Minor flooding has temporarily slowed repair of a rail crossing over the Roanoke River in Glenvar where a coal train derailed and a bridge dropped two weeks ago. Full story: Roanoke Times
Blueprint released for passenger, freight rail growth in Southern California
(Source: Railway Age, November 12, 2020) NEW YORK — California’s North County Transit District (NCTD) has announced the release of the San Diego Pathing Study, outlining how to phase expansion of passenger and freight rail services along the 351-mile Los Angeles – San...
Progress Rail and PHL sign agreement for battery locomotive
(Source: Pacific Harbor Line press release, November 13, 2020) LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Progress Rail, a Caterpillar company, has reached an agreement with Pacific Harbor Line (PHL) to supply its new EMD® Joule battery electric locomotive for a demonstration project...
APTA: Commuter-rail industry poised to meet PTC deadline
(Source: Progressive Railroading, November 13, 2020) Based on third-quarter reports, the commuter-rail industry is on track to complete full implementation of positive train control (PTC) by the federal government's Dec. 31 deadline, the American Public Transportation...
NJ Transit has seven weeks to meet PTC deadline
(Source: NorthJersey.com, November 12, 2020) BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. — NJ Transit has seven weeks to the day to fully install its positive train control system, or else face a shut down and $27,000-a-day fines in 2021. Full story: www.northjersey.com
Class I railroads expect to meet year-end deadline, then pursue post-PTC implementation advances
(Source: Progressive Railroading, November 12, 2020) Of the 41 freight and commuter railroads that are federally required to implement positive train control (PTC), all but two are on pace to meet the end-of-2020 deadline. Full story: Progressive Railroading
AAR reports rail traffic for week ending November 7, 2020
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, November 11, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending November 7, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 522,028...
MRL to honor veterans, essential workers with special locomotives
(Source: Billings Gazette, November 11, 2020) BILLINGS, Mont. — In honor of veterans across Montana, Montana Rail Link recently unveiled a special locomotive thanking veterans for their service. In the coming weeks, MRL will unveil a second locomotive thanking all...
Daily passenger rail service ends in Spokane; can it come back?
(Source: The Spokesman-Review, November 9, 2020) SPOKANE, Wash. — Amtrak’s Empire Builder had been picking up and dropping off passengers every day in Spokane since 1997. That changed on Oct. 19, when the train that plies a 2,200-mile route from Chicago to Seattle and...
FreightCar America seeks to justify production move to Mexico
(Source: Freight Waves, November 11, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The COVID-19 pandemic, high number of railcars in storage and low rail volumes hastened FreightCar America’s decision to move all of its railcar production to Mexico. Full story: Freight Waves
Opinion: A breakthrough on the Hudson Tunnel with Biden
(Source: Opinion column at www.nj.com by Tom Moran, November 10, 2020) NEWARK, N.J. — The biggest mistake of Gov. Chris Christie’s years in office was not Bridgegate, it was his 2010 decision to cancel plans for a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River. Full story:...
President-Elect Biden adds 27 union leaders to transition team
(Source: UcommBlog, November 11, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — With Joe Biden becoming the President-elect on Saturday, the process of transitioning from Trump to Biden has begun. Even without the help of Trump or the General Services Administration (GSA), Biden is moving...
Intermodal gains offset carload declines, again
(Source: Railway Age, November 11, 2020) NEW YORK — For the week ending Nov. 7, 2020, a significant gain in intermodal once again surpassed a decline in carloads as the pandemic continued. U.S. rail traffic—522,028 carloads and intermodal units — rose 1.3% compared...
Editorial: Amtrak’s future still runs through Baltimore
(Source: Editorial in the Baltimore Sun, November 10, 2020) BALTIMORE, Md. — The contrast could scarcely be sharper. In Baltimore last month, plans for a renovated Pennsylvania Station — a vital anchor in a potential $600 million redevelopment featuring...
Transport Canada revises speed restrictions for trains carrying dangerous goods
(Source: Freight Waves, November 10, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Last Friday, Canadian Minister of Transport Marc Garneau issued a new ministerial order that modifies existing speed restrictions related to the transport of dangerous goods via rail. The new order,...
KCS updates capital allocation policy
(Source: Progressive Railroading, November 10, 2020) Kansas City Southern announced today that its board approved updates to its capital allocation policy. Full story: Progressive Railroading
MBTA holds public meetings after proposing deep service cuts
(Source: NBC Boston, November 11, 2020) BOSTON — The MBTA held the first in a series of public meetings Tuesday to discuss the agency's plan to scale back services as it struggles with low ridership amid the coronavirus pandemic. The MBTA held the first in a series of...
Amtrak reminds Midwest customers to book early for Thanksgiving
(Source: Amtrak press release, November 9, 2020) CHICAGO — Amtrak continues to deliver on a new standard of travel by helping customers travel safely and comfortably throughout the Midwest this Thanksgiving. Passengers on Amtrak Midwest corridor and interregional...
Amtrak celebrates 20 years of Acela with $20 fares
(Source: Amtrak press release, November 10, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — To commemorate 20 years of Acela service throughout the Northeast Corridor (NEC),Amtrak is Acela-celebrating by offering customers the opportunity to travel on its premium product one way in Business...
BLET News
Risk reduction plans for railroads need employee input
Teamsters Rail Conference affiliates Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) were joined by five other rail unions in submitting comments to the Federal Railroad Administration on February 6 regarding implementation of a Congressionally ordered Risk Reduction Program (RRP).
Update from BLET Tax Compliance department
Internal Revenue Service regulations require the BLET National Division to inform its members that a certain portion of your National Division dues are not tax deductible as a miscellaneous itemized deduction on your personal tax returns.
Implementing the agenda
By Dennis R. Pierce
BLET National President
We face many hurdles in this New Year, but the BLET is taking the steps needed to insure that the membership’s needs come first and foremost.
Mike Wolly appointed BLET general counsel
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce has announced that Michael S. Wolly, senior principal of the law firm of Zwerdling, Paul, Kahn & Wolly, P.C., which is headquartered in Washington, D.C., has been appointed General Counsel of the union effective February 1.
Space remains for ST Workshops in Atlanta, Vancouver
The BLET’s Education and Training Department reports that space is still available in upcoming Secretary-Treasurer Compliance Workshops in Atlanta, Ga., and Vancouver, Wash.
Teamsters host scholarship fundraiser in Chicago
All Teamsters are invited to the 2011 James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Dinner in Chicago on Wednesday, March 16.
2011 BLET Scholarship Directory
Each year, the BLET National Division compiles a list of scholarship opportunities available to the children of BLET members. Numerous financial aid opportunities are published here in the 2011 BLET Scholarship Directory.
UnitedHealth Allies offers money-saving program
UnitedHealthcare has made available a new membership booklet for its health discount program, UnitedHealth Allies, which outlines ways BLET members can save money on certain health care purchases.
Education & Training Dept. announces March Local Chairman Workshop
The BLET Education & Training Department will conduct a Local Chairman Workshop on the campus of the University of Illinois-Champaign, starting on Sunday, March 20 and ending the evening of Thursday, March 24.
Deadline for Hoffa Scholarship is March 31
The James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund awards scholarships annually to outstanding high school seniors. The deadline for this year’s program is March 31, 2011.
