Rail Industry News
Weekly U.S. rail traffic rises on higher intermodal volumes
(Source: Freight Waves, October 29, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — U.S. rail volumes on a weekly basis rose nearly 2% amid a 9% increase in intermodal traffic. U.S. rail traffic was 522,653 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending Oct. 24, which is 1.9% higher...
78th annual Santa Train gift distribution locations announced
(Source: Johnson City Press, October 30, 2020) KINGSPORT, Tenn. — Sponsors of the 78th annual Santa Train have announced locations and safety details for this year’s event. Full story: Johnson City Press
Safer future for rail transportation of hazardous materials being developed
(Source: www.phys.org, October 28, 2020) CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A team of West Virginia University researchers are making railways safer by developing a Band-Aid-like protective jacket for tank cars that haul hazardous materials. The composite material, because of its...
Opinion: Don’t gut MBTA during the pandemic because front-line workers need it
(Source: Opinion column at WBUR.org by Mike Vartabedian and Olivia Nichols, October 30, 2020) BOSTON — For decades, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has suffered from a chronic lack of investment. The bottom fell out during the record-breaking winter...
Norfolk Southern works to woo shippers with “truck-like” offerings
(Source: Supply Chain Dive, October 29, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — During its Q3 2020 earnings conference call, Norfolk Southern referred to new product offerings as "truck competitive" or "truck-like" — a sign it is targeting those shippers for new intermodal business....
Case preview: Supreme Court to consider power of courts to review requests to reopen railroad benefit decisions
(Source: SCOTUS Blog, October 29, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The court will hear argument on Monday, Nov. 2, in Salinas v. U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, a case involving two of these statutes, the Railroad Retirement Act and the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act,...
Inspector general: More Amtrak safety workers need drug testing
(Source: Roll Call, October 29, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak conducts random drug tests on conductors and engineers but fails to include about 4,000 other employees who work in safety-related positions, the company's inspector general said in a new report released...
KCS derailment in Texas leaks corrosive product, prompts evacuation orders for 600 people; no injuries reported
(Source: USA Today, October 29, 2020) MAURICEVILLE, Texas — A Kansas City Southern train derailed around 7:30 a.m. in Mauriceville, Texas, near the state's border with Louisiana. The derailment involved 25 cars, according to the Orange County Office of Emergency...
AAR reports rail traffic for week ending October 24, 2020
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, October 28, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending October 24, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 522,653...
Take a video tour of Amtrak’s new Acela
(Source: Railway Age, October 28, 2020) NEW YORK — In a newly released video, Amtrak Vice President Northeast Corridor Service Line Caroline Decker takes viewers on a tour of the onboard amenities and features that customers will be able to enjoy when the next...
Norfolk Southern monitors Hurricane Zeta
(Source: Norfolk Southern service alert, October 28, 2020) NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern continues to monitor Hurricane Zeta which is now a Category 2 hurricane that is currently affecting the Gulf Coast and will make landfall along the central gulf coast early this...
BMWED members picket CP Rail in Clinton, Iowa
(Source: Clinton Herald, October 28, 2020) CLINTON, Iowa — Union workers picketed Canadian Pacific Railway in Clinton on Tuesday, saying that CP refuses to abide by an arbiter’s decision in a wage dispute. Full story: Clinton Herald
DOT announces $291 million in “state of good repair” grants for rail projects in 9 states
(Source: U.S. Department of Transportation press release, October 28, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao today announced an investment of more than $291 million in grants for 11 intercity passenger rail projects in nine states...
Freight rail benefits from intercity passenger rail grants
(Source: Freight Waves, October 28, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is awarding $291 million to 11 intercity passenger rail projects in nine states as part of the Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Program....
NS to close several yards in drive to ramp up efficiency
(Source: Freight Waves, October 28, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Norfolk Southern will be closing “several” yards in Atlanta, and it will cease humping operations at its Macon, Georgia, yard as part of a wider plan to ramp up network efficiency. The changes, which will...
Norfolk Southern reports overall revenue down 12% in Q3 2020
(Source: Freight Waves, October 28, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Coal chiseled away at Norfolk Southern’s operating revenue for the third quarter of 2020, with a 38% decline in coal revenue dragging overall revenue down by 12%. Operating revenue was $2.5 billion for the...
West Memphis readies campaign to bring jobs to 1,800-acre megasite
(Source: Memphis Commercial Appeal, October 27, 2020) MEMPHIS, Tenn. — West Memphis officials plan to launch a national marketing campaign for an 1,800-acre industrial site on Interstate 40. West Memphis will tout the I-40 Megasite's nearby intersection with...
Superior official says BNSF will resume payments to homeowners near taconite facility
(Source: Wisconsin Public Radio, October 27, 2020) SUPERIOR, Wisc. — BNSF Railway will resume payments to homeowners seeking reimbursement for cleaning up taconite dust that comes from a local processing facility, says a Superior official. Full story: www.wpr.org
Las Vegas high-speed rail project, rebranded Brightline West, reveals details on construction plans
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, October 27, 2020) NEW YORK — The high-speed line that will run from Las Vegas to southern California is coming to life these days. Brightline has released a construction schedule for the service, which will be called Brightline...
Bonding bill snub holds up second Amtrak train between St. Paul and Chicago
(Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press, October 27, 2020) ST. PAUL, Minn. — Meeting in their fifth special session of the year, lawmakers adjourned earlier this month after approving a nearly $2 billion bonding bill that did not include funding for the Twin...
BLET News
Revised Federal income tax withholding for many RRB annuitants
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has adjusted the railroad retirement benefits of over 140,000 beneficiaries to apply new Federal income tax withholding rates.
Watts memorial fund established for fallen Brother
A memorial fund has been established for the family of Brother Stanley L. Watts, 43, a Norfolk Southern engineer who was killed in a switching accident in Kankakee, Ill., on February 8.
In the line of duty: Stanley L. Watts
Stanley L. Watts, Secretary-Treasurer of BLET Division 354 (Kankakee, Ill.), was killed in the line of duty on February 8 following a switching accident at a Norfolk Southern yard in Kankakee, Ill.
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.
