Rail Industry News
Canadian railways notch record third-quarter grain haul as global demand continues to grow
(Source: Canadian Press, October 2, 2020) MONTREAL — Canada's two main railways notched another record-setting quarter for grain shipments, benefiting from strong global demand, a bumper crop, efficient cars and more capacity due to smaller hauls of other products...
Winter weather, COVID-19, trade uncertainties factor into Canadian railways’ operational plans
(Source: Freight Waves, October 5, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Uncertainties surrounding the coronavirus pandemic could provide an additional layer of challenge as Canadian railways CN and Canadian Pacific conduct their operations this winter. The Canadian government’s...
Permit in hand, entrepreneur advances Alaska-Alberta railway
(Source: Bloomberg, October 2, 2020) NEW YORK — The team behind the proposed Alaska to Alberta railway aims to start prep work for construction in December, with a goal of getting the $17 billion cross-border railroad running by 2025. Full story: www.jwenergy.com
DOT turns down labor request for national mask rule
(Source: Rolling Stone, October 3, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a little-noticed ruling on Friday evening, the Trump administration rejected a petition by a coalition of labor unions that had asked the federal government to require passengers to wear masks on...
Second daily round-trip train between Twin Cities, Chicago edges closer to reality
(Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune, October 3, 2020) MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Longstanding efforts to add a second daily Amtrak train between the Twin Cities and Chicago received a big boost recently when federal funders kicked in nearly $32 million to help see the project...
Amtrak’s Empire Builder set to reduce train service to Minot from 7 days to 3
(Source: Minot Daily News, October 2, 2020) MINOT, N.D. — Amtrak announced it would be happening and soon it will be a reality. The famed Empire Builder passenger train that has long had seven-day service to Minot and other points in the state is about to cut four...
CP reports another grain record
(Source: Canadian Pacific Railway press release, October 2, 2020) CALGARY — Canadian Pacific achieved its best-ever third quarter for Canadian grain and grain products shipments, moving 7.72 million metric tonnes (MMT) in 2020 vs. 6.97 MMT during the previous...
Barrington officials: New rule for LNG on trains has “quite acute” potential for catastrophe
(Source: Daily Herald, October 5, 2020) CHICAGO — A new player, liquefied natural gas, has joined the list of hazardous materials cruising through Illinois by train -- a move the federal government says is safe but raises fears of out-of-control fires and explosions...
UP will begin fare collection on Metra lines
(Source: Union Pacific press release, October 2, 2020) OMAHA, Neb. — Effective Monday, Oct. 5, Chicago commuters riding the UP North, Northwest and West Metra lines must show a valid ticket when boarding an outbound train or upon arrival at Ogilvie Transportation...
STB: Five Class Is were “revenue adequate” in 2019
(Source: Progressive Railroading, October 2, 2020) The Surface Transportation Board (STB) announced yesterday that BNSF Railway Co., CSX, Norfolk Southern Railway's combined subsidiaries, Canadian Pacific's Soo Line Corp. and Union Pacific Railroad achieved "revenue...
Government shutdown avoided, FAST Act extended by a year
(Source: Progressive Railroading, October 1, 2020) Congress yesterday passed and President Donald Trump last night signed legislation to prevent a government shutdown by continuing to fund federal programs at current levels through Dec. 11. Full story: Progressive...
BNSF, OmniTrax look to develop sites in Ohio, Colorado
(Source: Freight Waves, October 1, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Western U.S. railroad BNSF and short line operator OmniTrax are seeking to develop properties in the U.S. interior. Full story: Freight Waves
Intermodal partially saves the day, again: AAR
(Source: Railway Age, September 30, 2020) NEW YORK — For the week ending Sept. 26, 2020, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 518,290 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.1% compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week, at 224,146 carloads and...
AAR reports rail traffic for week ending September 26, 2020
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, September 30, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending September 26, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was...
16,000 commuters grade NJ Transit’s service, cleanliness in second coronavirus survey
(Source: www.nj.com, September 30, 2020) NEWARK, N.J. — Essential workers continue to be the backbone of NJ Transit’s ridership, especially on local buses in North and South Jersey that saw the biggest gains, according to a second coronavirus travel survey. Full...
Wisconsin-Minnesota passenger rail project selected to receive $31.8 million federal grant
(Source: WEAU, September 30, 2020) EAU CLAIRE, Wisc. — The joint Wisconsin-Minnesota Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago (TCMC) Passenger Rail Project has been selected to receive a $31.8 million federal rail grant. The TCMC project will add an additional daily round-trip...
NS to hold Q3 2020 earnings conference call on October 28
(Source: Norfolk Southern press release, September 30, 2020) NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern Corporation will announce its third-quarter financial results during a conference call and live internet webcast at 8:45 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020. Quarterly...
Biden rides Amtrak to stump through Trump-friendly southwestern PA
(Source: Associated Press, September 30, 2020) JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — Joe Biden capped a daylong train tour through Ohio and Pennsylvania on Wednesday by reaching back to a core part of his political identity: decades spent taking Amtrak from Washington home to Delaware...
Intermodal up but rail carloads down last week
(Source: Freight Waves, September 30, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — U.S. rail traffic on a weekly basis was mixed for the week that ended last Saturday, according to the Association of American Railroads. Intermodal volumes were up but carloads were down. The U.S....
Amtrak workers rally to call on Congress to preserve jobs
(Source: Progressive Railroading, September 30, 2020) Unionized Amtrak workers, led by rail labor organizations, today will rally in Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles to urge members of Congress to provide emergency funding to Amtrak to prevent...
BLET News
Teamsters Rail Conference supports Barrows nomination
The Teamsters Rail Conference Policy Committee, in a unanimous decision, will support submitting the name of Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen International Secretary-Treasurer Walt Barrows for nomination to the post of Labor Member, United States Railroad Retirement Board.
Final effort to collect dependent Social Security Numbers to comply with federal law
A new federal law passed under the Bush administration and just now coming into effect requires the reporting of Social Security Numbers (SSNs) for covered dependents to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This includes participants of all medical plans, including: The Railroad Employees National Health and Welfare Plan; and The National Railway Carriers and United Transportation Union Health and Welfare Plan. In addition, if a covered dependent is eligible for Medicare, then the Medicare Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN) is also required.
BLET to conduct Local Chairman Workshop Oct. 31-Nov. 4
The BLET Education & Training Department is seeking participants for a Local Chairman Workshop scheduled for October 31-November 4, 2010, at the National Labor College in Silver Spring, Md.
Bryan Aldridge reelected by acclamation in Kentucky
Bryan Aldridge was reelected by acclamation to continue serving as Chairman of the Kentucky State Legislative Board at quadrennial meetings in Frankfort, Ky., from September 1-2, 2010.
Welcome back, old friend
It is with great pride that the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen announces the return of its esteemed quarterly magazine, Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Journal.
BLET members ratify DM&E contract
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen ratified a new five-year collective bargaining agreement with the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern (DM&E) Railroad on August 23.
Labor Day 2010
A Labor Day message from BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce
Members vote to retain rank and file vote for National Division Officers
By a margin of 72% to 28%, members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) voted today to retain rank and file elections for National Division Officers when they rejected an initiative that would have provided for delegate election of National Division officers.
SWCM registration deadlines approaching soon
Two important deadlines are coming up for BLET members planning to attend the Southwestern Convention Meeting (SWCM) next month in San Antonio, Texas.
Divisions must be ””square on the books”” to seat delegates
With the upcoming Second National Convention of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen scheduled for October 4-7, all BLET Divisions are reminded that their Secretary-Treasurers must file their monthly dues reports in a timely fashion in order to seat their delegates at the convention.
