Rail Industry News
BLET joins other rail unions to fight for Amtrak funding
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, September 30, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — At a rally in front of the U.S. Capitol today, members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), a division of the Teamsters Rail Conference,...
Transit advocates call on SEPTA to reform regional rail
(Source: WHYY, September 29, 2020) PHILADELPHIA — Institutions across the country are currently heeding the call to examine and dismantle cases of structural racism. As a transportation authority serving a city where people of color make up the majority, SEPTA must do...
CP Holiday Train won’t roll across Canada this year due to pandemic
(Source: CBC News, September 24, 2020) CALGARY — Since 1999, the annual Canadian Pacific Railway Holiday Train has pulled into communities across Canada and the United States to raise money for local food banks. But like so many events deemed unworkable amidst the...
Economy starting to pick up, says incoming CEO of BNSF Railway
(Source: CNBC, September 25, 2020) NEW YORK — Katie Farmer, incoming CEO of BNSF Railway, told CNBC on Friday that her industry has clearly been impacted economically by the coronavirus pandemic, but there’s optimism on the horizon. Full story: CNBC
Grant to help pay for work along Southwest Chief route
(Source: Associated Press, September 29, 2020) ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded Amtrak a $5.6 million grant for track improvements and other work in New Mexico and Colorado along the Southwest Chief passenger train route between...
NJ Transit on track to complete PTC four years after deadly Hoboken crash
(Source: News 12 New Jersey, September 29, 2020) HOBOKEN, N.J. — It has been four years since a deadly train crash at Hoboken Terminal, and New Jersey Transit officials say that it will meet the federal deadline to install a safety system that could prevent similar...
STB rejects Metra’s request for declaratory order in dispute with UP
(Source: Progressive Railroading, September 29, 2020) The Surface Transportation Board (STB) last week denied Metra's request for a declaratory order and a petition for preliminary injunction on issues related to its ongoing dispute with Union Pacific Railroad over...
Democrats propose billions for airlines, transit in virus relief bill
(Source: Roll Call, September 29, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — House Democrats are making a last-ditch effort to help the flailing airline industry avert tens of thousands of layoffs on Oct. 1, tucking into their latest COVID-19 aid bill $25 billion to extend payroll...
Updated HEROES Act provides the financial lifeline transportation workers need and deserve
(Source: AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department press release, September 29, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Larry Willis, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issued this statement on the updated HEROES Act introduced yesterday by U.S. House...
Major rail upgrade in Stockton could help travel and freight for Modesto and beyond
(Source: Modesto Bee, September 29, 2020) MODESTO, Calif. — A major rail upgrade in Stockton could ease travel for passenger and freight trains from Modesto and other parts of the Central Valley. Full story: Modesto Bee
Teamsters mourn death of Local 14 Secretary-Treasurer Larry Griffith
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, September 28, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Teamsters Union is mourning the death of Larry Griffith, Secretary-Treasurer and Principal Officer of Teamsters Local 14 and Western Region International...
Opinion: Amtrak faces death by a thousand cuts
(Source: Opinion column in the Lincoln Journal Star, September 29, 2020) LINCOLN, Neb. — Amtrak's new strategy to eliminate the long-distance trains involves a death-by-a-thousand-cuts course of action. This series of steps aims to weaken the trains and discourage...
Amtrak phases in reduced schedules for long-distance trains
(Source: Albany Times Union, September 28, 2020) ALBANY, N.Y. — Amtrak will reduce the number of days its long-distance trains operate as it deals with a steep decline in passenger boardings in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Most long-distance trains will operate...
Admin and maintenance service is falling behind in the age of PSR, rail shippers say
(Source: Supply Chain Dive, September 28, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The lesser-known pitfalls of the U.S. Class I railroads' conversion to precision-scheduled railroading are delayed responses, billing errors and unreliable maintenance checks, according to a panel of...
Amtrak-led coalition wins another Southwest Chief grant
(Source: La Junta Tribune-Democrat, September 24, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak, committed to the national network of long-distance, interregional trains, is thanking the Federal Railroad Administration for a $5.6 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety...
Rail group says Amtrak cuts will cost Kansas
(Source: Television station WIBW, September 24, 2020) TOPEKA, Kan. — A dramatic drop in passengers has Amtrak poised to make some costly cuts. The Rail Passengers Association says their research shows that Amtrak’s planned cuts will heavily affect at least 30 states,...
Sen. Daines urges fellow Senators to stop Amtrak cuts
(Source: Television station KPAX, September 24, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Steve Daines is urging Senate leaders to take action to block upcoming Amtrak service cuts in Montana. Full story: www.kpax.com
Union Pacific to report Q3 2020 results on October 22
(Source: Union Pacific press release, September 24, 2020) OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Corporation will release third quarter 2020 financial and operating results on Thursday, October 22, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. ET. The company’s management team will host a conference call...
Railway collisions plummet nationwide, but not in Illinois
(Source: Daily Herald, September 28, 2020) CHICAGO — With train traffic decreasing in 2020 because of COVID-19 and Illinoisans hunkering down in the spring, it seems logical that railway crossing crashes would plummet, right? That's true for most of America, but...
Class I railroads eye U.S.-Mexico intermodal opportunities
(Source: Freight Waves, September 23, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The U.S. Class I railroads say they’re ready to handle any influx of business that might occur at the U.S.-Mexico border as a result of nearshoring and shifting consumer patterns. Full story: Freight...
BLET News
BLET Job Bank: Amtrak
Amtrak is recruiting Locomotive Engineers to fill future positions in the following areas: Jacksonville, Fla.; Raleigh, N.C.; Florence, S.C.; Miami, Fla.; Charlotte, N.C.; Lorton, Va. (Auto Train); Washington, D.C.; and Richmond, Va.
BLET, UTU support FMLA improvements
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the United Transportation Union are jointly supporting a House bill to amend the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to clarify eligibility requirements for railroad workers.
BLET mobilizes to help protect Amtrak
Yesterday the State Legislative Board Chairmen and the National Mobilization Team were asked by Vice President and National Legislative Representative John Tolman to get the word out to the membership to call their congressmen and request that they do not support the amendment sponsored by Congressman Bachmann (R-MN) which would have stripped Amtrak of operating and capital funding.
San Antonio to host 2010 SWCM
BLET members will convene in San Antonio, Texas, from September 12-16, 2010, for the 75th annual Southwestern Convention Meeting (SWCM).
Registration still available for EUMA in Pittsburgh
BLET members still have time to make last-minute reservations for the Eastern Union Meeting Association’s 72nd annual convention, slated for Pittsburgh, Pa., from August 8-12, 2010.
Replacement ballots Initiative to change the BLET Bylaws
Ballots were mailed to approximately 37,000 BLET members on July 1 for voting on the initiative petition to change the BLET Bylaws to allow for delegate elections of National officers. Members who did not receive a ballot can request a replacement by calling (866) 260-6820.
BLET to conduct advanced Local Chairman Workshop August 15-20
The BLET Education & Training Department is seeking participants for an advanced Local Chairman Workshop scheduled for August 15-20, 2010, at the National Labor College in Silver Spring, Md.
Mobilization network activated for National Division officer election initiative
The BLET National Division is activating its mobilization network to launch a “get out the vote” campaign regarding the National Division officer election initiative.
VP & NLR John Tolman named to high speed rail panel
BLET Vice President & National Legislative Representative John Tolman has been named to the Advisory Board of the American High Speed Rail Alliance (AHSRA). AHSRA is an organization whose mission is to advocate for the development and implementation of a high speed passenger rail network in the United States.
In the Line of Duty: Darrell Amerson
Darrell Amerson, a member of BLET Division 230, was killed in the line of duty on July 2, 2010, following an accident in a Norfolk Southern yard in Meridian, Miss.
