Rail Industry News
Some commuters are getting a free ride from UP’s refusal to collect fares during the pandemic, costing Metra millions
(Source: Chicago Tribune, August 26, 2020) CHICAGO — Metra, which is struggling financially during the pandemic, said Union Pacific’s refusal to send conductors into the train cars is costing the commuter rail system $1 million a month in lost ticket revenue. Full...
Hurricane Laura expected to disrupt Gulf Coast supply chains beginning Wednesday
(Source: Supply Chain Dive, August 25, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — As Tropical Storm Marco, which threatened the Gulf Coast yesterday, lost strength and fell apart, concern about Hurricane Laura grew. There is potential for a greater than 9-foot storm surge in the...
Class I railroads pressed about service, furloughs
(Source: Freight Waves, August 25, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Surface Transportation Board (STB) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Administrator Ron Batory have sent letters to the CEOs of all seven Class I railroads asking them to resolve service issues...
UP derailment comes close to striking large propane tank in Wyo.
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, August 24, 2020) NEW YORK — Union Pacific has not set a timeline on when a line of track in Albany County, Wyo., will be reopened following a 57-car derailment over the weekend. Full story: Railway Track & Structures
TSB: 2018 uncontrolled movement of coal train in Luscar, Alberta, highlights risks of operating trains on steep mountain grades during extreme cold temperatures
(Source: Transportation Safety Board of Canada press release, August 19, 2020) EDMONTON, Alberta — In its investigation report (R18E0007) released today, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) determined that the 2018 uncontrolled movement of a coal train in...
Environmental groups sue Utah board over oil railway grants
(Source: Salt Lake Tribune, August 24, 2020) SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Utah officials violated federal law last year when they awarded nearly $28 million in grants to plan and develop a railway that oil-producing counties have proposed to connect with the national rail...
Environmental groups, states sue feds over LNG by rail
(Source: Freight Waves, August 24, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Environmental groups, 14 states and the District of Columbia are suing federal agencies over regulation allowing the transport of liquefied natural gas (LNG) via rail. Full story: Freight Waves
North Dakota adjusts oil conditioning requirement following federal oil train decision
(Source: Bismarck Tribune, August 21, 2020) BISMARCK, N.D. — State regulators changed requirements for oil conditioning on Thursday to address part of a federal agency's decision earlier this year regarding oil trains. The North Dakota Industrial Commission voted to...
Class I railroads brace for tropical storms Marco and Laura
(Source: Freight Waves, August 24, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Class I railroads with operations along the U.S. Gulf Coast are bracing for potential impacts from tropical storms Marco and Laura. The timing of the storms’ approach to the Gulf Coast states is packing a...
FRA, STB send joint letter to seven Class I railroads citing service problems
(Source: Railway Age, August 24, 2020) NEW YORK — Curiously timed with the start of the Republican National Convention (or perhaps not so curiously), the Surface Transportation Board and Federal Railroad Administration on Aug. 24 sent joint, identical letters to the...
Editorial: CSX Santa Train will be different this year
(Source: Kingsport Times News, August 24, 2020) KINGSPORT, Tenn. — World War II couldn’t stop the Santa Train. Nor could other wars or early winter storms or flooding. As per the motto of the U.S. Postal Service, “neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night...
High-speed rail heats up in California as Brightline eyes Las Vegas route extensions
(Source: Forbes.com, August 22, 2020) LOS ANGELES — Brightline, the sole private passenger rail service in the U.S., has a green light from transit agencies to begin planning two extensions for its $5 billion high-speed train to Las Vegas that would tie it into...
Labor, passenger group asks STB to issue injunction in Metra-UP dispute
(Source: Progressive Railroading, August 21, 2020) A coalition of labor and passenger-rail groups has written to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) in support of Metra's request for an injunction to require Union Pacific Railroad to continue operating...
BNSF update on wounded police officer
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, August 21, 2020) NEW YORK — On Monday, RT&S reported on the struggle a BNSF police officer had with a trespasser at a Denver BNSF facility last Saturday. The latest information we had at the time of the report was that the officer...
NLRB bans bargaining for COVID-19 safety
(Source: U Comm Blog, August 21, 2020) BAY SHORE, N.Y. — The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has released a series of decisions regarding COVID-19. These decisions are the first guidance that the board has given since the pandemic started in March. In a series...
Crude by rail shipments drop to 8-year low in June, one-tenth of February record
(Source: Canadian Press, August 21, 2020) CALGARY — Canadian exports of crude oil by rail fell to an eight-year low in June as North American fuel demand remained low due to measures taken to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Shipments were 10 times as high in February...
LIRR, Metro-North advance PTC implementation
(Source: Progressive Railroading, August 20, 2020) The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) yesterday announced major progress on implementing positive train control (PTC) on MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and MTA Metro-North Railroad lines. Full story:...
Metra falling further behind budget amid COVID-19 ridership decline, with cost cuts coming down the line
(Source: Chicago Tribune, August 20, 2020) CHICAGO — As the pandemic persists and people stay home in droves, Metra is falling further behind its revenue schedule. The Chicago area’s commuter rail system upped its projected two-year budget deficit to $682.5 million at...
Report shows concerns about NJ Transit missing PTC deadline
(Source: NorthJersey.com, August 13, 2020) BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. — The Federal Railroad Administration reiterated its concerns Wednesday that NJ Transit may not make the positive train control deadline at the end of the year, according to a quarterly update report. Full...
Teamsters pitch in to help Cedar Rapids families
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, August 20, 2020) CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Members of Local 238 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, have opened their union hall, turning it into a help center for local families who were affected by the recent Derecho...
BLET News
White House, unions reach deal on taxing insurance coverage
The White House has reached a tentative agreement with labor leaders to tax high-cost health insurance policies, sources said Thursday. The agreement clears one of the last major obstacles on the path to final passage of comprehensive health care legislation.
New FELA Code of Compliance mailed to officers, posted on website
The BLET National Division mailed copies of its revised Code of Compliance, Protocol for Designation and Rules of Conduct regarding the Designated Legal Counsel program to more than 2,000 union officers today. Copies of the documents are also available on the BLET website.
Hoffa to Congress: Don’t tax our health insurance plans
The last thing the American middle class needs right now is a big new tax on health insurance plans.
BLET marks fifth anniversary of tragic rail crash in Graniteville, S.C.
Today marks the fifth anniversary of the tragic accident in Graniteville, S.C., which took the lives of Teamsters Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) member Chris Seeling and eight others.
Las Vegas S-T Workshop set for January 24-27
The BLET Education and Training Department is continuing to accept registrations for it Secretary-Treasurer Compliance Workshops in Las Vegas from January 24-27, 2010.
Advisory Board Revises Code of Compliance for DLC program
The Advisory Board of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen has revised its Code of Compliance, Protocol for Designation and Rules of Conduct regarding the attorneys it recommends to its members who are injured on the job (commonly referred to as “Designated Legal Counsel”).
“Retirement Made Easy” planning kit available
Are you nearing retirement age? If so, then you may want to obtain a “Retirement Made Easy Kit” from United Healthcare.
Obituary: Father of BLET member Ken Kroeger passes
The BLET National Division extends condolences to BLET member Ken Kroeger and his family following the passing of Kroeger’s father on the evening of Christmas. Brother Kroeger is a member of BLET Division 28 in Tucson, Ariz., and he serves the National Division as Coordinator of the Education & Training Department and as a Special Representative.
Call to action! Protect our members against unfair excise tax
All BLET members should immediately call their members of the House of Representatives and insist that they sign on to a letter circulated by Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT) opposing the excise tax on health insurance included in the Senate’s health care legislation, which passed on December 24.
Call to action! Protect our members against unfair excise tax
The following 190 members of the House of Representatives have signed on to the letter: Joe Courtney (CT-02) Neil Abercrombie (HI-01) Gary Ackerman (NY-05) Robert Andrews (NJ-01) Michael Arcuri (NY-24) Joe Baca (CA-43) Tammy Baldwin (WI-02) Shelley Berkley (NV-01)...
