Rail Industry News
With low ridership, MBTA is facing $400 million budget shortfall next year, study says
(Source: Boston Globe, August 17, 2020) BOSTON — With mostly empty trains still rumbling through Boston, an emergency influx of federal funding is helping the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority paper over massive declines in fares and other revenue. But...
BNSF closes maintenance facility in Montana
(Source: Freight Waves, August 17, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — BNSF has closed a maintenance facility in Glendive, Montana, amid customers’ changing business conditions and lower demand projections for railcars to ship commodities such as coal and energy. Full story:...
DNC features Joe Biden and Amtrak workers in video
(Source: Newsweek, August 17, 2020) NEW YORK — A video showing Joe Biden's famous appreciation and support for Amtrak has been praised as one of the highlights of the first day of the Democratic National Convention. Full story: Newsweek
A 1930s Mark Twain Zephyr train is being restored to its former Art Deco glory in northern Wisconsin
(Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, August 15, 2020) TREGO, Wisc. — Walking through the dust and dirt of the rail yard, Robert Tabern stopped to point to a tiny door at the side of an Art Deco-styled train engine that had seen better days. Full story: Milwaukee...
BNSF closes Glendive facility as commerce plummets
(Source: Daily Inter Lake, August 16, 2020) KALISPELL, Mont. — BNSF Railway Co. closed its maintenance facility in Glendive last month, cutting approximately 85 jobs. The closure is one of many changes coming down the line to Montana railroads due to the wide-ranging...
High-speed rail projects move forward despite coronavirus
(Source: Construction Dive, August 15, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — With more people working remotely, transportation agencies have found themselves with less revenue, which could mean fewer expansions of commuter transit services and a diminished ability to stay current...
Amtrak working on plan to fix 85-year-old rail bridge in Newark that delays 3 railroads
(Source: www.nj.com, August 16, 2020) NEWARK, N.J. — When the ancient Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River gets stuck in the open position, it delays riders on two railroads -- NJ Transit and Amtrak. But when the enormous Dock Bridge next to Newark Penn Station has...
BNSF police officer in critical condition after being stabbed
(Source: Denver Post, August 15, 2020) DENVER — A BNSF Railway police officer shot and killed a suspect Saturday after the man stabbed the officer multiple times during an arrest. The officer is in critical but stable condition. Full story: Denver Post
2 CN Rail crew members struck by vehicle while repairing track near Edmonton
(Source: Global News, August 15, 2020) EDMONTON — Two CN Rail crew members are in hospital with serious injuries after being struck by a vehicle while doing track repairs west of Edmonton Friday evening. Full story: www.globanews.ca
Class I railroads closer to fully implementing PTC
(Source: Freight Waves, August 14, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The U.S. operations of the Class I railroads are closer to reaching full compliance with the federal mandate to implement positive train control (PTC) by the end of December, according to data from the...
CP to build solar energy farm in Calgary
(Source: Progressive Railroading, August 13, 2020) Canadian Pacific has begun installation of a solar energy farm at its corporate headquarters in Calgary, Alberta. Full story: Progressive Railroading
Amtrak spells out long distance plans
(Source: Railway Age, August 13, 2020) NEW YORK — Amtrak has released a paper in which it says it “is committed to operating a national rail network that serves customers across the United States,” including daily long-distance services, provided certain conditions...
Train rolls across Tempe bridge two weeks after derailment, fire, bridge collapse
(Source: www.azfamily.com, August 13, 2020) TEMPE, Ariz. — Just two weeks after a train derailment and bridge collapse caused a massive fire in Tempe, trains are rolling once again. Full story: www.azfamily.com
CSX Santa Train won’t run this year
(Source: Kingsport Times News, August 13, 2020) KINGSPORT, Tenn. — The 78th annual Santa Train will be a first, adding a new twist to the regional tradition’s storied history. CSX and its Santa Train partners have an alternative plan for this year’s event in response...
CSX EVP Goldman sells $1.9 million in company stock
(Source: Guru Focus, August 13, 2020) NEW YORK — EVP & CLO of CSX Corp. Nathan D Goldman sold 25,000 shares of CSX on August 11, 2020, at an average price of $75.54 a share. The total sale was $1.9 million. Full story: Yahoo Finance
Intermodal traffic posts 2% gain, but U.S. carloads fall 15.6%
(Source: Freight Waves, August 13, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — U.S. weekly intermodal volumes were nearly 2% higher last week, ending a months-long slump where traffic was lower compared with year-ago levels. However, weekly carloads still posted double-digit...
AAR: Rail traffic down again during week ending August 8, 2020
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, August 12, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending August 8, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 497,397...
Amtrak completes PTC implementation
(Source: Railway Age, August 13, 2020) NEW YORK — Following installation on approximately one mile of slow-speed track in the Chicago terminal, Amtrak has now implemented Positive Train Control (PTC) on all of its owned or controlled tracks and locomotives. Full...
FRA: PTC operating on nearly all route miles as of Q2
(Source: Progressive Railroading, August 13, 2020) As of June 30, positive train control (PTC) systems are governing operations on nearly 99 percent of all 57,537-PTC mandated rail route miles, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced yesterday. Full story:...
CP marks expanded intermodal offerings in Eastern Canada
(Source: Freight Waves, August 12, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Canadian Pacific launched its foray into Eastern Canada intermodal service on Tuesday, sending its first westbound intermodal train from Brownville Junction, Maine, and through the Port of St. John to...
BLET News
BLET to conduct LM-2 GCA Secretary-Treasurer Workshop
In January 2010, the BLET Education and Training Department will conduct a workshop for all Secretary-Treasurers who file an LM-2 Report for their General Committee of Adjustment or Division. The workshop will be held January 10-13, 2010 in Phoenix, Ariz.
Fund established to assist young BLET family
The members of BLET Division 160 (Harvey, N.D.) are rallying around their Vice Local Chairman who is struggling through a difficult time due to a death in the family.
Lifetime maximum increases under GA-46000
Effective January 1, 2010, the lifetime maximum will increase from $113,000 to $118,900 under the Railroad Employees Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit Plan (ERMA or GA-46000).
BLET looking for Human Rights Commission volunteers
In today’s world everyone is extremely busy, but it’s important for all of us to remember, “Teamsters are people helping people.”
Fund established to assist young BLET family
The members of BLET Division 160 (Harvey, N.D.) are rallying around their Vice Local Chairman who is struggling through a difficult time due to a death in the family.
Thanksgiving 2009
By Paul T. Sorrow
National President
On the occasion of Thanksgiving, we have many blessings to be thankful for — our families, our jobs our homes, and never to be overlooked, the men and women in uniform who place their lives at risk to protect the freedom’s we enjoy. In addition to these most-important things, I wish to express my heartfelt thanks to each and every member of our Brotherhood. You are indeed what makes our organization the leading Rail Labor union in the United States.
Carriers to terminate Flexible Benefits Program
Participation in the Railroad Employees National Flexible Benefits Program will be coming to an end on December 31, 2009.
Tell the Senate: Support Health Insurance Reform without Taxation of Benefits
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen is asking its members to call their Senators and urge them to vote against any attempt to tax the health care benefits of middle class Americans.
Sorrow assumes Presidency, becoming 22nd Engineers’ chief
Paul T. Sorrow became the 22nd Chief Executive of the oldest rail labor union in North America concurrent with the resignation of Edward W. Rodzwicz as BLET National President on November 13. Rodzwicz, who had been on a leave of absence since October 15, also resigned as President of the Teamsters Rail Conference and intends to retire.
Replacement ballots available for BNSF tentative agreement
Contract information and ballots were mailed to approximately 6,000 BLET members on November 9 for voting on the union’s tentative agreement with BNSF. Members who did not receive a ballot can request a replacement by contacting the BLET National Division by phone or by email.
