Rail Industry News
STB defers decision in Metra-UP dispute over commuter rail service
(Source: Progressive Railroading, August 10, 2020) The Surface Transportation Board (STB) last week declined to intervene in an ongoing dispute between Metra and Union Pacific Railroad over three Chicago-area commuter-rail lines that UP operates. Full story:...
Hoffa: Workers organize during COVID-19 pandemic for protection
(Source: Column by International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa, published in the Detroit News on August 5, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Workers are facing unprecedented challenges in the age of the coronavirus. Many have lost their jobs, been...
BNSF revenue falls 22% in Q2 2020
(Source: Freight Waves, August 10, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Like its other Class I counterparts, the COVID-19 pandemic hit BNSF’s bottom line in the second quarter, with revenue falling 22% amid an 18% drop in rail volumes. BNSF’s second-quarter net earnings were...
Alstom signals Bombardier rail losses to affect takeover
(Source: Bloomberg News, August 10, 2020) NEW YORK — Alstom SA hinted that it may seek better terms for its 6.2 billion-euro (US$7.3 billion) purchase of Bombardier Inc.’s train arm after the Canadian company reported a second-quarter loss on write-downs at the unit....
SEPTA trains have great airflow, which means less coronavirus risk for riders
(Source: Billy Penn, August 7, 2020) PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Airflow matters when it comes to preventing the spread of coronavirus. Turns out SEPTA cars are a pretty safe place to be, relative to other indoor spaces. Full story: Billy Penn
Railway Age: Annual winter preparedness report
(Source: Railway Age, August 9, 2020) NEW YORK — Winter preparedness is essential for avoiding frozen equipment, malfunctioning cars, service delays or even suspended operations. Fail to prepare for winter’s harsh conditions and your railroad will be running on...
No engine, no oil: Wabtec making its pitch for battery-powered trains
(Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 9, 2020) PITTSBURGH, Pa. — From the outside, the locomotive whirring along Wabtec's test tract in Erie looks almost like any other. The operator cab is pretty standard, too. It's in the guts that things take a turn. Full story:...
Mayor of Normal, Ill., nominated for Amtrak Board of Directors
(Source: Bloomington Pantagraph, August 6, 2020) BLOOMINGTON — U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin during a Thursday U.S. Senate committee hearing said Normal Mayor Chris Koos "has a vision which I think Amtrak will benefit from." Koos, a Democrat, is being nominated to the board...
Tempe Beach Park and Lake Marina to reopen after UP derailment
(Source: Arizona Republic, August 7, 2020) TEMPE, Ariz. — The City of Tempe announced on Friday that Tempe Beach Park and Lake Marina will reopen Saturday a little more than a week after a Union Pacific train derailed and caught fire while crossing the lake. Full...
KCS VP sells $263,500 in company stock
(Source: Smarter Analyst, August 7, 2020) NEW YORK — Yesterday, the Senior VP – Human Resources of Kansas City Southern, Lora Cheatum, sold shares of KSU for $263.5,00. Following Lora Cheatum’s last KCS sell transaction on December 11, 2019, the stock climbed by...
Profit up 87% at Buffett’s Berkshire, but coronavirus slows business
(Source: Associated Press, August 8, 2020) OMAHA, Neb. — Warren Buffett’s company reported an 87% jump in its second-quarter profit as the paper value of its investment portfolio increased with the stock market, but it took a roughly $10 billion write down on the...
AAR: Rail traffic down again during July and the week ending August 1, 2020
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, August 5, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending August 1, 2020, as well as volumes for July 2020. U.S. railroads originated...
AAR: Long way to go before rail traffic returns to normal
(Source: Progressive Railroading, August 6, 2020) U.S. freight-rail combined carload and intermodal volume declined 9.3 percent to 2,337,977 units in July compared with the same month last year, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data. Full story:...
Las Vegas-L.A. high-speed rail line obtains additional funding
(Source: Progressive Railroading, August 5, 2020) XpressWest, a proposed project to construct a high-speed rail line that would operate between Southern California and Las Vegas, has been awarded $200 million in private activity bonds from the Nevada State Board of...
With riders coming back, Amtrak resumes Piedmont train service in North Carolina
(Source: News & Observer, August 5, 2020) RALEIGH, N.C. — The state will resume its Piedmont rail service between Raleigh and Charlotte on Monday, as demand for passenger trains rebounds in North Carolina. Full story: News & Observer
Amtrak reveals renderings of new Siemens locomotives
(Source: Railway-News, August 6, 2020) NEW YORK — Amtrak has revealed renderings as well as other information about the new diesel-electric locomotives that are set to replace the current fleet on the national network, including all of the operator’s long-distance...
State of the ports: “COVID-19’s had as large of an effect as the Great Recession”
(Source: Railway Age, August 5, 2020) NEW YORK — “Permanent changes in trade flows will likely cause the Port of LA to permanently lose about 15% of its market share to Gulf and East Coast ports, a clear negative for Union Pacific but favorable for CSX, Kansas City...
AAR says rail traffic is generally trending in the right direction for week ending August 1
(Source: Railway Age, August 5, 2020) NEW YORK — After the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported on U.S. rail traffic for the week ended Aug. 1, 2020, as well as for July 2020, there appears to be hope in traffic volumes returning to pre-COVID-19 levels....
NJ Transit Isaias cleanup: Several lines still out, some on weekend schedules
(Source: Asbury Park Press, August 6, 2020) ASBURY PARK, N.J. — Several of NJ Transit's rail lines will stay out of service Thursday due to a combination of storm-blown trees down on rails and issues with signal systems and power lines, according to the utility. Full...
LIRR service restored after Isaias cleanup
(Source: Long Island Press, August 6, 2020) LONG ISLAND, N.Y. — The Long Island Rail Road restored service on all branches Thursday after crews cleared tracks of trees downed by Tropical Storm Isaias and repaired equipment damage. Full story: Long Island Press
BLET News
Story of lost Bible ends well for BLET member Pat Lynch
Years ago, on an empty locomotive in New Mexico, an engineer and his co-worker found an old Bible that had been left behind. When no one claimed it after a week in the railroad yard””s lost and found, Pat Lynch took the tattered and torn book to his home in Bluewater Lake, N.M.
Cole Davis reelected Norfolk Southern general chairman
Cole W. Davis was reelected to his third term as General Chairman of the BLET’s Norfolk Southern-Northern Lines General Committee of Adjustment at quadrennial meetings in Cleveland on September 30-October 2.
Triennial elections update: Members’ mailing info
The National Division will assist candidates wishing to distribute campaign material by addressing and labeling envelopes containing campaign material and mailing it to the affected active membership…
Two BLET families suffer tragic losses
Two BLET families have recently endured unimaginable loss, and their respective Divisions have established memorial funds to help the families through these difficult times.
BLET to review Designated Legal Counsel program
The Advisory Board of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) yesterday announced that it will review its attorney referral program for injured union members.
BLET acts to halt video surveillance
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has taken legal action in State and Federal Court in California to halt Metrolink’s illegal audio and video surveillance of its members inside locomotive cabs.
Vince Verna elected Arizona Legislative Board Chairman
Vince Verna was elected by acclamation to serve as Chairman of the Arizona State Legislative Board during Triennial Meetings on October 5.
Workshop for new Local Chairmen is full
The BLET Education & Training Department announced today that the upcoming workshop for new Local Chairman is now full.
National President Ed Rodzwicz placed on leave
The BLET Advisory Board today placed National President Edward Rodzwicz on a leave of absence pending outcome of the serious charges levied against him by the U.S. Department of Justice. In the interim, First Vice President Paul T. Sorrow will assume the role of Acting President.
Plan ahead for 2010 BLET regional meetings
BLET members making vacation plans for next year are encouraged to consider attending one of the BLET’s regional meetings in 2010.
