Rail Industry News
CPKC asks regulators to force UP to honor trackage rights agreement covering grain shipments to Houston and Galveston
Canadian Pacific Kansas City has asked federal regulators to prevent Union Pacific from blocking the movement of its grain trains to the ports of Houston and Galveston via trackage rights on UP via Beaumont, Texas.
BNSF train engineers offered paid sick time and better schedules in new deal
Roughly 7,500 BNSF train engineers may soon get up to eight days of paid sick time and more certainty about their days off if they approve a new deal with the railroad announced Tuesday.
Norfolk Southern changes policy on overheated bearings, months after East Palestine derailment
The National Transportation Safety Board said the Atlanta-based railroad changed its rules a day after the July 6 derailment to take a much more cautious approach when a hot bearing is found.
BMWED sues BNSF for its depletion of MOW workforce, increased contracting out
“They are ignoring past agreements on manpower, offering up flimsy excuses for their attrition, and laughing all the way to the bank.”
Report: Intermodal volume down more than 10% in Q2 2023
For second-quarter 2023, total intermodal volumes dropped 10.4% from the prior-year period, according to the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) Intermodal Quarterly Report.
NMB names Beebe mediation services director
The National Mediation Board (NMB) yesterday announced that Christopher Beebe has been named director of mediation services.
Unions criticize Union Pacific’s selection of Jim Vena as CEO
Incoming Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena will not get a honeymoon with rail labor when he begins leading the railroad on Aug. 14.
NTSB issues preliminary report on NS hot-bearing coal train derailment
The National Transportation Safety Board today released its preliminary report about a Norfolk Southern coal train that derailed in Virginia on July 6 after a wheel bearing failure.
NTSB: Fatal Amtrak derailment shows need for more track inspections
“Poor track conditions” of a track owned by BNSF may have contributed to a fatal September 2021 accident involving an Amtrak train derailment in Joplin, Montana, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
SEPTA has now seen five bus and trolley crashes in one week
The recent spate of SEPTA bus and trolley crashes has sparked alarm and calls for more training and traffic safety measures from Philadelphians and elected officials across the city.
New tentative labor deal reached in Canadian port negotiations
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union of Canada (ILWU) and the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) late Sunday announced a tentative labor agreement.
Missouri governor set to approve funding for grade-crossing improvements
Gov. Mike Parson and the Missouri Department of Transportation are set to announce a new Missouri Railroad Safety Crossing plan this week. On Thursday, the governor plans to sign House Bill 4, which includes $50 million in state funding to improve over 45 passive railroad crossings.
CPKC issues 2023-24 grain service outlook report
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) on July 31 published its Grain Service Outlook Report, as required by section 151.01(1) of the Canada Transportation Act. It provides an assessment of the newly merged Class I’s ability to move grain during the 2023-24 crop year, taking into account the total volume of grain expected to be hauled.
Rail Labor and management urge Congress to fund Railroad Retirement Board
We urge you to remove this draconian limit on RRB’s administrative funding.
Montana train derailment report renews calls for automated systems to detect track problems
Federal investigators renewed their recommendation that major freight railroads equip every locomotive with the kind of autonomous sensors that could have caught the track flaws that caused a fatal 2021 Amtrak derailment in northern Montana.
Norfolk Southern staffer, working solo, missed danger signs of impending Ohio crash
The best chance for heading off the February derailment in eastern Ohio depended on a Norfolk Southern employee working hundreds of miles away noticing a rapidly heating wheel bearing.
East Palestine advocates meet with lawmakers
Members of the Unity Council for the East Palestine Train Derailment took their concerns to Capitol Hill on Thursday, sharing their stories with lawmakers and demanding action by taking action.
Runaway SEPTA trolley slams into historic home in Southwest Philadelphia
A runaway SEPTA trolley crashed into a historic home in Southwest Philadelphia on Thursday night. Officials said the trolley was out of service when it crashed at about 10:45 p.m. near Island and Woodland avenues.
Court rules UP is not obligated to continue service for Metra
A U.S. appeals court has ruled Union Pacific does not have a common-carrier obligation to continue operating commuter trains for Metra, likely hastening the transition of operations on three commuter lines from UP to Metra operation.
Oil train opponents look to railroad’s expiring Moffat Tunnel lease for bargaining power
State officials since last spring have quietly been reaching out to communities along Colorado’s main east-west rail line to gauge local sentiment as the state negotiates a new lease with rail giant Union Pacific, which pays $12,000 a year to send trains through the state-owned Moffat Tunnel.
BLET News
FIRST IN A SERIES: Understanding collective bargaining under the Railway Labor Act. Part 1 — “Section 6 Notices”
To better understand how rail labor and management reach agreements on rates of pay and work rules, the BLET has produced a series of briefs, Understanding collective bargaining under the Railway Labor Act, explaining how the Railway Labor Act of 1926 works. This...
ATTENTION FLORIDA, GULF & ATLANTIC MEMBERS: If you haven’t received your ballot you can still request a replacement
Ballots have been mailed to Florida, Gulf & Atlantic Railway members who are voting on a tentative contract with the short line railroad. If ratified, this will be the first union contract for operating employees at the formerly non-union company. Ballots are due...
Save the date for 2025 BLET regional meetings in Daytona Beach and Bellevue/Seattle
PLANNING YOUR CALENDAR AND DAYS OFF FOR NEXT YEAR? The BLET’s 2025 Eastern Regional Meeting will be held in Daytona Beach, Florida, the week of June 16. The 2025 Western Regional Meeting will take place in Bellevue/Seattle Eastside, Wash., the week of August 18....
Florida: National Mediation Board formally recognizes Brightline as a rail carrier
The National Mediation Board rejected Brightline's anti-union stance and directed a representation election to take place in the coming months. ____________________ The Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) secured a victory for Rail Labor on November 12 when the...
In Memoriam: Former Amtrak General Chairman Mark B. Kenny, 1951-2024
Recently retired BLET General Chairman Mark B. Kenny, who served the Amtrak/KCS/VRE/Caltrain General Committee of Adjustment for over 26 years, passed away on November 12. He was 73 years old. Brother Kenny was elected to seven consecutive terms as General Chairman...
New Mexico: State Legislative Board members lobby for rail safety legislation, conclude quadrennial meeting
Left to right: Steve Seale, Gil Tafoya, Gilbert Montiel, Christy Smith, Ryan Snow, Clem Harris, Charlie Jeffcoat, Vince Verna, Mike Willis. ____________________ Members of the BLET New Mexico State Legislative Board are fighting for passage of legislation that would...
Illinois: Two-person crew, one life saved
Conductor Tim McMakin and Locomotive Engineer Antonio Ramos have known each other for a long time. Both are members of the BLET Division 13 in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and have worked together countless times out of BNSF Railway’s Barstow Yard on the Barstow Subdivision...
Florida Gulf & Atlanic: Members begin voting on first-ever BLET contract
BLET Vice President Randy Fannon (far left) and BLET Special Representative Jorge Gomez (far right) with newly organized members from Florida Gulf & Atlantic in 2023. ____________________ In a significant milestone, the BLET has reached a tentative contract for...
Veterans Day 2024: Recognizing BLET veterans
Veterans Day is an important day of remembrance for our union and our members. The BLET has always been proud to support America’s soldiers and their families. Since our union was founded in 1863, our members have embraced the honorable tradition of service to...
Amtrak: Ridership on new Borealis service reaches major milestone
At the inaugural run of Amtrak's Borealis service on May 21, from left: Joel Mueller, BLET Minnesota SLB Chairman, Riley Richmond, BLET Division 27, and Chad Roehrich, BLET Midwest Regional Chairman-Amtrak GCA. _____________________ Strong public interest in Amtrak’s...
