Rail Industry News
DeFazio: FRA’s final rule on railroad risk reduction program fails to address employee fatigue
(Source: Safety and Health Magazine, March 10, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Effective April 20, the Federal Railroad Administration is requiring the nation’s largest freight railroads – known as Class I – and smaller freight railroads with “inadequate safety performance”...
Via Rail says lengthy delays on its flagship train were an international embarrassment
(Source: Global News, March 10, 2020) TORONTO — Via Rail estimated that more than 90 per cent of trains on the transcontinental Canadian route were late in 2017, and about 70 per cent were late in the following year. By 2019, Via Rail was warning passengers who booked...
Construction of Alberta crude unit expected to start in April
(Source: Freight Waves, March 9, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Energy logistics providers USD Partners and Gibson Energy expect construction of a diluent recovery unit (DRU) to begin next month at the Hardisty Terminal in Alberta, Canada. The unit will enable freight...
Editorial: Amtrak passengers and staff need security
(Source: Editorial by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 10, 2020) PITTSBURGH, Pa. — With crime on trains increasing, Amtrak should beef up its police force. Instead, open positions remain unfilled and the number of police positions has dropped over the past year....
Trump administration deals another blow to Gateway Tunnel
(Source: www.nj.com, March 5, 2020) NEWARK, N.J. — The Trump administration placed a new roadblock in front of the Gateway Tunnel Wednesday when Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said that a required environmental impact statement won’t be coming any time soon....
Unions protest job cuts outside MBTA board meeting
(Source: WGBH, March 10, 2020) BOSTON — A new campaign pushing back against cuts to the MBTA maintenance workforce launched Monday with a protest outside the Transportation Building ahead of a T board meeting. Through public records requests, the Safe Transit Now...
Class action accuses Norfolk Southern of biometric privacy act violations
(Source: Legal Newsline, March 9, 2020) CHICAGO — A class action lawsuit was filed against Norfolk Southern Railway Co., alleging the company collected biometric data and violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). Full story: Legal Newsline
Port of NY and NJ chief tests positive for coronavirus
(Source: Freight Waves, March 9, 2020) NEW YORK — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that Rick Cotton, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), had tested positive for the coronavirus and was under quarantine. Full story:...
Some Amtrak riders wary of coronavirus use extra precautions
(Source: Journal Gazette & Times-Courier, March 9, 2020) MATTOON, Ill. — When regular Amtrak passenger Katie Riesch of Carbondale and her young son took their seats for a recent trip back home to Coles County, she immediately wiped down the adjacent trays and hard...
Truckers, dockworkers suffer as coronavirus chokes L.A., Long Beach ports cargo
(Source: Los Angeles Times, March 7, 2020) LOS ANGELES — On a bright morning early this week, Eugene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, gazed through the big picture window of his office at the sprawling docks below. Full story: Los Angeles...
Weary of railroad crossing crashes and fatalities, workers back Utah overpass funding plan
(Source: Standard-Examiner, March 8, 2020) SALT LAKE CITY — Count train engineers and conductors as passionate supporters of legislation that may help lead to construction of overpasses at heavily traveled and potentially dangerous rail crossings in Utah. Full story:...
End of an era: Hoffa Jr. to leave top Teamsters post in 2022
(Source: Logistics Management, March 9, 2020) NEW YORK — For the first time this century, a man named Hoffa will not be leading the 1.4 million-member Teamsters union come 2022. James P. “Jim” Hoffa began the end of an era for the International Brotherhood of...
Utah lawmakers, lobbyists spar over rail crossing delays, railroad fuel tax exemption
(Source: Standard-Examiner, March 8, 2020) SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Union Pacific lobbyists are clashing with two top legislators over a bill that would remove railroads’ state fuel tax exemption and use the resulting millions to build overpasses at chronically blocked...
Five years after fiery train crashes in northern Ontario, is carrying oil by rail safer?
(Source: CBC News, March 9, 2020) MONTREAL — Like they have since the small northern Ontario town was founded, trains rumble through Gogama several times a day, just steps from people's homes. Gerry Talbot says in the last five years he looks at those oil trains...
CSX train carrying military equipment derails in Alabama
(Source: Television station WEAR, March 7, 2020) FLOMATON, Ala. — About five cars of a CSX train carrying military equipment derailed Saturday morning at the Alabama-Florida state line, our partners at NorthEscambia.com report. The cars derailed coming out of the rail...
LIRR says it nearly doubles PTC installations systemwide
(Source: MTA press release, March 8, 2020) LONG ISLAND, N.Y. — MTA Long Island Rail Road President Phil Eng today announced that the LIRR has activated Positive Train Control (PTC) on the eastern 108 miles of the railroad, from Patchogue to Montauk and from Ronkonkoma...
Senate bill would overturn Amtrak’s new forced arbitration policy
(Source: www.nj.com, March 6, 2020) NEWARK, N.J. — Should Amtrak passengers give up their right to sue the railroad in the event of a crash or injury and be forced to use arbitration? A dozen U.S. Senators have proposed a bill to end that requirement. U.S. Senator...
Bill would allow Amtrak to sue freight railroads for delaying trains
(Source: Television station WPSD, March 6, 2020) CARBONDALE, Ill. — How long are you willing to wait for a train? A report from the Office of Inspector General found Amtrak trains were late 27% of the time. The on-time performance for the Illini/Saluki router, which...
Amtrak passenger who traveled from Chicago to St. Louis has tested positive for coronavirus
(Source: CBS Chicago, March 8, 2020) CHICAGO — A woman who flew into O’Hare International Airport from Italy and then took Amtrak from Chicago to St. Louis last week has tested positive for the coronavirus, officials have confirmed. Full story: CBS Chicago
Amtrak cancels nonstop service between NYC, Washington D.C. due to coronavirus
(Source: New York Post, March 7, 2020) NEW YORK — Amtrak is suspending Acela nonstop service between New York and Washington through late May because of falling demand due to the coronavirus outbreak. Full story: New York Post
BLET News
Division 139 collects donations for family of late member
BLET Division 139 in Houston, Texas, is collecting donations for the family of Brother Jeffrey Thomas Peacock, 38, who passed away on November 19 after a year-long battle with cancer.
Hermiston, Ore., says no to remote control
The city of Hermiston, Oregon, became the 60th community to pass a resolution opposing remote control locomotives on November 13.
December ST workshop full; Three planned for 2007
The BLET’s Education & Training Department announced today that its final Secretary-Treasurer workshop of 2006 is completely full. For those who will miss it, however, the dates and locations of three additional ST workshops for early 2007 will be announced in the next 30 days.
BLET, UTU continue joint efforts on CSX discipline
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the United Transportation Union are continuing to work together to protect their members in light of ongoing harassment and intimidation of their members at CSX Transportation.
Honorary Member Aud Balogh passes away
Brother Audré H. “Aud” Balogh, an Honorary Member of the BLET and a 50-year employee, passed away on November 7.
Democrats take U.S. House, Senate not yet decided
With more than 40 percent of possible voters casting their ballots, the November 7 elections put the Democrats in to power in the U.S. House of Representatives. As of press time, the majority party in the U.S. Senate was nearly a 50-50 split with the deciding race still too close to call. In addition to large gains in the House, the Democrats now hold 28 governorships across the country.
National Rail Safety Symposium set for Nov. 15
Citizens for Rail Safety, Inc. (CRS), a national non-profit public interest organization comprised of transportation consultants and concerned citizens advocating for national railroad safety and efficiency, will present a Symposium on November 15 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
Verdeyen re-elected by acclamation in Indiana
Bill Verdeyen was re-elected by acclamation to his fourth term as Chairman of the Indiana State Legislative Board at Quadrennial meetings held in Indianapolis, Ind., on October 12-13, 2006.
Teamsters take action against gender violence
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is urging all of its members to take part in activities related to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25. The date is also the first day of the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.
Rail Labor united as carriers go to Supreme Court to gut FELA
Major U.S. railroads are using the U.S. Supreme Court in an attempt to weaken the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA), the federal law that promotes a safe workplace for rail workers.
