Rail Industry News
CSX announces Q1 2025 results
CSX Corp. announced first quarter 2025 operating income of $1.04 billion compared to $1.34 billion in the prior year period.
First phase of NJ entrance to new Gateway project rail tunnel should be done by fall
The new two-track tunnel between North Jersey and Manhattan is meant to provide more reliable service along the Northeast Corridor for NJ Transit and Amtrak riders entering and leaving Manhattan’s Penn Station.
DOT cuts planning grant for Texas high-speed rail between Dallas and Houston
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said if the private sector wants the rail line, it should cover planning costs.
SEPTA prepares for major service cuts
Facing $213 million deficit, agency releases budget calling for 45% reduction in service, 21.5% fare increase
TCRC statement on arbitration decision at CN
The new three-year contract closely resembles the status quo and includes annual 3% wage increases. The company failed to secure any concessions related to scheduling, rest, or fatigue protections.
April 2025 Q&A: Railroad Retirement Survivor Benefits
The following questions and answers describe railroad retirement survivor benefit eligibility requirements and provide benefit-related information.
Amtrak considering staff cuts, other cost-saving moves
Company says it is being ‘proactive’ in addressing outside pressures
Amtrak sidelines Horizon car fleet, leading to widespread cancellations
Corrosion issues lead to cars’ removal; Cascades, Borealis, Hiawatha operations hardest hit
Analysis: CEO’s dismissal the beginning of the end for Amtrak?
No names have yet been floated about a potential replacement for Gardner.
Amtrak CEO abruptly resigns
Gardner’s departure also arrives just weeks after billionaire Elon Musk floated the idea of privatizing Amtrak, as well as the U.S. Postal Service, at a Morgan Stanley tech conference earlier this month.
STB issues draft environmental statement on proposed Texas border crossing railroad
Green Eagle Railroad’s 1.3-mile line would be part of a 19-mile secure corridor linking Eagle Pass, Texas, and Piedras Negras, Mexico.
Senate confirms Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the daughter of a Teamster, as Secretary of Labor
Teamsters President Sean O’Brien recommended her for the job.
Trump taps former Pa. GOP chair to serve on Amtrak board of directors
Rob Gleason, a longtime resident of western Pennsylvania, has been an advocate for expanding rail service.
NS says route through Asheville, N.C., will reopen by March 31
Still to be addressed is the badly damaged section of track east of Swannanoa to Old Forts, the rugged Old Fort Loops segment of the line to Salisbury, N.C.
FRA personnel cuts could further delay languishing rail initiatives: Analysis
Concerned about such a prospect, the Rail Passengers Association and 22 other public transportation advocacy organizations on Friday, Feb. 28, sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, urging him to “preserve mission-critical personnel to avoid further delays in the administration of these passenger and freight projects.”
Thieves targeting freight trains in California and Arizona deserts make off with $2 million worth of Nikes
It is said the trains are so long that train crews rarely encounter the thieves.
BNSF reports Q4, full year 2024 results
For the year, BNSF’s pre-tax earnings increased 0.5%, to $6.64 billion, while revenue declined 0.5%, to $23.35 billion.
CPKC dedicates new rail bridge between U.S., Mexico
The bridge is 1,170 feet long and cost $100 million.
Washington state calls for more, faster Amtrak Cascades service
Proposed bills would establish goals for cutting travel time, increasing daily roundtrips, and boosting on-time performance from Seattle to Portland and Vancouver, British Columbia.
Two years after East Palestine derailment, rail leaders still urge safety reforms
Rail leaders highlighted the worsening safety trends across the industry and the harmful impacts of the precision scheduled railroading (PSR) business model that prioritizes profits over safety.
BLET News
LIRR unions in NMB public interest hearing tell labor board that PEB recommendations are a foundation for reaching a settlement
On Monday, November 17, the National Mediation Board (NMB) held a “Public Interest Hearing” at its offices in Washington to assess if either the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) or a coalition of five rail unions that includes BLET would accept the recommendations of...
National Transportation Safety Board issues two safety advisories directed at conductors and other rail workers
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued two safety alerts in November regarding rail operations: the first addressed the risks of shoving moves, and the second concerned the dangers of unexpected equipment moves. The BLET Safety Task Force urges all...
BLET members ratify five-year deal with WNYP
On November 11, BLET members ratified a new five-year agreement with the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad (WNYP), governing rates of pay, benefits, and work rules. The agreement runs through 2030 and provides for a guaranteed 40-hour work week, a signing...
BLET reaches tentative agreement with SEPTA
The BLET has reached a tentative one-year deal with SEPTA for locomotive engineers who operate regional rail trains for the transit agency. Ballots were mailed last week. If ratified by the members, the deal would build upon gains achieved in the previous round of...
BLET reaches tentative agreement for CPKC Soo Line locomotive engineers
Ballots are due back to the National Division by Thursday, December 11. Photo by Cory Rusch, BLET Division 659 ____________________ The BLET has reached a tentative five-year agreement with the CPKC for locomotive engineers who work on the CPKC Soo Line territory....
BLET holds Town Hall meetings in Pennsylvania, more dates added for the upcoming weeks
BLET members turned out in strong numbers and came prepared with thoughtful, detailed questions at our recent Town Hall meetings in Harrisburg, PA, on November 16, and Pittsburgh, PA, on November 17. See photo highlights of the Pennsylvania meetings. The discussions...
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, in a Sunday front page story, highlights safety concerns with the proposed rail merger
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in a Sunday front page story that in the aftermath of the devastating 2023 East Palestine chemical spill and fire, Norfolk Southern invested hundreds of millions of dollars to boost safety through improved training programs,...
BLET Town Hall Meetings set for Spokane, Alliance, & Kansas City — Plus December Zoom Sessions
All BLET members are encouraged to attend the upcoming Town Hall meetings to discuss the terms of the tentative national agreement. These meetings are an opportunity for members to hear directly from national officers, ask questions, and share feedback. In addition to...
BLET to host Town Hall Meeting in Roanoke on November 21
The BLET will host a Town Hall Meeting in Roanoke, Va., on Friday, November 21, to discuss the terms of the tentative national agreement. This in-person meeting will provide an opportunity for members to hear directly from national officers, ask questions, and share...
Federal government shutdown ends after 43 days, the longest in U.S. history
The federal government shutdown that began on October 1 came to an end this week after Republican and Democratic Senators struck a deal on the evening of November 9. The 43-day shutdown was the longest in American history. The Senate on November 11 passed the deal by...
