Rail Industry News
Spill from latest Sask. oil train derailment larger than thought
(Source: CBC News, February 20, 2020) GUERNSEY, Sask. — The Saskatchewan government says more oil spilled than previously thought during a train derailment earlier this month near the small hamlet of Guernsey. Citing new information from CP Rail, the government says...
Questions unanswered as Norfolk Southern moves 85 jobs to Altoona after laying off 200 last year
(Source: Television station WTAJ, February 19, 2020) ALTOONA, Pa. — Between May and November 2019, more than 200 workers at Norfolk Southern in Altoona were laid off, and today the company announced they are moving 85 positions here from the Roanoke, Virginia...
Union Pacific, BLET sue each other over new attendance policy
(Source: Courthouse News Service, February 14, 2020) CHICAGO — Union Pacific Railroad and Chicago union workers sued each other on Friday over the implementation of a new attendance policy and the prospect of a strike. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and...
Slump persists for U.S. rail volumes
(Source: Freight Waves, February 20, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — U.S. rail traffic year-to-date continues to trend downward compared with the same period a year ago, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR). U.S. rail volumes totaled 3.38 million...
AAR reports lower rail traffic for week ending February 15, 2020
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, February 19, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending February 15, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was...
FRA issues final rule on Risk Reduction Programs, but it may get challenged
(Source: Freight Waves, February 14, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new rule requiring the largest U.S. railroads to file safety plans with federal regulators may get challenged over concerns for the legal rights of railroad accident victims, a rail labor attorney has...
Amtrak to begin high-speed testing of its new Acela trains
(Source: Boston.com, February 19, 2020) BOSTON — The first of a fleet of 28 new high-speed, high-tech trainsets, which will serve the Northeast Corridor in 2021, left Hornell, N.Y., on Monday. They’re due to arrive at the Transportation Technology Center near Pueblo,...
Cleanup continues at site of CSX derailment near Elkhorn City, Ky.
(Source: Television station WSAZ, February 18, 2020) PIKE COUNTY, Ky. — Cleanup remains underway Tuesday at the site of a massive CSX train derailment, the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet said. The agency says crews are working to remove the remaining...
Opinion: Virginia shows vision for passenger rail, but where does NS stand?
(Source: Roanoke Times opinion column by Larry Hincker, February 19, 2020) ROANOKE, Va. — Virginia and Gov. Ralph Northam are getting kudos after the recent blockbuster announcement to invest $3.7 billion expanding rail service along the busy I-95 corridor from...
NJ Transit makes PTC advancement
(Source: Insider NJ, February 18, 2020) NEWARK, N.J. — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has given NJ TRANSIT approval to begin Revenue Service Demonstration (RSD) of its Positive Train Control (PTC) system, moving NJ TRANSIT one-step closer to meeting the...
Canadian government further revises train regulations, speed limits for dangerous goods
(Source: CBC News, February 19, 2020) OTTAWA — A federal order for trains carrying dangerous goods to slow down after two fiery crashes near Guernsey, Sask., has been further revised by Transport Minister Marc Garneau. Garneau's updated ministerial order, announced...
CN “not panicking” about bottom line impact yet, but says it’s a victim of blockade crisis
(Source: Financial Post, February 19, 2020) OTTAWA — Canadian National Railway executives downplayed the effect the ongoing rail blockades will have on its annual financial results at an investor conference on Wednesday, even as it sent temporary layoff notices to 450...
CN freight train leaks crude oil after derailing in Ontario
(Source: Reuters, February 19, 2020) THUNDER BAY, Ont. — A Canadian National Railway Co freight train derailed in Ontario and started leaking crude oil, the company said on Wednesday, marking the second such incident in less than two weeks. About 30 cars came off the...
U.S. weekly coal carloads fall to seven-week low
(Source: S&P Global Platts, February 19, 2020) HOUSTON — U.S. coal carloads were at a seven-week low 63,045 in the week ended February 15, down 3% from 64,996 a week earlier and 21.4% lower than 80,105 in the year-ago week, the Association of American Railroads said...
Some laid-off Kansas City railroad workers still waiting on unemployment pay
(Source: www.fox4kc.com, February 17, 2020) KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Four months after at least 200 railroad employees were laid off at Kansas City’s Neff Yard, some of them are still struggling to get their unemployment checks. Full story: www.fox4kc.com
Norfolk Southern transferring 85 Roanoke jobs
(Source: Altoona Mirror, February 19, 2020) ALTOONA, Pa. — Norfolk Southern plans to close its heavy-repair locomotive shop in Roanoke, Va., in May and transfer the work done there to Altoona’s Juniata Locomotive Shop. The company will offer the 85 mechanical...
“It’s infuriating… just corporate greed:” Why Norfolk Southern is downsizing in Roanoke
(Source: Television station WSLS, February 18, 2020) ROANOKE, Va. — Norfolk Southern said it will eliminate about 104 workers from its Roanoke operations when it closes down its locomotive shop and transfers work at its distribution center. Full story: www.wsls.com
Opinion: Oil trains need big enough crew for safety
(Source: Everett Herald opinion column by Derek Stanford and Mike Sells, February 19, 2020. State Sen. Derek Sanford, D-Bothell, represents the 1st Legislative District. State Rep. Mike Sells, D-Everett, represents the 38th Legislative District.) EVERETT, Wash. — Some...
RRB Q&A: Working after retirement
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, December 11, 2019) CHICAGO — Retirees, and those planning retirement, should be aware of the railroad retirement laws and rules governing benefit payments to annuitants who work after retirement. The following...
$10 million verdict for man injured in Amtrak’s 2017 Cascades derailment in Washington
(Source: Associated Press, February 13, 2020) TACOMA, Wash. — A jury has awarded more than $10 million to a man who was seriously hurt when an Amtrak train derailed between Tacoma and Olympia in 2017. Full story: www.opb.org
BLET News
Amtrak funding vote; BLET members urged to contact Senators
The BLET’s National Legislative Office is urging BLET members to contact their Senators immediately and ask them to oppose an anti-labor Amtrak funding provision introduced by Senator Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-MO).
Original Brotherhood Constitution and By-laws returned
A significant piece of the Brotherhood’s history was recently returned to the labor movement when the original handwritten Constitution and By-laws of the Brotherhood of the Footboard was donated to the George Meany Memorial Archives/National Labor College by relatives of a former BLE employee.
FRA slaps BNSF on PTC safety
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has slammed the credibility of BNSF Railway’s positive train control pilot projects, citing inconsistencies in BNSF’s safety plan. The agency also complained that descriptive language explaining the railroad’s compliance with FRA safety requirements was written in broad generalities that disguise numerous defects.
Safe Rails/Secure America campaign reaches out to First Responders
The Teamsters Rail Conference is reaching out to hazardous materials First Responders in an effort to boost rail security as part of its “High Alert: Safe Rails/Secure America” campaign.
Rail Conference elects leadership
The Rail Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters held its inaugural convention in Las Vegas on June 23 following the completion of BMWED and BLET national conventions earlier that week.
Teamsters condemn rail corporations’ dangerous negotiating stance with UTU
Today, the Teamsters Rail Conference learned that the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC), representing the nation’s Class 1 railroads, has presented a dangerous contract proposal to the United Transportation Union (UTU) designed to coerce UTU into acquiescing to the carriers’ desire to reduce locomotive crew size from two workers to one.
BLET Executive Staff member Chuck Anderson gives invocation at Teamsters Convention
BLET Executive Staff member Chuck Anderson was invited to give the invocation today at the 27th International Teamsters Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Division 316 ballot initiative passes
The initiative put forth by BLET Division 316 to provide for membership election of National Division officers has been approved by a majority of active members who cast a ballot. It now must be approved by International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa.
BLET convention update: Protecting rail workers from nuclear waste exposure
Scott Palmer, the BLET’s Oregon State Legislative Board Chairman, alerted the delegates about the serious threat of transporting spent nuclear fuel by rail and the possible threat of radiation poisoning.
BLET convention update: Delegates hear of more rail security dangers
The BLET’s First Quadrennial Convention concluded today with more key speakers who addressed issues relating to railroad security.
