Rail Industry News
On top of derailments, Norfolk Southern now dealing with a bridge washout
(Source: Norfolk Southern service alert, February 9, 2020) NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern restored the main line to service following the mainline derailment in Columbia, South Carolina; however, a bridge washout, not related to the derailment, has occurred...
More than 100 miles of California high-speed rail are under construction
(Source: Streetsblog California, February 6, 2020) SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California High-Speed Rail is under construction. It is. Central Valley construction contracts total nearly $4 billion. There are 30 active construction sites spanning 119 miles across five...
Sen. Ted Cruz won’t commit to backing the city of Palestine in its legal battle with Union Pacific
(Source: Palestine Herald-Press, February 7, 2020) PALESTINE, Texas — Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Friday said he supported local jobs but would not commit to opposing Union Pacific's efforts to scrap its 150-year-old contract with Palestine. The move would cost the...
Hoffa: House approval of PRO Act will benefit hardworking Americans
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, February 6, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The following is a statement from Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa about legislation approved by the House today that would comprehensively update the National...
Former manager alleges CN fired him partly “for his honesty and truthfulness”
(Source: CBC News, February 8, 2020) WINNIPEG — A fired CN Rail manager has launched a wrongful dismissal lawsuit against the railway giant, saying he was fired without notice for his honest testimony at a labor adjudication hearing. Full story: www.cbc.ca
MillerCoors claims railways made billions jacking fuel fees
(Source: Bloomberg Quint, February 9, 2020) NEW YORK — MillerCoors LLC says in a lawsuit that Berkshire Hathaway’s BNSF Railway Co. and other U.S. rail freight carriers made billions of dollars in illicit profits by conspiring to overcharge customers on a shipping...
New puncture-resistant tank cars were in use during latest CP Rail oil train derailment and explosion
(Source: CBC News, February 9, 2020) CALGARY — The Canadian Pacific Railway train that derailed, leaked crude oil and ignited a large fire in rural Saskatchewan Thursday was using new, industry-standard tank cars meant to be more puncture-resistant than their...
Slow train order will mean longer hours for train crews, Teamsters Canada says
(Source: CBC News, February 7, 2020) MONTREAL — The federal government's order to reduce train speeds as a safety measure following a fiery derailment in Saskatchewan will mean longer hours for rail workers, a union representative says. Transport Minister Marc Garneau...
2 CP crude oil train crashes 2 months apart in the same area: Coincidence or deeper problem?
(Source: CBC News, February 7, 2020) SASKATOON, Sask. — The images were strikingly familiar: A dark stretch of rural Saskatchewan land, a fiery blaze and thick smoke billowing from train cars gone topsy-turvy. Thursday's early-morning train derailment two kilometers...
Utah bill to study a statewide commuter rail system advances to Senate
(Source: Deseret News, February 6, 2020) SALT LAKE CITY — One day, could a high-speed rail serve tourist destinations in Utah, like ski resorts along the Wasatch Front or even all the way to Moab? Full story: Deseret News
Normal’s $22.5 million underpass project gets close-up look from FRA chief
(Source: Bloomington Pantagraph, February 6, 2020) NORMAL, Ill. — A federal official supporting the proposed underpass in uptown Normal learned firsthand the value of the project. While visiting Uptown Station to go over plans for the underpass, Ronald Batory,...
CN to close rail traffic control center in Montreal
(Source: CBC News, February 7, 2020) MONTREAL — Canadian National (CN) Rail is closing its rail traffic control center in Montreal and moving 108 jobs to Alberta, it announced Friday morning. Rail traffic control will be centralized and run remotely from Edmonton when...
Overland Park grain supplier files antitrust suit against railroads
(Source: Kansas City Business Journal, February 6, 2020) KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Overland Park-based Lansing Trade Group, its parent company and subsidiaries are suing four U.S. railroads, claiming they’re acting collectively to increase transportation rates in violation...
Senators demand Gateway timeline from FRA
(Source: Politico, February 6, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Fifteen Democratic U.S. senators tore into the Trump administration Thursday over delays in greenlighting construction of the Gateway tunnel, an $11.3 billion rail project that would create a new link between New...
For the second week in a row, firefighters were delayed by BNSF trains blocking crossings in Marietta, Okla.
(Source: Television station KXII, February 6, 2020) MARIETTA, Okla. — For the second week in a row, Marietta First Responders were blocked by a train, forcing them to take a different route. On Tuesday, a BNSF train blocked all three crossroads in Marietta at the same...
New York revives plans for high-speed rail, but can it succeed after decades of stalls?
(Source: Gannett of New York, February 6, 2020) SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Decades of efforts to bring high-speed rail to New York have faltered under the weight of a hefty price tag and bureaucratic red tape. The history of the failed efforts are extraordinary and lengthy. But...
Ottawa orders trains carrying dangerous goods to reduce speed after fiery oil train crash in Saskatchewan
(Source: Canadian Press, February 6, 2020) TORONTO — The federal government has ordered lower speed limits for all trains carrying dangerous goods on Canada’s railway lines after a train jumped the tracks in rural Saskatchewan early Thursday morning, bursting into...
Oil train derails near small Canadian town for second time in two months
(Source: Saskatoon Star Phoenix, February 7, 2020) GUERNSEY, Sask. — It is “way too early” to know the cause of the second fiery train derailment in two months near the Saskatchewan community of Guernsey, says the head of the province’s safety agency. A train carrying...
Canadian town evacuated after another oil train derails and burns
(Source: DeSmog Blog, February 6, 2020) NEW YORK — Early in the morning of February 6, an oil train derailed and caught fire near Guernsey, Saskatchewan, resulting in the Canadian village's evacuation. This is the second oil train to derail and burn near Guernsey,...
Monthly U.S. rail traffic slips in January 2020
(Source: Freight Waves, February 6, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — U.S. rail volumes were over 5% lower in January compared with a year ago amid persistent macroeconomic uncertainties. U.S. freight railroads originated 2.41 million carloads and intermodal units for the...
BLET News
Last call for Teamster veterans
May 12 is the deadline to submit names of BLET members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan to the Teamsters for recognition at the Teamsters National Convention in June.
Kelley new Missouri Legislative Board Chairman
Brian P. Kelley of BLET Division 502 (Kansas City, Mo.) was elected to the office of chairman of the Missouri State Legislative Board yesterday at the Board’s triennial meeting in Jefferson City, Mo.
Teamsters to hold organizers conference, June 24-26
The Teamsters Organizing Department will hold its conference, “Organizing to Dominate Industries,” on June 24-26 in Las Vegas.
Labor College plans radioactive waste handling course
The National Labor College (NLC) is offering a special radioactive materials training course to railroad workers at the George Meany Center during the week of July 10.
‘Mainline Cooking’ with the GIA
A cookbook containing recipes submitted by railroaders for railroaders is now available through the BLET’s spousal group, the Grand International Auxiliary (GIA).
Editorial: Bearding the lion
You have heard the story of the lion, which went hunting with the fox, the jackal and the wolf.
Workers Memorial Day 2006
The following is a statement by BLET National President Don M. Hahs on Workers Memorial Day 2006.
Requesting replacement ballots for election initiative
Ballots regarding an initiative to change the way the BLET elects it top officials were mailed to all active members last week, and those who have not received one may request a replacement ballot from the National Division.
Hanely new chairman of Ohio State Legislative Board
The Ohio State Legislative Board held its 13th Quadrennial Convention and celebrated its 50th anniversary the week of April 10.
Michel re-elected chair of NJ State Legislative Board
Ken Michel was re-elected to the position of Chairman of the New Jersey State Legislative Board at its Quadrennial Meeting on March 29 at the Newark Sheraton Airport Hotel in Newark, N.J.
