Rail Industry News
AAR: Monthly rail traffic down in January 2020 but increases during week ending February 1
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, February 5, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending February 1, 2020, as well as volumes for January 2020. U.S. railroads...
Renaming of Philly’s 30th Street Station in honor of William H. Gray III to become official today
(Source: Philadelphia Tribune, February 6, 2020) PHILADELPHIA — It’s almost official. The William H. Gray III Memorial Foundation and Amtrak are expected to hold a press conference in Washington, D.C. today to announce that 30th Street Station will officially be...
State investigates blocked train crossings as BNSF describes bottleneck in Grand Island
(Source: ABC Nebraska, February 5, 2020) GRAND ISLAND, Neb — Grand Islanders hope the state will crack down on a major railroad, saying one crossing has become a train parking lot. But BNSF says locals have rejected a possible solution. Full story: ABC Nebraska
Operation Lifesaver testifies on community-based safety results before U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee
(Source: Operation Lifesaver press release, February 5, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rachel Maleh, Executive Director of Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), today testified on the organization’s role in improving safety at grade crossings and along railroad rights of way,...
FRA report identifies four states with highest fatal railroad trespasser strikes
(Source: Progressive Railroading, February 5, 2020) California, New York, Florida and Texas consistently logged the highest number of fatal railroad trespasser strikes by trains over a five-year period, according to a new report by the Federal Railroad Administration...
PMA and ILWU pledge joint effort to lobby railroads to win back lost market share from East and Gulf Coast ports
(Source: American Journal of Transportation, February 5, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — In an unusual display of unity, Willie Adams, president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Jim McKenna, president of the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA)...
NS pulls container operations out of heart of Memphis
(Source: Daily Memphian, February 6, 2020) MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Norfolk Southern has stopped handling intermodal freight containers at Harris Yard in mid-city Memphis and moved those operations to suburban Rossville. The change means less truck traffic and storage of...
Here’s what caused commuting nightmare between NJ and NYC
(Source: www.nj.com, February 4, 2020) NEWARK, N.J. — A day after social media exploded with horror stories from commuters who were delayed 90 minutes or more on their way home, we’re getting a clearer picture of exactly what went wrong -- and why it could possibly...
Houston residents sue Union Pacific for $100 million over hazardous substance
(Source: Reuters, February 5, 2020) HOUSTON — More than 80 Houston residents have sued Union Pacific Railroad Company in Texas county court, accusing it of having knowingly contaminated their Houston neighborhoods with a wood preservative known as creosote they say is...
Nostalgia not in Amtrak’s future
(Source: Railway Age, February 5, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Spending others’ money as if it were one’s own isn’t successful politics. Yet notwithstanding Congress’ current appetite for trillion-dollar annual deficits, there are limits to federal spending — especially...
Opinion: Can railroads replace coal with chemicals-related traffic?
(Source: Freight Waves opinion column by Jim Blaze, February 5, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Since railroad freight is often bulk or shipments of large goods, changes in the economy or in global trade can impact the flow of railroad traffic in large up and down...
High-speed train derails in Italy; 28 people injured, 2 railway workers killed
(Source: Associated Press, February 6, 2020) OSPEDALETTO LODIGIANO, Italy — A high-speed passenger train derailed in northern Italy before dawn Thursday and its detached engine slammed into a work train car on an adjacent track, ripped away part of a building wall and...
Federal court orders BNSF to pay worker $696,173 for lost wages after U.S. Department of Labor finds railroad retaliated against whistleblower
(Source: U.S. Department of Labor press release, February 5, 2020) DENVER, Colo. — The U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado has ordered Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) to pay $696,173 in lost back and future wages to a former employee...
Anaheim Hills acupuncturist sent to prison for defrauding Amtrak health care plan
(Source: Orange County Register, February 4, 2020) LOS ANGELES — A licensed Anaheim Hills acupuncturist was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison Tuesday for fraudulently billing Amtrak’s healthcare plan for millions of dollars’ worth of acupuncture, massages and...
Virgin is building a Las Vegas bullet train to Southern California
(Source: Grit Daily, February 4, 2020) LOS ANGELES — Finally, the United States is looking toward train travel to create more sustainable transportation options on some of its most major air travel and road routes. Developers have been approved to begin construction...
Gulf Coast cities pay thousands to CSX, get little cooperation in return
(Source: Television station WLOX, February 4, 2020) BILOXI, Miss. — For most people, a train is a nuisance, causing a minor delay as we drive north and south. But for cities having to work with CSX Transportation on an infrastructure project can mean huge delays and...
Palestine demands jury trial in UP suit
(Source: Palestine Herald-Press, February 4, 2020) PALESTINE, Texas — Responding to a Union Pacific lawsuit filed in District Court, Palestine and Anderson County are demanding a jury trial — unless UP drops its “frivolous lawsuit” to abrogate the railroad's...
Teamsters file lawsuit against ExpressJet Airlines
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, January 31, 2020) ATLANTA — Yesterday the International Brotherhood of Teamsters filed a lawsuit against ExpressJet Airlines, a United Express carrier, in a federal district court in Atlanta. The lawsuit...
BNSF lowers capital expenditures budget slightly for 2020
(Source: Freight Waves, February 4, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — BNSF lowered its overall budget for capital expenditures in 2020 from 2019 levels, although more funding will be allocated toward replacing and upgrading network assets. The carrier expects capital...
“Search your hearts:” Families of 2 men killed in CP Rail crash urge witnesses to step forward
(Source: CBC News, February 4, 2020) CALGARY — One year after a Canadian Pacific Rail derailment in Field, B.C., that killed three men, families of two of the victims are asking CP employees who may have information about what happened to speak out. The families say...
BLET News
BLET, UTU join in support of N.Y. legislation
Legislation has been introduced in the New York State legislature to prohibit union officers of the Association of Commuter Rail Employees (ACRE) from receiving salaries from outside funds.
Teamsters to honor veterans at National Convention
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is recognizing Middle East veterans at its National Convention in Las Vegas this June.
Brother of BLET Organizing Director dies
Jimmy Miller, the brother of BLET Organizing Director Tommy Miller, died in an industrial accident on April 22. Miller, 53, of Tracy City, Tenn., was employed at Franklin Minerals in Sherwood, Tenn.
Ballots mailed in major initiative
Over the next several weeks, BLET members will vote on an initiative that could drastically change the way the organization elects it top officials.
Maine, Montreal & Atlantic workers vote BLET
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen won its second shortline organizing victory of 2006 today as approximately 70 workers at the Maine, Montreal & Atlantic Railway (MMA) voted in favor of BLET representation.
RRB clarifies 60/30 hoax
V.M. “Butch” Speakman, Labor Member of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board in Chicago, issued the following letter clarifying a hoax regarding the 60/30 provisions of the Railroad Retirement Act.
BLET Ohio State Legislative Board Chairman Jim Ong dies
BLET Ohio State Legislative Board Chairman J.F. “Jim” Ong died on Saturday, April 15, after a four month battle with cancer. Brother Ong was 62 years old.
New England Central members approve first BLET contract
BLET members have approved a new four-year collective bargaining agreement with the New England Central Railroad (NECR).
BLET’s Western General Chairmen conclude annual meeting
Delegates at the Western General Chairman’s Association (WGCA) have re-elected all sitting officers by acclamation in meetings held here at the WGCA’s annual meeting.
Scholarship deadlines approaching
Application deadlines are swiftly approaching for several railroad-specific scholarship programs that are available to the college-bound children of BLET members.
