Rail Industry News
Canada’s Imperial Oil says it makes good economic sense to move crude oil by rail
(Source: Reuters, January 31, 2020) CALGARY — Canada’s Imperial Oil Ltd. on Friday vowed to move more crude-by-rail to take most advantage of exemptions on production curtailments imposed by the Alberta government. Full story: Reuters
Virginia becoming a model for intercity train service, observers say
(Source: Washington Post, February 1, 2020) NORFOLK, Va. — Amtrak trains in Virginia carried nearly a million passengers last year, a record in the state’s decade-long rail program. Full story: Roanoke Times
8 safety recommendations implemented from NTSB’s 2019-2020 Most Wanted List
(Source: National Transportation Safety Board press release, January 29, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pipeline safety, helicopter emergency medical service flight operations safety and emergency response to railroad hazardous materials events were recently improved with...
Amtrak Downeaster achieves record ridership in 2019
(Source: Amtrak press release, January 31, 2020) PORTLAND, Maine — The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) announced today that the Amtrak Downeaster achieved record breaking ridership of 574,404 passengers in calendar year 2019, a 7.8% increase...
Editorial: A $200 million punch in the face from NJ Transit
(Source: Editorial by the Star-Ledger editorial board, February 3, 2020) NEWARK, N.J. — As it turns out, the federally-mandated braking system being installed on New Jersey Transit trains isn’t $300 million, as announced in August. It will be more in the $500 million...
New TCRC agreement with CN focuses on fatigue
(Source: Canadian Press, January 31, 2020) MONTREAL — Teamsters Canada says rail workers have approved a three-year collective agreement with Canadian National Railway Co. The union says the agreement improves on safety and worker exhaustion, but Teamsters Canada...
TCRC members ratify new three-year contract with CN
(Source: Teamsters Canada Rail Conference press release, January 31, 2020) MONTREAL — Conductors, yard workers and trainpersons employed by Canadian National Railway (CN) have voted 91.3% to ratify a new 3-year collective agreement. The over 3,000 workers are...
PATH workers with no new contract since 2011 picket, demand raises
(Source: www.nj.com, January 30, 2020) JERSEY CITY, N.J. — They were loud, they were numerous and they told commuters and passersby they haven’t had a new contract in close to a decade. Several hundred off-duty PATH workers from eight unions that haven’t reached an...
Millennials want Mobile city council to support return of Amtrak to Gulf Coast
(Source: www.al.com, January 30, 2020) MOBILE, Ala. — If council members vote no, the Gulf Coast Amtrak proposal will be a skeleton dream representing another time Alabama has “fallen” behind the rest of the country, said John Roberson. Full story: www.al.com
NJ Transit gets bad review from state auditor
(Source: www.nj.com, January 30, 2020) NEWARK, N.J. — A scathing report by the state auditor criticized NJ Transit’s rail operations, saying the cost to install a federally mandated safety system has ballooned to $500 million and expressed doubts that the agency will...
Federal judge sides with railroads in case of trains blocking road crossings
(Source: Commonwealth Journal, January 30, 2020) SOMSERSET, Ky. — A federal judge has ruled in favor of the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and against local law enforcement, stating that federal law overrules state law when it comes to railroad commerce. As...
Union Pacific train breaks down, blocks crossing in Central Texas town
(Source: Television station KWTX, January 30, 2020) WEST, Texas — A Union Pacific a train that broke down overnight and blocked crossings in West through the day Thursday has finally been repaired. The blocked crossings were cleared by around 5:40 p.m. Thursday. The...
Canadian Pacific sees volume opportunities
(Source: Freight Waves, January 30, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Canadian Pacific is eyeing an anticipated new intermodal offering in eastern Canada and crude-by-rail opportunities in western Canada. Full story: Freight Waves
CN Q4 2019 earnings drop but CEO cautiously optimistic about second half of 2020
(Source: Canadian Press, January 29, 2020) MONTREAL — Canadian National Railway Co. saw its profits plunge last quarter with a week-long strike and thinner freight demand denting revenues, though CEO JJ Ruest expressed cautious optimism about the second half of 2020....
AAR: Rail traffic down for week ending January 25, 2020
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, January 29, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending January 25, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 485,282...
Norfolk Southern says PSR made its service better
(Source: Supply Chain Dive, January 30, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Service improved and customers are happy with Norfolk Southern's "flawless" precision-scheduled railroading (PSR) implementation, CMO Alan Shaw said on the railroad's Wednesday earnings call. "What's...
U.S. rail traffic slumps again
(Source: Freight Waves, January 30, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Year-to-date U.S. rail volumes remain lower than the same period in 2019 as Class I rail executives cautiously pin their expectations for volume growth to the second half of this year. U.S. rail traffic...
Train crew reduction proposal sparks concern in Waco, Texas
(Source: Television station KWTX, January 30, 2020) WACO, Texas — What’s driving the proposed change is this year’s scheduled completion of a $15 billion automatic railroad braking system, which, the industry says, supports the move toward eliminating one of the two...
Maryland lawmakers override several bills Gov. Hogan vetoed last year, but not two-person crew bill
(Source: Capital News Service, January 30, 2020) BALTIMORE, Md. — Maryland lawmakers overrode Gov. Larry Hogan’s vetoes five times on Thursday, but gave up on three other bills, including one designed to make freight rail safer. Senate Democrats ultimately did not...
City in Oklahoma continues to struggle with blocked railroad crossings amid pending lawsuit
(Source: The Daily Ardmoreite, January 29, 2020) ARDMORE, Okla. — At around 9 a.m. Tuesday morning Davis residents who cross the train tracks on Main St. during their daily commutes had to find an alternate route. Full story: The Daily Ardmoreite
BLET News
Representative King supports continued negotiations
Representative Peter T. King (R-N.Y.), the Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, has thanked the National Mediation Board for its handling of contract negotiations between rail labor and rail carriers.
Rail labor: ‘No’ to single-person crews
BNSF Railway should not be permitted to operate trains with single-person crews until appropriate safety studies have been completed and regulations are in place, the Federal Railroad Administration was told here by rail labor Feb. 23.
Labor helps beat back asbestos bill
Organized labor successfully lobbied for the defeat of a controversial $140 billion asbestos bill in the Senate on February 14 by a vote of 58-41.
NCCC will bargain with Rail Labor
Late on February 13, the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC) withdrew its request for release from mediation, representing a victory for BLET members and all of Rail Labor.
Space remains for upcoming Local Chairman Workshop
A few spots still remain for the BLET Education & Training Department’s Local Chairman Workshop at the University of Illinois in Champaign from March 19-23.
Resolutions to change bylaws due February 17
The deadline for BLET Divisions planning to submit resolutions to change the Bylaws of the BLET National Division is one week from today.
LaTourette urges negotiated rail contract
Representative Steven C. LaTourette (R-Ohio) is urging the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC) to complete negotiations at the bargaining table and to not depend on Congress for a legislated settlement.
Senators urged to vote no on Asbestos bill
BLET members are urged to call their Senators and ask them to vote no on S. 852, the Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2005, which is currently up for debate on the Senate floor.
GOP’s Young: ‘Keep Congress out of it’
Congressional intervention in the current round of national negotiations would be premature and the National Mediation Board should refrain from releasing rail labor and the carriers from bargaining. That’s according to a letter from Representative Don Young (R-Alaska) to the National Mediation Board dated January 23, 2006.
Space remains for March 6 S-T Workshop in Jacksonville
Space is still available for members interested in attending the Education & Training Department’s Secretary- Treasurer Workshop in Jacksonville, Florida from March 6-9.
