Rail Industry News
Gov. Murphy cool on permanent revenue source for NJ Transit
(Source: NJ Biz, January 23, 2020) TRENTON, N.J. — While legislative leaders and public transportation advocates have lined up behind an effort to establish a dedicated and recurring source of revenue for NJ Transit, Gov. Phil Murphy playing it close to the vest on...
Disabilities group holds demonstration outside Amtrak station in Normal, Ill.
(Source: Central Illinois Proud, January 23, 2020) NORMAL, Ill. — A group of people planned a demonstration outside Uptown Station in Normal after Amtrak attempted to charge some wheelchair-bound passengers $25,000 for a trip from Chicago to the Twin Cities. The...
Amtrak ends policy that resulted in $25,000 charge for passengers using wheelchairs
(Source: The Hill, January 23, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak announced Thursday that it would end a policy that led it to quote a price of $25,000 for a group of activists who use wheelchairs to travel in-state. Full story: The Hill
CP Rail grain car rolls out of control, derails near Field, B.C.
(Source: CBC News, January 23, 2020) FIELD, B.C. — A Canadian Pacific Railway grain car rolled away at high speed for more than six kilometers last week at Field, B.C., near where a derailment killed three crew members almost one year ago. Full story: www.cbc.ca
Police officer suspects internal coverup by CP Rail in fatal B.C. mountain crash
(Source: CBC News, January 24, 2020) CALGARY — A police officer probing the death of three Canadian Pacific Railway crewmen killed in a runaway train crash in B.C. last February alleges he was denied access to key evidence and suspects a "coverup" by the railway. Mark...
Union Pacific shares rise as CEO says U.S.-China trade pact should help end rail slump
(Source: Reuters, January 23, 2020) NEW YORK — Union Pacific Corp shares rose more than 2% on Thursday after executives at the railroad operator said the U.S.-China trade pact should help reverse slumping volumes in the second half of 2020. Full story: Reuters
AAR: Rail traffic down for week ending January 18, 2020
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, January 22, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending January 18, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 499,732...
U.S. rail volumes still sluggish
(Source: Freight Waves, January 23, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The slump in U.S. rail volumes is persisting three weeks into the new year. U.S. rail traffic year-to-date totaled nearly 1.42 million carloads and intermodal units for the week ending Jan. 18, a 7.8% drop...
U.S. Class 1 rail headcount tumbles in December 2019
(Source: Freight Waves, January 23, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Employment at the U.S. operations of Class I railroads fell to its lowest level in years in December 2019, according to the latest data released by the Surface Transportation Board. Those operations...
Union Pacific eyes 3,000 fewer workers in 2020
(Source: Seeking Alpha, January 23, 2020) NEW YORK — Union Pacific plans to run its railroad with nearly 3,000 fewer workers this year, CEO Lance Fritz tells the Wall Street Journal, as it pushes ahead with a new operating plan that runs fewer, longer trains. The...
Another light rail stop coming to Hoboken?
(Source: The Jersey Journal, January 22, 2020) HOBOKEN, N.J. — Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla met with representatives of NJ Transit earlier this month to discuss a potential new light rail stop in the northwest corner of the city, an initiative he campaigned on more than...
Rail safety bill a priority for Vero Beach, Fla.
(Source: TC Palm, January 21, 2020) VERO BEACH, Fla. — When higher-speed trains begin running through town in 2022, the City Council wants safety to continue the top priority. The council Tuesday agreed to support a rail-safety bill sponsored by state Sen. Debbie...
Gov. Baker proposes new governance structure for MBTA
(Source: Boston Herald, January 22, 2020) BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker rolled out his proposal for the MBTA’s next oversight board — a plan that doesn’t include a designated Boston seat. Full story: Boston Herald
FRA approves move of high-speed train from Hornell to Colorado
(Source: The Evening Tribune, January 22, 2020) HORNELL, N.Y. — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has signed off on Amtrak’s permit application for a one-time movement of its just-constructed next generation high-speed train from the Hornell Alstom production...
Norfolk Southern subsidiary to close headquarters in Fort Wayne
(Source: Television station WANE, January 22, 2020) FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Longtime Fort Wayne business, Triple Crown Services, is moving its headquarters out of Fort Wayne. An employee confirmed to WANE 15 the last day for employees in July 31, 2020. Triple Crown...
Engineer at controls during deadly train derailment near DuPont sues Amtrak
(Source: The Olympian, January 22, 2020) OLYMPIA, Wash. — The engineer of the train that derailed near DuPont in 2017 filed a lawsuit against Amtrak this week. Steven Brown’s complaint alleges he wasn’t properly trained and technology that could have stopped the train...
Union Pacific delivery volume falls, so does its profit in Q4 2019
(Source: Associated Press, January 23, 2020) OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific's fourth-quarter profit fell 10% as the railroad hauled 11% less freight. The railroad said Thursday that it earned $1.4 billion, or $2.02 per share in the quarter. That's down from $1.55...
Union Pacific reports Q4 and full-year 2019 results
(Source: Union Pacific press release, January 23, 2020) OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Corporation today reported 2019 fourth quarter net income of $1.4 billion, or $2.02 per diluted share. This compares to $1.6 billion, or $2.12 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter...
Metra to step up fare validation efforts
(Source: Progressive Railroading, January 21, 2020) Metra intends to increase fare collection enforcement this year, the commuter railroad announced last week. Metra police officers will join train conductors in validating fares by checking that riders have the...
Gov. Murphy says NJ Transit fares will not increase
(Source: www.nj.com, January 21, 2020) NEWARK, N.J. — Commuters will be spared from a fare hike in fiscal year 2021, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Tuesday morning. Murphy announced fares would remain stable in his next proposed state budget, setting the stage for a third...
BLET News
BLET members OK 5-year deal with CN/IC
CN and the Brotherhood of Locomotive En-gineers and Trainmen (BLET) announced today that 400 locomotive engineers working on CN’s former Illinois Central (IC) properties in the United States have ratified a five-year collective agreement with the company.
2006 Time Books in the mail
Time Books for 2006 have been mailed to individual BLET members as of December 22.
BLET to conduct two S-T Workshops in 2006
The BLET’s Education and Training Department will conduct two three-day Secretary-Treasurer Compliance Workshops next year to assist STs prior to the major federal tax reporting deadline.
UnitedHealthcare to send confirmation letters to employees who opt-out of benefits
Each year employees have the opportunity to change benefits during the Open Enrollment period. This is held each October for next year’s benefits. As a general rule your benefits will not change from one year to the next unless you return the enrollment form making a change.
Engineers to receive a cost of living adjustment on January 1
Locomotive Engineers covered by the December 16, 2003 National Agreement will notice an increase in their pay checks on January 1.
Rail carriers cut-off negotiations
On December 14, the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC) refused to set new dates for bargaining with the Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition (RLBC). The RLBC represents seven rail labor unions whose contracts cover nearly 85,000 rail workers or 65 percent of the carriers’ employees. The NCCC represents the Class One carriers (Union Pacific, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Norfolk Southern, CSX, etc.) that transport most the rail freight in the country.
Rail security bill introduced by Representative Lynch
Representative Stephen Lynch (D-MA) has introduced a bill, H.R. 4372, that would mandate security training for railroad workers. Also known as the Rail Worker Emergency Training Act of 2005, the bill would address many of the concerns expressed by BLET members in the Safe Rails, Secure America surveys conducted by the Teamsters Rail Conference.
Credit cards now accepted at BLET online store
Online shopping for BLET merchandise just got a whole lot easier.
Graniteville report highlights vulnerability of nation’s railways
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) yesterday recommended that rail companies make important operational changes, including reducing speeds in populated areas, to avoid another catastrophic accident like the crash in Graniteville, S.C., in January that killed nine people.
BLET’s Kinsman begins 2006 campaign
Getting an early start and building momentum for the 2006 elections, Brother James Kinsman — Chairman of the BLET’s Wisconsin State Legislative Board — has announced that he is running for political office in his home state.
