Rail Industry News
DeFazio questions Class Is’ commitment to fighting climate change
(Source: Progressive Railroading, January 17, 2020) U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) yesterday questioned whether the nation's four largest Class Is are committed to combating climate change. Full story:...
Boulder hits Amtrak train in central Missouri, causing delays
(Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 18, 2020) ST. LOUIS, Mo. — A boulder hit the Missouri River Runner, an Amtrak train that travels scenic stretches between St. Louis and Kansas City, on Friday night causing mechanical problems, delays and frustration. One...
United States Senator asks for meeting with Amtrak chief over alleged disability discrimination
(Source: The Hill, January 19, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), the top Democrat on the Senate Transportation Committee and the first disabled woman elected to Congress, called for a meeting with the CEO of Amtrak amid reports the railroad...
Two wheelchair users faced a $25,000 fee to travel on Amtrak
(Source: National Public Radio, January 17, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — It costs $16 to take the Amtrak from Chicago to Bloomington, Ill. But people who use wheelchairs were recently asked to pay $25,000. Amtrak defended the cost, saying it reflects a new policy. Full...
Civil rights attorney alleges Amtrak conductor tried to make her move to back of the train
(Source: People, January 19, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Civil rights attorney Sherrilyn Ifill is claiming that an Amtrak employee asked her to give up her seat to the back of the train during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend. Full story: www.people.com
CSX eyes flat to lower revenue in 2020
(Source: Freight Waves, January 17, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Eastern railroad CSX expects its annual revenue to be flat to 2% lower in 2020 amid a systemic decline in coal volumes and an industrial economy that might take some time to improve, company executives...
KCS optimistic about 2020
(Source: Freight Waves, January 17, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Kansas City Southern expects rail volumes and revenue to grow in 2020 amid service improvements and clarity on U.S. trade policy concerning North America. Full story: Freight Waves
KCS reports Q4 and full-year 2019 results
(Source: Kansas City Southern press release, January 17, 2020) KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Southern (KCS) reported strong fourth quarter and full year 2019 results, driven by implementation of Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) principles. Fourth Quarter 2019...
Kansas City Southern net profit slips in fourth quarter
(Source: Freight Waves, January 17, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Net profit for Kansas City Southern slipped in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to the prior year, but revenues were 5% higher amid increases for chemicals and petroleum and industrial and consumer...
Hartford passenger rail linking Springfield to New Haven passes 1 million rider mark
(Source: www.masslive.com, January 16, 2020) SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Ridership on the Hartford Line, which connects rail commuters traveling between New Haven and Springfield has passed the 1 million mark, according to Connecticut Department of Transportation officials....
Amtrak eyes new Atlanta to Nashville passenger train with Chattanooga stop
(Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press, January 16, 2020) NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Amtrak officials have been discussing with Tennessee officials a proposal to establish an Atlanta to Nashville line. Stops could include one in Chattanooga for the first time since 1971 as the...
Environmental group calls BNSF derailment into Kootenai River a major disaster
(Source: Kootenai Valley Times, January 15, 2020) BONNERS FERRY, Idaho — A North Idaho environmental group asking donations to "support grassroots resistance to dirty corporate energy" has labeled the New Year's Day BNSF derailment on two locomotives into the Kootenai...
Edited transcript of CSX Q4 2019 earnings conference call
(Source: Reuters, January 17, 2020) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — What follows is an edited transcript of CSX’s earnings conference call or presentation for the fourth quarter of 2019, which took place on Thursday, January 16, 2020. Full story: Yahoo Finance
CSX announces Q4 and full year 2019 results
(Source: CSX press release, January 16, 2020) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Corporation (NASDAQ: CSX) today announced fourth quarter 2019 net earnings of $771 million, or $0.99 per share, versus $843 million, or $1.01 per share in the same period last year. CSX’s operating...
CSX Q4 2019 profit declines 9% as railroad hauls less freight
(Source: Associated Press, January 16, 2020) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX said its profit declined 9% in the fourth quarter of 2019 as the railroad hauled 7% less freight. The railroad said Thursday it earned $771 million, or 99 cents per share, in the quarter. That’s...
Union Pacific CEO: PSR is an outdated term because it’s the new norm
(Source: Supply Chain Dive, January 16, 2020) LOMBARD, Ill. — Precision-scheduled railroading (PSR) is an outdated phrase, Union Pacific Railroad CEO Lance Fritz told the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers' Winter Meeting in Lombard, Illinois, Wednesday. Full story:...
U.S. rail volumes trend lower amid tailwinds
(Source: Freight Waves, January 16, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — U.S. rail traffic continued to inch downward for the first two weeks of 2020 amid trade tailwinds. Year-to-date U.S. rail volumes for the week ending Saturday totaled 915,638 carloads and intermodal units,...
AAR: Rail traffic down again for week ending January 11, 2020
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, January 15, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending January 11, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 501,624...
Operation Lifesaver introduces resource for news media reporting on suicide-related rail accidents
(Source: Operation Lifesaver press release, January 14, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Operation Lifesaver, Inc., (OLI) the national, nonprofit rail safety education organization, is providing a new resource that offers effective messaging and techniques to the news media...
One locomotive recovered, work underway to bring up lead locomotive from Kootenai River
(Source: Kootenai Valley Times, January 14, 2020) BONNERS FERRY, Idaho — Burlington Northern Santa Fe officials report that crews have removed one of the two locomotives that went over an embankment and into the Kootenai River about three miles east of the...
BLET News
One year after Graniteville tragedy, rails still unsafe
Today marks the first year since the tragic rail crash in Graniteville, S.C., that claimed nine lives. Despite this horrific rail accident, in which deadly chlorine gas was emitted into the community, rail corporations have done little to address the numerous security and safety gaps along our nation’s railroads.
NMB to NCCC: Return to bargaining
The National Mediation Board (NMB) rejected the National Carrier Conference Committee’s (NCCC) request for a release from mediation and ordered the NCCC to return to the bargaining table with the Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition (RLBC).
Bush bypasses Congress and re-appoints Amtrak board members
President George W. Bush has again showed the American people that who you know is much more important than what you know in reappointing Enrique Sosa and Floyd Hall to the Amtrak board. The administration has shown its contempt for qualified individuals and its preference for rewarding donors by circumventing the traditional appointment process again, while at the same time doing a disservice to the hardworking employees of Amtrak and its riders.
New Year 2006
The year 2005 was marked by many gains and positive achievements by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and its membership. As the year draws to a close, let us look back on those accomplishments so that they may inspire us to even greater things in 2006.
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.
