Rail Industry News
West Virginia legislators seek meeting with NS execs in effort to salvage intermodal complex
(Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail, January 7, 2020) CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A legislative interim committee is calling for a meeting with Norfolk Southern railway officials to discuss ways to save the state’s $18 million investment in the $32 million Heartland Gateway...
Editorial: Expert dismayed at NJ Transit progress
(Source: Editorial published at www.nj.com, January 6, 2020) NEWARK, N.J. — Whenever lawmakers try to make sense of our state’s longest-running tragicomedy, New Jersey Transit, the first person they usually summon is a former divorce attorney from Scotch Plains who...
NJ Transit commuters one step closer to escaping “pit” at Penn Station
(Source: www.nj.com, January 7, 2020) NEWARK, N.J. — The pain of waiting for trains in the crowded “pit” in Penn Station New York during rush hour is a step closer to some relief. Full story: www.nj.com
Seven killed, 30 injured in Mexico bus crash with train
(Source: Reuters, January 7, 2020) MEXICO CITY — Mexico's largest railroad operator Ferromex said on Tuesday that at least seven people were killed and more than 30 injured after a bus collided with one of its cargo trains in the northern border state of Sonora in the...
Strike at CN linked to plunge in Canada’s trade volumes
(Source: Freight Waves, January 7, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The strike by Canadian National rail workers helped bring down Canada’s trade volumes during November, Statistics Canada reported. Full story: Freight Waves
15 years after Graniteville crash, the sounds of train whistles still haunt residents
(Source: Television station WRDW, January 7, 2020) GRANITEVILLE, S.C. — Heart and breathing problems, body pain, and emotional trauma -- that's what people in Graniteville still feel today 15 years after a massive, deadly chlorine release that left nine people dead...
Mexico train robberies rose 13% in third-quarter of 2019
(Source: Freight Waves, January 8, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — During the third quarter of 2019, the number of train robberies in Mexico rose 13% compared with the previous quarter, according to data compiled by Mexico’s Railway Transport Regulatory Agency (ARTF)....
Hoffa: New Year brings big responsibility for voters
(Source: Column by Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa, published in the Detroit News, January 1, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, America begins a very important year in its existence. Over the next 11 months, voters will decide who they want to lead this country...
CN to report Q4 2019 results on January 28
(Source: Canadian National press release, January 6, 2020) MONTREAL — CN will issue its fourth-quarter and year-end 2019 financial and operating results on Jan. 28, 2020, at 4.01 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). CN's senior officers will review the results and the railway's...
NY governor wants to add tracks, access at Penn Station
(Source: Associated Press, January 6, 2020) NEW YORK — The country's busiest train station would get new tracks, expanded terminals and better access for commuters under a plan announced Monday by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Full story: The Daily Star
Canadian Pacific sets record quarter for Canadian grain movements
(Source: Canadian Pacific Railway press release, January 6, 2020) CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific moved more Canadian grain and grain products in 2019's final quarter than any prior quarter in the company's history. Shipping totals came in at 7.9 million metric...
Genesee & Wyoming completes $8.4 billion sale with “excellent outcome”
(Source: Railway Age, January 3, 2020) NEW YORK — Genesee & Wyoming (G&W) recently announced the completion of its $8.4 billion sale to affiliates of Brookfield Infrastructure and GIC. Full story: Railway Age
BNSF to use divers to remove fuel from locomotive that derailed in Kootenai River after rock slide
(Source: The Spokesman-Review, January 6, 2020) SPOKANE, Wash. — While the train track damaged by a rock slide on New Year’s Day re-opened Saturday, two engines are still in the Kootenai River about 10 miles east of Bonners Ferry. The rock slide derailed three...
Class I railroads embrace PSR to mixed results in 2019
(Source: Supply Chain Dive, December 29, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — In 2019, almost every Class I railroad transitioned to its own version of precision-scheduled railroading (PSR) — an operating strategy coined by the late CSX CEO Hunter Harrison. The hallmarks of PSR...
NTSB to add new members Graham, Chapman
(Source: Progressive Railroading, January 3, 2020) The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will add two members this weekend, bringing the board to its full complement of five members for the first time since February 2019. Michael Graham and Thomas Chapman...
More shipper accusations of railroad price fixing
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, January 6, 2020) NEW YORK — Back in December, RT&S reported that Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc., along with other shippers, accused the major U.S. railroads of price fixing, with a focus on fuel surcharges. Today, the Houston...
Teamsters statement on death of UPS Teamster drivers on PA turnpike
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, January 6, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Teamsters Union mourns the loss of two Teamsters Local 776 members and UPS drivers, Dennis Kehler and Daniel Kepner, who were killed Sunday in an accident on the...
AAR: Rail traffic down in December and for week ending December 28, 2019
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, January 3, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending December 28, 2019, as well as volumes for December 2019. U.S. railroads...
Norfolk Southern lays off nearly 70 Roanoke employees
(Source: Television station WSET, January 6, 2020) ROANOKE, Va. — Norfolk Southern announced furloughs for less than 70 employees in Roanoke Monday morning, Jan. 6. In September of last year, they furloughed 130 employees then last April they let go of 45 more...
Will Virgin Trains expand to Jacksonville?
(Source: Daytona Beach News-Journal, January 3, 2020) DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — As Michael Cegelis speaks at a recent Central Florida Transportation Planning Group meeting, the crowd inside the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority boardroom quietly listens. Full story:...
BLET News
Resolutions to change bylaws due February 17
The deadline is quickly approaching for BLET Divisions planning to submit resolutions to change the Bylaws of the BLET National Division.
BLET to conduct 2006 Local Chairman Workshop
The BLET Education & Training Department will conduct a Local Chairman Workshop on the campus of the University of Illinois in Champaign, Ill., from March 19-23.
Rail Labor secures positive Family and Medical Leave Act ruling
Rail Labor secured a major court victory for its members in a decision released by the U.S. District Court in Chicago on January 3 regarding the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
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.
