Rail Industry News
Shippers say they overpaid for rail transport, alleging price fixing
(Source: Houston Chronicle, January 6, 2020) HOUSTON — The petrochemical and refining unit of the French energy major Total is the latest big freight shipper to accuse the nation’s four biggest U.S. railroads of price fixing by adding fuel surcharges to cargo prices....
Pa. State Rep reflects on 2019 Norfolk Southern layoffs, wants company to “step up”
(Source: Television station WJAC, January 2, 2020) ALTOONA, Pa. — A state representative wants a railroad corporation to step up, following three rounds of layoffs from Norfolk Southern’s Juniata Locomotive Shops in 2019. Full story: www.wjactv.com
“Union Pacific is railroading the community,” union leader says after job cuts at Armourdale Yard
(Source: Fox 4 Kansas City, January 3, 2020) KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Union Pacific is cutting jobs at the Armourdale Yard in KCK, less than three months after employees were laid off at its Neff Yard on the other side of the state line. Full story: www.fox4kc.com
Nine lost their lives in Graniteville derailment 15 years ago
(Source: Aiken Standard, January 6, 2020) AIKEN, S.C. — The nine lives lost is the first thing Aiken County Sheriff Michael Hunt thinks of when he remembers the deadly train derailment in Graniteville, which happened in the early morning 15 years ago today. At 2:39...
Railroads are slashing workers, cheered on by Wall Street to stay profitable
(Source: Washington Post, January 4, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Over 20,000 rail workers have lost their jobs in the past year, the biggest layoffs in rail since the Great Recession and a nearly 10 percent decline in rail employment, according to Labor Department data...
Amtrak ridership down in Missouri
(Source: News Tribune, December 27, 2019) JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — For the first five months of the 2020 state fiscal year (July to November) there were 70,903 Amtrak passengers statewide versus 76,929 in the same time last year (a 7.8 percent decrease), according to...
50 years after Southern Belle last rolled, backers hope for new Baton Rouge-New Orleans passenger train
(Source: The Advocate, December 27, 2019) BATON ROUGE, La. — It’s been more than 50 years since the last train brought passengers into and out of Baton Rouge. A long-envisioned passenger rail line that would provide a new link to New Orleans is still in the early...
Mobile to decide key issue on Amtrak future on Gulf Coast
(Source: Associated Press, December 29, 2019) MOBILE, Ala. — City leaders are preparing to decide a key issue in restoring passenger train service along the northern Gulf Coast, where Amtrak hasn't operated regularly since Hurricane Katrina. Full story: San Francisco...
NJ Governor said commuters would see NJ Transit improve in 2019. Did it?
(Source: www.nj.com, December 28, 2019) NEWARK, N.J. — This was the year commuters were supposed to see their NJ Transit train and bus ride get better. Gov. Phil Murphy said so, as early as December 2018. Full story: www.nj.com
Why are railroads still important in the current era?
(Source: Freight Waves, December 28, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Railroads are the most efficient transportation mode for moving goods on the earth’s surface. Railroads are of particular importance for the movement of commodities that heavy and moved in bulk over long...
U.S. DOT dusts off national freight strategic plan
(Source: Freight Waves, December 27, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — A long overdue assessment of the ability of multimodal transportation networks within the United States to handle future freight demand has been opened once again for public comment. Full story: Freight...
NS workers get sick after train passes through “mist”
(Source: 13 News Now, December 29, 2019) SUFFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk Southern workers told firefighters they got sick after the train passed through what was described as a mist near the Saratoga Street rail crossing in Suffolk, Va. Full story: www.13newsnow.com
Illinois Supreme Court: Federal law doesn’t block railroad from suing employees it blames for causing train accident
(Source: Cook County Record, December 23, 2019) CHICAGO — A railroad company can sue employees who it blames for causing railroad accidents, even after those employees first sue the railroad for injuries they suffered in the accident the railroad says they caused, the...
STB: U.S. Class Is employed fewer people in November
(Source: Progressive Railroading, December 27, 2019) As of mid-November, Class Is employed 133,225 people, down 1 percent from mid-October's level and down 10.58 percent from November 2018's count, according to Surface Transportation Board (STB) data. All six...
A peek behind the scenes of the Amtrak Auto Train
(Source: Washington Post, December 26, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Somewhere north of Orlando, Florida, and south of Georgia, Sylvia Longmire rotates her right forearm to reveal 15 rows of three-letter abbreviations inked onto her skin. I'd first glimpsed the tattoo...
Harpers Ferry tourists deal with no foot access across Potomac River
(Source: Herald-Mail, December 23, 2019) HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. — Tourists and outdoor enthusiasts continued Monday to deal with the inconvenience of not being able to cross the Potomac River on a footbridge connected to a railroad bridge after a train derailment over...
Sen. Tester calls for quickly restoring ticket agents at Havre, Shelby Amtrak stations
(Source: Havre Daily News, December 26, 2019) HAVRE, Mont. — U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., is doubling down on his efforts to restore ticket agents in some Amtrak stations including in Havre and Shelby. Full story: Havre Daily News
Disabled veteran says Amtrak employee questioned his disability, claiming discrimination
(Source: Spectrum Local News, December 23, 2019) HIGH POINT, N.C. — A disabled veteran is speaking out, saying he and his service dog were denied entry on an Amtrak train over the weekend. He said the conductor did not believe that he had a legitimate disability. Full...
CN derailment near Alberta-B.C. border under investigation
(Source: Edmonton Journal, December 26, 2019) EDMONTON, Alberta — CN Rail is looking to determine the cause of a Thursday derailment near the Alberta-British Columbia border. Full story: Edmonton Journal
ConocoPhillips owned oil on CP train that derailed in Sask., leaked 1.5 million liters
(Source: CBC News, December 23, 2019) CALGARY — ConocoPhillips has confirmed it owned crude oil on a train that derailed and leaked about 1.5 million liters of oil in rural Saskatchewan two weeks ago. Full story: www.cbc.ca
BLET News
BLET to conduct last S-T Workshop of 2005
The BLET’s Education and Training Department will conduct a Secretary-Treasurer Compliance Workshop in Cleveland from December 4-7.
Fund established to help son of BLET member
A fund has been established to assist with the medical care for Russell Lala, son of BLET Division 27 (St. Cloud, Minn.) member Roseanne Lala. Russell was mauled by both a lion and a tiger in June.
Officer election advisory for unions in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina
Due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, the Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) issues this advisory regarding the union officer election requirements under Title IV of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA).
IBT, Rail Conference support Million Worker March
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, including the members of the Rail Conference, is fully supporting the Million Worker March Movement and their upcoming events in the nation’s Capitol.
BLET gets CF&E shortline organizing victory
BLET National President Don Hahs today welcomed the operating employees of the Chicago, Fort Wayne & Eastern Railroad (CF&E) as the newest members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET).
Red Cross, FEMA forms available
It has come to the attention of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters that many members affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are having difficulty obtaining the proper forms needed to apply for assistance.
New BLET Directories available online
New BLET Directories for 2005 are now available in the password protected area of the BLET website.
BLET President Hahs on the founding of the Change to Win Coalition
The following is a statement by BLET President Don M. Hahs on the founding convention of the Change to Win Coalition on September 27 in St. Louis, Mo.
Safety, security earn failing grade in worker survey of nation’s rails
Rail workers report that America’s rail system is no better protected than before terrorist bombings in Madrid and London, despite repeated warnings from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that trains are a likely terrorist target.
Teamsters offer disaster relief for victims of Hurricane Rita
The Teamsters Disaster Relief Fund is accepting applications for assistance from members in Louisiana and Texas following Hurricane Rita, which struck on September 23.
