Rail Industry News
KCS CFO Upchurch sells $151,650 in company stock
(Source: Tech News Observer, December 12, 2019) NEW YORK — Kansas City Southern CFO Michael W. Upchurch sold 1,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 9. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.65, for a total...
Union Pacific EVP Whited sells $916,794 in company stock
(Source: DFS Caller, December 11, 2019) NEW YORK — Union Pacific Co. EVP Elizabeth F. Whited sold 5,342 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, December 9. The stock was sold at an average price of $171.62, for a total transaction of $916,794.04....
Amtrak faces its next chapter as railroad nears 50th anniversary
(Source: Progressive Railroading, December 10, 2019) As Amtrak heads toward the 50th anniversary next year of its creation, the nation’s only intercity passenger railroad does so in the best financial condition in its history. Full story: Progressive Railroading
Trial launches for man accused in armed confrontation with BNSF train crew
(Source: NCW Life, December 11, 2019) WENATCHEE — Trial opened Tuesday for a Chumstick Valley man accused of firing several gunshots to intimidate a crew of railroad workers. James Carl Brown, 45, allegedly fired three to five rounds from an M4 assault rifle in...
Judge dismisses Hyndman derailment lawsuit against CSX
(Source: Altoona Mirror, December 11, 2019) ALTOONA, Pa. — A federal judge has put a halt to a lawsuit filed by several residents of Hyndman Borough who were evacuated from their homes 28 months ago following a derailment of a CSX Transportation freight train,...
CEO optimism falls for 7th straight quarter: survey
(Source: Yahoo Finance, December 11, 2019) NEW YORK — CEOs grew less optimistic about the U.S. economy for the seventh straight quarter, according to a new survey. On Wednesday the Business Roundtable released its CEO Economic Outlook survey for the fourth quarter....
Weekly U.S. coal carloads climb 6.7% on week
(Source: S&P Global Platts, December 11, 2019) HOUSTON — Weekly U.S. coal carload originations totaled 72,402 in the week ended December 7, up 6.7% from the previous week, Association of American Railroads said Wednesday. But from the year-ago week, carloads was down...
Business CEOs throw support behind new NAFTA deal
(Source: The Hill, December 11, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — An association of CEOs from major U.S. corporations officially endorsed the new U.S. trade agreement with Mexico and Canada on Wednesday and urged Congress to swiftly pass legislation to implement it. Lance...
1.5 million liters of crude oil spilled in CP Rail derailment
(Source: Global News, December 12, 2019) CALGARY — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released new details regarding the Canadian Pacific Railway train derailment near Guernsey, Sask. TSB said Wednesday its preliminary examination suggests 19 of the 34...
Derailed crude oil train cars in Saskatchewan leaked, ignited despite enhanced safety features
(Source: CBC News, December 11, 2019) CALGARY — The oil-carrying Canadian Pacific Railway train that derailed and lit up an area of rural Saskatchewan earlier this week was pulling modified tank cars meant to reduce the risk of puncturing and other damage during a...
RRB Q&A: Credit for military service under the Railroad Retirement Act
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, November 1, 2019) CHICAGO — Many railroad employees have at some time served in the Armed Forces of the United States. Under certain conditions, their military service may be credited as rail service under the Railroad...
CSX, Maryland find extra funding for Howard Street Tunnel project
(Source: Progressive Railroading, December 9, 2019) CSX and the state of Maryland have agreed to $100 million in additional funding needed to advance the expansion of the long-planned Howard Street Tunnel in Baltimore. Full story: Progressive Railroading
Palestine mayor calls on UP to drop lawsuit, apologize
(Source: Palestine Herald-Press, December 9, 2019) PALESTINE, Texas — In an impassioned speech Monday in council chambers, Palestine Mayor Steve Presley called on Union Pacific officials to apologize and drop their lawsuit against the city. Full story: Palestine...
Amtrak says growing demand makes case for increased funding
(Source: Business Traveller, December 7, 2019) LONDON — A rise in passenger numbers is boosting the case for more investment in US rail, according to the head of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. Full story: Business Traveller
Houston residents say contaminants from nearby rail yard are causing cancer levels to spike
(Source: Atlanta Black Star, December 10, 2019) HOUSTON — Kashmere Gardens, a historically Black neighborhood in northeast Houston, is tucked between an industrial lot and a rail corridor that runs through the city. These days the quiet community is abuzz after...
Amtrak Hiawatha gets funding from Wisconsin lawmakers to buy new rail cars
(Source: Pioneer Press, December 10, 2019) CHICAGO — Amtrak’s Hiawatha line, which runs between Milwaukee and Chicago and makes a total of 14 stops each weekday in Glenview, is getting all new passenger train cars thanks to spending recently approved by the Wisconsin...
Defective BNSF engine leaks 600 gallons of diesel fuel, some into Columbia River
(Source: Television station KEPR, December 9, 2019) TRI-CITIES, Wash. — The Department of Ecology says 600 gallons of fuel spilled between Pasco and Finley on a faulty BNSF train. It started with a leaky fuel filter. Late Sunday night, a Burlington Northern Santa Fe...
Partisan antics during CN strike may alienate Canadians
(Source: Western Producer, December 6, 2019) SASKATOON — Elected officials took different approaches to handling the Canadian National Railway strike, but none of them came out of it looking good. Full story: Western Producer
Consol Energy sues major U.S. railroads alleging illegal fuel charge scheme
(Source: Legal Newsline, December 11, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Consol Energy has filed a lawsuit against some of the largest U.S. class I railroads alleging an illegal fuel charge scheme. Consol alleges that the defendant railroads violated antitrust laws by assessing...
North American railroads chart the course for 2020
(Source: Freight Waves, December 4, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Recent weakness in carloads and expectations for the fourth quarter of 2019 and beyond were key topics as several management teams from North America’s largest Class I railroads gathered at the Credit...
BLET News
UTU: ‘Desperate act by a desperate union’
The United Transportation Union’s petition for a single craft of operating employees at the Union Pacific Railroad is a reckless effort by a desperate union, said BLET National President Don Hahs today.
BLET prepared for UTU attack
BLET members should rest assured that we have notified our legal counsel in Washington, D.C., of the UTU’s action and plan to take appropriate steps to defend our organization.
Message from BLET National President Don M. Hahs on Memorial Day 2005
The following is a Memorial Day statement from BLET President Don M. Hahs.
BLET friend, FRA inspector Alan Golden passes away
Alan G. Golden, 52, a friend of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and an inspector with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), passed away on May 21 at his home in Colonie, N.Y.
New reporting forms available for BLET Divisions, SLBs, GCAs
Under the Constitution of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, all subordinate bodies are required to perform a monthly audit.
BLET, Pacific Harbor Line sign new agreement
Pacific Harbor Line, Inc. (PHL) and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) have signed a new four-year labor agreement covering PHL’s operating and maintenance of way employees.
Four children of BLET members win Hoffa scholarships
Four college-bound children of BLET members have earned James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund awards totaling $14,000 from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
L&I short line workers get first BLET contract
Less than a year after joining the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, members on the formerly non-union Louisville & Indiana Railroad (L&I) have their first-ever collective bargaining agreement.
Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition submits force stabilization and growth proposal to rail carriers
Today, the Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition (RLBC) put forth a proposal to the rail carriers to stabilize employment in each rail craft.
BLET Job Bank: Amtrak
Amtrak is recruiting Locomotive Engineers to work in Miami, Florida, Jacksonville, Florence, S.C. or Raleigh, N.C.
