Rail Industry News
AAR: Rail traffic down in October and for the week ending November 2, 2019
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, November 6, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending November 2, 2019, as well as volumes for October 2019. U.S. railroads...
Editorial: A small step toward expanded passenger rail service in Pa.
(Source: Editorial in the Tribune-Democrat, November 7, 2019) JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — A state transportation official offered a glimmer of optimism when announcing that Norfolk Southern Corp. had agreed to conduct a study concerning the push to expand passenger rail service...
NJ Senators invite DOT head to meet commuters delayed by decrepit Hudson rail tunnel
(Source: NJ Spotlight, November 7, 2019) NEWARK, N.J. — New Jersey’s two U.S. senators are challenging the head of the federal Department of Transportation to meet the commuters who routinely face delays caused by the Northeast Corridor’s century-old trans-Hudson rail...
FRA offers $24 million in grants for passenger service
(Source: Federal Railroad Administration press release, November 6, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today announced the availability of $24 million in grant funding to initiate, restore, or enhance...
California approves $3.2 billion bond for Virgin’s $4.8 billion bullet train to Las Vegas
(Source: Construction Dive, November 6, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank) has authorized a $3.2 billion tax-exempt, fixed-rate revenue bond issuance to help DesertXpress Enterprises LLC, an affiliate of Virgin...
Canadian National sees record western grain volumes in October
(Source: CN press release, November 5, 2019) MONTREAL — CN announced that its Western Canadian grain movements broke another record in the month of October, with shipments of 2.8 million metric tonnes (MMT) of grain and processed grain products. The previous record,...
AAR, Short Line Association seeking changes to Hours of Service mandate
(Source: Freight Waves, November 6, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) and the American Short Line Regional Rail Association (ASLRRA) are seeking modifications to the existing hours of service (HOS) regulations which they say will...
Hoffa: 2020 Presidential candidates must share vision for labor
(Source: Column by Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa published in the Detroit News, November 6, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The 2020 presidential election, now less than a year away, is arriving at a key moment in U.S. history. Workers, long the backbone of this...
U.S. freight rail traffic down 8.1% in October 2019
(Source: Freight Waves, November 6, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — U.S. rail traffic tumbled 8.1% in October as weakness in the industrial economy put pressure on rail volumes. Freight railroads in the U.S. originated nearly 2.56 million carloads and intermodal units in...
Rail freight nosedive: “Sensible actions aimed at accelerating growth” needed, says AAR
(Source: Railway Age, November 6, 2019) NEW YORK — In the Association of American Railroads Nov. 6, 2019 traffic report, Senior Vice President Policy and Economics John T. Gray succinctly notes what is dragging rail freight down: “Sluggish growth abroad and trade...
Railroad Retirement benefits will increase in 2020
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, November 1, 2019) CHICAGO — Most railroad retirement annuities, like social security benefits, will increase in January 2020 due to a rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the third quarter of 2018 to the...
Railroad retiree earnings limits increase in 2020
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, November 1, 2019) CHICAGO — Railroad retirement annuitants subject to earnings restrictions can earn more in 2020 without having their benefits reduced as a result of increases in earnings limits indexed to average...
Years after rail saga, Wisconsin’s Talgo trains sit idle
(Source: Wisconsin Public Radio, November 6, 2019) MADISON, Wisc. — In Beech Grove, Indiana, two massive brick warehouses have been a part of the landscape for more than a century. One of the buildings has a concrete sign that reads 1907. The other reads 1910. Both...
Quad Cities to Chicago Amtrak service gets green light
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, November 5, 2019) NEW YORK — The name “Quad Cities” refers to five U.S. cities, three in Illinois and two in Iowa located along the Mississippi River. The Illinois cities are Moline, Rock Island, and East Moline, and the Iowa...
NJ Transit passenger dies aboard train despite doctor’s attempt to save him
(Source: www.nj.com, November 5, 2019) NEWARK, N.J. — A man on a rush-hour train headed to New Jersey died after possibly suffering a heart attack, despite a doctor’s best efforts to revive him. NJ Transit train No. 3363, on the North Jersey Coast Line route, was...
MBTA Board commits to reimagined commuter rail system
(Source: State House News Service, November 4, 2019) BOSTON — The MBTA board voted Monday to back substantial investment in the commuter rail, calling for electrification of the system and more frequent service through the most dense corridors in a step that...
BNSF forges more “funnel” double-track
(Source: Railway Age, November 5, 2019) NEW YORK — In early October, BNSF placed in service approximately 2.5 miles of second main track near the community of Westmond, Idaho, closing the gap between two larger sections of double-track main line on one of the busiest...
BNSF posts higher operating income, lower revenue in Q3 2019
(Source: Progressive Railroading, November 5, 2019) BNSF Railway Co. reported third-quarter operating income rose 3 percent to $2.2 billion, while total revenue fell 2 percent to $6 billion compared with the same period a year ago. Full story: Progressive Railroading
Former Union Pacific employees raise safety concerns after Neff Yard layoffs
(Source: Televisions station KSHB, November 5, 2019) KANSAS CITY — Three weeks after Union Pacific announced plans to transfer operations away from Neff Yard, several employees who were laid off reached out to 41 Action News to voice concerns about safety with the...
Altoona politicians condemn latest round of NS layoffs at Juniata shop
(Source: Altoona Mirror, November 6, 2019) ALTOONA, Pa. — The layoff of 95 more workers at the Juniata Locomotive Shop has a local labor leader wondering what’s next. Tuesday’s layoffs followed on the heels of a layoff of about 100 workers on Sept. 3. The latest...
BLET News
James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund
BLET members are now eligible to participate in the James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Unions tell NMB: Reject railroads’ plan to silence workers
A railroad industry proposal, which enjoys the support of key Bush appointees, was condemned today by transportation labor unions who said it would suppress rail workers from speaking out on issues of working conditions, safety, and pay.
BLET scores another shortline organizing victory
Workers at the New Orleans and Gulf Coast Railway (NOGCR) have selected the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen as their designated collective bargaining representative.
BLET to conduct four S-T Workshops in 2005
The BLET’s Education and Training Department will conduct four Secretary-Treasurer Compliance Workshops this year prior to the March 31 deadline for filing Department of Labor reports.
In the line of duty: Christopher G. Seeling
Brother Christopher G. Seeling, Secretary-Treasurer of BLET Division 85 (Columbia, S.C.), was killed on January 6 when his Norfolk Southern train collided with another train that was stopped in a siding.
Funeral arrangements for Betty Child
The family of Betty Child announced funeral arrangements today for the long-time BLET employee and Honorary Member, who passed away on January 5.
Tell Corporate America and the Bush Administration: Stop railroading worker rights!
The nation’s giant railroads have sold their friends in the Bush Administration on a scheme to tax rail workers’ rights.
BLET announces Long Term Disability plan for Norfolk Southern members
The BLET’s Norfolk Southern General Committees of Adjustment are pleased to announce details of a Long Term Disability Plan for its members.
BLET member dies in South Carolina collision
A BLET member died Thursday morning when his train collided with a train that was stopped on a siding in South Carolina. The locomotive engineer’s name is being withheld pending notification of his family.
Honorary Member and devoted worker of BLET passes away
Honorary Member Betty Child, a loyal and long time Office Administrator of the National Legislative Office of the BLET, passed away today. Sister Betty was 60 years old and leaves her husband, Jerry, three children, and literally thousands of friends in the union movement and Washington, D.C.
