Rail Industry News
Airline veteran appointed Chief Safety Officer at Amtrak
(Source: Railway Age, October 29, 2019) NEW YORK — Steve Predmore, a 30-year aviation and bus safety professional, has been appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Safety Officer at Amtrak, effective Nov. 4, 2019. Predmore will succeed Ken Hylander, who will...
U.S. rail headcount reaches new low
(Source: Freight Waves, October 29, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — In September, the U.S. operations of the Class I railroads employed the fewest number of workers in years, according to data from the Surface Transportation Board. The railroads had 136,865 employees on...
Wildlife groups threaten lawsuit against BNSF over grizzly bear deaths
(Source: The Missoulian, October 28, 2019) MISSOULA, Mont. — Wildlife advocates say they are planning to sue BNSF railroad unless it comes up with a solid plan to keep its trains from hitting and killing grizzly bears. Full story: The Missoulian
LaGrande wants Amtrak’s return to Eastern Oregon
(Source: Bend Bulletin, October 28, 2019) LaGRANDE, Ore. — Cook Memorial Library’s community room was probably as crowded late Saturday morning as the Union Pacific Railroad depot in La Grande was on Sept. 27, 1937, when people waited there for the train carrying...
CSX Director Halverson sells $2.852 million in company stock
(Source: Riverton Roll, October 27, 2019) NEW YORK — CSX Co. Director Steven T. Halverson sold 39,812 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 24. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.65, for a total value of...
High-speed trains would roll through Georgia, Carolinas at up to 220 mph
(Source: Associated Press, October 26, 2019) MARIETTA, Ga. — High-speed trains would whisk passengers from Atlanta's airport to Charlotte, North Carolina, at speeds of up to 220 mph (355 kph). Public input is being sought on the three proposed routes. Full story:...
Former UP worker gets probation, fine for Portland oil spill
(Source: The Oregonian, October 28, 2019) PORTLAND, Ore. — A former wastewater plant operator for Union Pacific Railroad who allowed more than a thousand gallons of oil to seep from an overflowing tank into the Willamette River in January 2018 was sentenced Monday to...
Illinois senator presses for federal help to address Amtrak’s on-time performance
(Source: Freight Waves, October 28, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) is pressing the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to take a greater role in ensuring that Amtrak and the freight railroads improve their rates for on-time performance. In...
Six-week strike cost GM nearly $3 billion
(Source: Detroit News, October 29, 2019) DETROIT — The first two weeks of the strike by the United Auto Workers cost General Motors Co. $1 billion in lost earnings, and overall losses from the six-week walkout will rise to nearly $3 billion, the automaker said...
TCRC members vote in favor of strike action at CN
(Source: Teamsters Canada Rail Conference press release, October 28, 2019) OTTAWA — Members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) at Canadian National (CN) could go on strike as early as Tuesday, November 19 at 0001. Approximately 3000 conductors,...
STB: U.S. Class I workforce down in September 2019
(Source: Progressive Railroading, October 28, 2019) Class Is as of mid-September employed 136,865 people in the United States, down 1.74 percent from mid-August's level and down 7.63 percent from September 2018's count, according to Surface Transportation Board (STB)...
BNSF to launch tie replacement project on Metra line
(Source: Progressive Railroading, October 24, 2019) Metra announced yesterday that BNSF Railway Co. crews tomorrow will begin a major tie replacement project on the BNSF Line between Downers Grove and Aurora, Illinois. BNSF plans to replace 17,000 ties over 15 miles...
As Mississippi River remains high, CP Rail works to protect its tracks
(Source: Quad-City Times, October 24, 2019) DAVENPORT, Iowa — Canadian Pacific Railway was pouring rocks around the railroad tracks that span Davenport’s riverfront this week as company officials say the freighter company is protecting the roadbed from being eroded by...
Montana’s largest coal mine closes as new owner struggles with bonding
(Source: Billings Gazette, October 24, 2019) BILLINGS, Mont. — DEQ has denied an operating permit to Spring Creek Mine owner Navajo Transitional Energy Company. NTEC is wholly owned by Navajo Nation. There are concerns the tribe won't be backing mine bonds with its...
UAW-GM strike, day 40: Votes today could end strike
(Source: Detroit News, October 25, 2019) DETROIT — With the majority of United Auto Workers locals approving a new deal with General Motors Co., Friday could be the end of the longest strike against the automaker since 1970. Full story: Detroit News
Bossier merchants battle stopped trains
(Source: Television station KTBS, October 24, 2019) BOSSIER CITY, La. — The pain of waiting on a train. We've all been there. And KTBS has told you how a Louisiana law that fines railroads that block intersections for more than 20 minutes is useless. That's because...
Norfolk Southern struggles to prove PSR progress amid low volumes
(Source: Supply Chain Dive, October 24, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Though Norfolk Southern is confident it will reach a sub-60% OR by 2021 as planned, analysts were incredulous as to why the railroad is not posting incremental OR progress. While rail volumes are down...
CP Rail reports 8.7 percent rise in adjusted profit
(Source: Reuters, October 24, 2019) CALGARY — Canadian Pacific Railway reported an 8.7 per cent rise in its third-quarter adjusted profit on Wednesday, helped by strength in its intermodal unit. The country’s second-largest railroad operator said adjusted net income...
CN and CP both lower their shipment forecasts, signaling an economic slowdown
(Source: Financial Post, October 25, 2019) OTTAWA — Canada’s two railroads expect to ship less freight than previously forecast this year, signaling a larger economic slowdown given the transportation industry’s status as an economic bellwether. Full story: Financial...
Slump persists for North American rail volumes
(Source: Freight Waves, October 24, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — North American rail volumes are still slumping amid expectations that fourth-quarter rail traffic will remain subdued through the end of the year. Year-to-date U.S. rail volumes, which represent 73% of...
BLET News
Wyoming AFL-CIO passes remote control resolution
The Wyoming AFL-CIO became the 21st state federation to pass a remote control safety resolution on September 11, 2004. The resolution was passed at the state AFL-CIO convention.
BLET Education & Training Department and Arbitration Department announces upcoming General Chairman Workshop the week of November 15
We are pleased to announce that the Education & Training and Arbitration Departments are offering a General Chairman’s workshop to be held in the BLET Arbitration Department offices on the fifth floor of the Standard Building, Room 500, in Cleveland, Ohio, the week of November 15, 2004.
Teamwork and safety
It comes as no surprise to locomotive engineers and trainmen that onboard computers and cab electronics are becoming more and more advanced.
But when there are no federal regulations covering these new technologies, it should also come as no surprise that the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen is there, striving to ensure its safe deployment.
In the Line of Duty: Glen A. York II
Glen A. “Skip” York, II, a member of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Division 811, was killed in a remote control switching accident in the Burlington Northern Santa Fe yard in Clovis, N.M., on September 2.
Labor Day statement from BLET National President Don M. Hahs
This weekend we celebrate the American worker and the labor movement which has for so long represented the interests of workers in this country. The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City.
BLET to investigate remote control fatality
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen is dispatching its Safety Task Force to help investigate a fatal remote control train accident in Clovis, N.M.
Safe Rails Secure America campaign begins
The Teamsters Rail Conference has launched the Safe Rails Secure America campaign designed to obtain firsthand information about the true condition of safety and security along our nation’s railroads.
President Hahs statement on BMWE/IBT merger vote
I urge the brothers and sisters of the BMWE to vote for the merger and hope — one day soon — to welcome them into the Rail Conference with open arms.
Cong. Oberstar works to protect rail workers
Once again, Cong. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) is proving why he is a friend to members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
Wash. State Labor Council passes RCO safety resolution
The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, unanimously passed a “Safe and Secure Railroad Operations” resolution at the 2004 convention in Tacoma, Wash., on August 26.
