Rail Industry News
Canadian heavy oil prices fall as Alberta’s oil-by-rail deal nears
(Source: Bloomberg, October 8, 2019) CALGARY — Canadian heavy oil prices have weakened ahead of an anticipated announcement that Alberta will ease production limits in exchange for shipping more crude by rail. Full story: Financial Post
Coast Guard agrees to long-term fix for Portal Bridge delays that impact NE Corridor
(Source: Politico, October 8, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Coast Guard has agreed to place permanent restrictions on when tall boats can pass under the Portal Bridge, a century-old rail crossing in New Jersey that has caused major delays for commuters and...
UAW members expect strike to be worth it when GM agreement is reached
(Source: Detroit News, October 8, 2019) DETROIT — United Auto Workers members striking General Motors Co. say their expectations for a new four-year contract remain high as the work stoppage extends into a fourth week. Full story: Detroit News
7th Circuit strikes down Wisconsin intangible property tax on railroads
(Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, October 8, 2019) MILWAUKEE, Wisc. — Wisconsin's effort to tax a railroad's custom software has been ruled unlawful by a federal appeals court. Union Pacific Railroad Co. refused to pay more than $2.6 million Wisconsin claimed it...
Here’s why railroads are facing lawsuits from dozens of shippers
(Source: Supply Chain Dive, October 8, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — A downpour of lawsuits hit the four largest Class I railroads on Sept. 30. In total, 24 lawsuits were filed against BNSF, CSX, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific. The suits came from shippers who alleged...
Railroads to renew push for one-man crews in contract talks
(Source: Associated Press, October 8, 2019) OMAHA, Neb. — The biggest U.S. freight railroads appear ready to renew their push to reduce their crews to one person from the current two-man operation used at major railroads now. Full story: Minneapolis Star-Tribune
Truck driver sues BNSF over collision with alleged “uncontrolled” rail cars
(Source: Freight Waves, October 8, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A Kansas truck driver has filed a lawsuit against BNSF Railway Company, alleging negligence, after his tractor-trailer collided with railcars after leaving a grain elevator near Greenfield, Missouri. Full...
Microsoft kicks in more money for Seattle-Vancouver high-speed rail study
(Source: Progressive Railroading, October 7, 2019) Microsoft is donating another $223,667 to fund a study of the possibility of building a high-speed rail line connection between Vancouver, British Columbia, Seattle and Portland, Oregon, according to an online report...
FRA makes available $396 million for rail capital projects
(Source: Federal Railroad Administration press release, October 7, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Federal-State Partnership for...
STB issues NPRM focusing on railroad sector’s cost of capital
(Source: Logistics Management, October 7, 2019) MORGANVILLE, N.J. — The United States Surface Transportation Board (STB) an economic regulatory agency charged by Congress with the fundamental missions of resolving railroad rate and service disputes and reviewing...
Metra looks to buy new locomotives, rail cars with state capital money
(Source: Chicago Tribune, October 8, 2019) CHICAGO — Metra expects to spend close to $2.6 billion in the next five years on locomotives, rail cars, bridges, stations and other improvements that could potentially speed the daily commutes of Chicago-area residents. Full...
GM submits confidential proposal to UAW as strike grinds on
(Source: Detroit Free Press, October 7, 2019) DETROIT — General Motors submitted a new contract proposal to the UAW on Monday morning as the union's nationwide strike against GM entered its fourth week, the Free Press was told. The company was still awaiting the...
Intermodal freight continues shift to East Coast, benefiting trucking
(Source: Freight Waves, October 7, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Container volume growth on the East Coast of North America continues to outpace growth on the West Coast, despite longer ocean transit times and higher prices from Asia. But the eastern railroads are not...
U.S. freight railroads file lawsuit against SMART TD over train crew bargaining
(Source: Freight Waves, October 7, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Eight U.S. freight railroads have filed a lawsuit against a railroad union, saying the union is refusing to come to the bargaining table to hash out issues involving train crew size. The railroads say the...
Trains collide in northern Cincinnati suburbs, two crew members taken to the hospital
(Source: Television station Fox 19, October 7, 2019) FAIRFIELD, Ohio — Multiple first responders are on scene after two trains collided in the northern Cincinnati suburbs early Tuesday, sending two crew members to a hospital, according to Norfolk Southern Railway and...
Six vehicles collide when Big Boy steam locomotive rolls through Beryl, Utah
(Source: St. George News, October 6, 2019) ST. GEORGE, Utah — A six-vehicle crash in Beryl may have had something to do with the world’s largest steam locomotive, Union Pacific’s “Big Boy,” which rolled through the small town Saturday afternoon. Full story: St. George...
NJ Senate President: No more excuses. It’s time to fix NJ Transit
(Source: Opinion column by Steve Sweeney at www.nj.com. Sweeney is president of the New Jersey State Senate.) NEWARK, N.J. — The record shows that the Legislature has added $240 million more to New Jersey Transit’s operating subsidy since 2013, increasing the...
GE to freeze pension plans for about 20,000 U.S. employees in a bid to cut debt
(Source: Reuters, October 7, 2019) NEW YORK — General Electric said on Monday it was freezing pension plans for about 20,000 U.S. employees with salaried benefits, as the industrial conglomerate makes another drastic move to cut debt and reduce its pension deficit by...
Canadian crude by rail to the U.S. Gulf Coast approaches record
(Source: JWN Energy, October 7, 2019) CALGARY, Alberta — The uptick in crude by rail traffic out of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin over the last six months has a clear preferred target: the U.S. Gulf Coast refining cluster. Data from the U.S. Energy Information...
UAW-GM strike, day 21: UAW says talks “take turn for the worse”
(Source: Detroit News, October 6, 2019) DETROIT — The United Auto Workers national strike against General Motors Co. is poised to begin its fourth week Monday after negotiations took "a turn for the worse" over the weekend, Vice President Terry Dittes told union local...
BLET News
BLET response to Paul Thompson
This will acknowledge your letter dated July 13, 2004, wherein you stated that since being elevated to International President of the UTU you have repeatedly done all you could to make peace with BLET. You suggested a review of the BLE/UTU Merger document to determine if the concerns of the BLE membership could somehow be addressed. You further state that my response to your proposal was that peace is impossible unless the UTU joins the BLE in an affiliation with the Teamsters.
Pine Bluff remote control accident reinforces BLET’s safety concerns
A July 9 remote control accident in Pine Bluff, Ark., underscored a number of concerns the BLET shared with the Federal Railroad Administration during recent safety meetings in Washington, D.C.
Colorado AFL-CIO opposes remote control operations
The Colorado AFL-CIO joined 17 other state labor federations in condemning the use of remote control locomotives.
Iowa Democrats oppose remote control
The Iowa Democratic Party included a section of language opposing unregulated operation of remote control locomotives in its party platform, which was passed without issue at its convention on June 26. It was part of the Transportation/Infrastructure plank.
59th community opposes remote control operations
The city of Milford, Utah, became the 59th community to pass a resolution in opposition to remote control locomotives on June 1.
General Chairman Morrison reelected
General Chairman Austin Morrison won reelection by acclamation at the Burlington Northern Santa Fe General Committee of Adjustment’s triennial meetings in Amarillo, Texas, from June 15-16. He is a member of BLET Division 574 in Amarillo, Texas.
BLET comments on CSXT proposed line sale or lease
According to recent articles by the Associated Press and the Huntington Dispatch, CSX Transportation has put up for bid or lease two major routes in West Virginia and western Maryland, potentially affecting as many as 250 union jobs.
UTU is at it again
The United Transportation Union is at it again, seeking another backdoor attempt to raid membership of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
President Hahs visits Capitol Hill
BLET National President Don Hahs met recently with two transportation leaders in Washington, D.C. to discuss rail safety issues.
Short-term disability insurance coming in October
As a result of the last national contract, many members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen will soon be able to take advantage of a short-term disability program obtained by the National Division through MetLife.
