Rail Industry News
Farmers brace for more Midwest flooding, debris wipes out NS bridge in Missouri
(Source: Ag Web, October 2, 2019) MEXICO, Mo. — Farmers along the Missouri River and its tributaries are bracing for more flooding the week. Heavy rainfall, combined with excess water continuing to make its way down the river from South Dakota, is a bad combination...
UAW-GM strike, day 17: Issues yet to be settled as back-and-forth continues
(Source: Detroit News, October 2, 2019) DETROIT — Negotiators with General Motors Co. and the United Auto Workers resumed talks Wednesday morning, continuing their back-and-forth as the national strike against the Detroit automaker extended into a 17th day. Full...
SEPTA worker killed on subway tracks was caught between two trains, according to NTSB preliminary report
(Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, October 1, 2019) PHILADELPHIA — A man killed on SEPTA tracks during the summer was caught in a space between two Broad Street Line trains heading in opposite directions, a new report from federal investigators shows. A preliminary...
NTSB releases final report on deadly 2018 accident in Cayce, S.C.
(Source: Television station WIS 10, October 1, 2019) COLUMBIA, S.C. — Today the National Transportation Safety Board released a final 90-page report on the deadly train accident on February 4th of last year in Cayce that killed 2 people and injured 90 others. The...
Hyundai, Kia sue four U.S. railroads over fuel surcharges
(Source: Reuters, October 1, 2019) NEW YORK — Hyundai Motor Co. and its Kia affiliate have sued the four largest U.S. railroads, accusing them of violating U.S. antitrust law by conspiring to drive up shipping costs though coordinated fuel surcharges. The South Korean...
Georgia Central Railway achieves capacity for 286,000-lb. freight cars
(Source: Genesee & Wyoming press release, October 1, 2019) LYONS, Ga. — Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W) today announced that its subsidiary Georgia Central Railway, L.P., a 211-mile short line freight railroad operating between Macon and Savannah, has upgraded its entire...
BNSF and YRC strengthen intermodal partnership
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, September 30, 2019) NEW YORK — YRC Freight announced today that, together with BNSF, the company will have more than 600 branded containers in service by the end of this year. YRC freight wants to have 1,000 branded containers by...
APTA calls on feds to increase commuter rail funding for PTC, other safety efforts
(Source: Progressive Railroading, September 27, 2019) American Public Transportation Association (APTA) officials earlier this week urged Congress to increase support for commuter railroads by authorizing $1 billion in funding for positive train control (PTC) over six...
Opinion: California high-speed rail is making progress, gaining momentum
(Source: Column by California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO Brian Kelley in the Los Angeles Daily News, September 30, 2019) LOS ANGELES — The Southern California News Group’s September 23rd editorial regarding the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s land...
FreightCar America to open in Mexico after closing plant in Roanoke
(Source: Roanoke Times, September 30, 2019) ROANOKE, Va. — FreightCar America plans to build railcars in Mexico after it ceases operations in Roanoke, a news release said. FreightCar will close the company’s Roanoke plant by Nov. 11, ending the jobs of about 200...
UAW-GM strike, day 15: Temps a sticking point as talks continue
(Source: Detroit News, September 30, 2019) DETROIT — The United Auto Workers and General Motors Co. were back in negotiations Monday on day 15 of a national strike against the Detroit automaker — and a major sticking point for the negotiations seems to be the...
Railroads sue to overturn Illinois two-person crew law
(Source: Courthouse News Service, September 30, 2019) NEW YORK — Freight train organizations want a federal judge to prevent Illinois from enforcing a law that sets a minimum of two people per crew because they say it violates federal law and there is no evidence the...
Catch a ride out of St. Louis on a historic Pullman car
(Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 29, 2019) BRIGHTON — As Amtrak’s Lincoln Service train speeds along the Illinois prairie at 67 mph, it shows off a special car coupled to the rear — the Hollywood Beach, a restored private rail car, which is taking a group...
Amtrak Downeaster back on schedule after suspicious item causes major delays
(Source: News Center Maine, September 30, 2019) PORTLAND, Maine — Passengers traveling on the Amtrak Downeaster were relieved to find trains were back on schedule Monday morning after others faced major delays Sunday night. Some people were stuck for as many as four...
One NJ Transit train named “worst commuter train in America” by New York Times
(Source: Philly Voice, September 28, 2019) PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — When someone mentions NJ Transit, the state-owned transit system serving New Jersey from top to bottom, the first concepts that spring to mind aren't exactly "reliability" or "ease of use". But a New York...
Ogden-area residents frustrated over trains blocking neighborhood
(Source: Television station KUTV, September 27, 2019) OGDEN, Utah — Some Weber County residents and business owners said they are frustrated they are getting trapped in their neighborhood by Union Pacific trains. They said the problem is the trains heading into the...
NS responds to stopped trains in Muncie blocking streets
(Source: The Indy Channel, September 27, 2019) MUNCIE, Ind. — Drivers in Muncie are frustrated as stopped trains continue to cause significant disruptions. Groups of people are fed up with the trains blocking streets for up to four hours at a time. First responders...
Nashville residents frequently blocked from homes due to stopped trains
(Source: Television station WTVF, September 27, 2019) NASHVILLE, Tenn. — For years, residents in one South Nashville neighborhood have been fighting against a safety concern. Full story: News Channel 5
Late CSX chief Pete Carpenter sought better relations with workers
(Source: Wall Street Journal, September 27, 2019) NEW YORK — Pete Carpenter’s work experience during college included stocking shelves at Kroger grocery stores and serving as a railroad brakeman. Kroger, he wrote later, taught him how to spot items with the best...
Who’s losing the most from UAW strike at GM?
(Source: Detroit Free Press, September 30, 2019) DETROIT — On the UAW picket line Friday morning at General Motors' Hamtramck Assembly Plant, Karlton Byas, 63, of Detroit, a veteran safety trainer at the factory, admitted the lack of paychecks is starting to hurt him...
BLET News
Statement by BLET President Don Hahs on Workers Memorial Day
The following is a statement by BLET National President Don M. Hahs commemorating Workers Memorial Day.
BLET calls for corporate governance reform at Union Pacific
Roughly 19 million shares (9.5% of voting shares) were cast in support of a Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) shareholder proposal at the Union Pacific Corporation’s annual shareholders meeting in Salt Lake City last week.
Safety alert: Reducing switching accidents
The Switching Operations Fatality Analysis (SOFA) Group has issued its safety statistics for the month of January of 2004.
SMA registration deadlines approaching
Registration deadlines are approaching for BLET members who plan to attend the 77th Annual BLET-GIA Southeastern Meeting Association in Greenville, S.C., from June 13-18.
Meany Center seeking participants for May hazmat workshop
The George Meany Center/National Labor College is looking for railroad workers to attend its four-day Hazardous Waste/Chemical Emergency Response Course next month in Sacramento, Calif.
Houston becomes 38th city to pass resolution opposing remote control
On April 14, the Houston City Council passed a resolution opposing the use of remote control locomotives within its city limits. The resolution also calls on the FRA to implement regulations to govern the use of remote control.
Toledo AFL-CIO passes remote control safety resolution
The Toledo Area AFL-CIO Council recently passed a remote control safety resolution and asked the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to adopt enforceable Federal regulations that would ensure the safe operation of remote control trains.
New BLET merchandise available; BLE items on sale
Brand new merchandise bearing the BLET logo is now available from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
Railroad workers need to fight asbestos bill
BLET members are being asked once again to contact the U.S. Senate to express their opposition to a bill that will take away some of railroad workers’ rights under the under the Federal Employers Liability Act. The AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department strongly opposes the bill, S. 1125.
Thank you from President Hahs
BLET National President Don Hahs expressed thanks for the outpouring of support his family received following the loss of his mother last week.
