Rail Industry News
First shipment of solid bitumen on its way to China
(Source: Business In Vancouver, September 25, 2019) VANCOUVER, B.C. — A test shipment of bitumen oil from Alberta is on its way to China, but it didn’t get to a B.C. port by pipeline – it was moved by train through Prince Rupert in a semi-solid form commonly known as...
PTC active on Metro-North Hudson line in Dutchess County
(Source: Poughkeepsie Journal, September 26, 2019) POUGHKEEPSIE — Nearly six years after a Metro-North Railroad Hudson line train derailed as it approached the Spuyten Duyvil station in the Bronx, the technology that investigators say could have prevented the crash...
New MBTA Orange Line cars in the shop after door opened on the move
(Source: Boston Herald, September 25, 2019) BOSTON — That didn’t take very long. The shiny new Orange Line trains are out of service after a door opened up while the train was in motion near the Massachusetts Avenue stop, according to the MBTA. MBTA spokesman Joe...
Norfolk Southern work truck driver killed in crash with SUV
(Source: Radio station WFIR, September 25, 2019) ROANOKE, Va. — The driver of a Norfolk Southern work truck was killed today in a crash with an SUV. It happened on Jenelle Road near Blacksburg in Montgomery County. The sheriff’s office has not yet released the...
Experts: Shippers and railroads need to repair breakdown in communication
(Source: Freight Waves, September 25, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Shippers, freight railroads and the investor community must tackle the “dysfunctional” relationships between them so that they create an effective and efficient supply chain and meet future demand for...
UAW-GM strike, day 10: UAW signals that tentative agreement could be coming soon
(Source: Detroit News, September 26, 2019) DETROIT — The United Auto Workers implied Wednesday that union negotiators are prepared to bargain around the clock with General Motors Co., signaling that a tentative agreement could be coming soon. Full story: Detroit...
Delayed grain crop due to wet summer in Canada dampens spirits of railways, farmers
(Source: Canadian Press, September 25, 2019) TORONTO and EDMONTON – A delayed grain crop is causing headaches for railways, elevator operators and farmers following a dry spring and wet summer. Grain carloads at the two major Canadian rail companies are down 11...
U.S.-China trade war hurting Canada’s largest railway, says CN executive
(Source: Canadian Press, September 25, 2019) MONTREAL — A slumping global economy and the U.S.-China trade war are hurting freight volumes and revenue, says Canadian National Railway Co.'s chief financial officer. "Our volumes are much weaker than expected. This is...
BNSF offers reward after railroad crossing is damaged in Cass County, N.D.
(Source: The Forum, September 24, 2019) CASS COUNTY, N.D. — The BNSF Railway Police is asking the public for help regarding railroad damage. According to a release by the BNSF Railway Police, the damage occurred at a railroad crossing off County Road 20, causing train...
MBTA reaches deal to add 80 more double-decker rail cars
(Source: Boston.com, September 23, 2019) BOSTON — The MBTA is doubling down on double-decker commuter rail cars. The transit agency’s Fiscal and Management Control Board approved a deal Monday to buy 80 new bi-level coaches, as part of a plan to significantly increase...
U.S. officials approve railroad’s plan for Northern Idaho
(Source: Associated Press, September 24, 2019) BOISE, Idaho — BNSF Railway's plan to build two bridges as part of a second railroad line in northern Idaho to accommodate increased train traffic and future growth meets environmental requirements, federal officials...
How wind power technology could benefit railroads
(Source: Freight Waves, September 24, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The link between wind power and rail shipping is difficult to identify. Yet one company in Adelaide, Australia, developed a technology for wind turbines that applies to train cars too. Full story:...
Norfolk Southern might owe millions for alleged contract breach
(Source: Freight Waves, September 24, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Norfolk Southern could be forced to pay millions of dollars for breaching a contract to ship coal to coal-fired power plants, a jury determined last week. A jury found on Sept. 17 that NSC didn’t deliver...
Georgia ports mark more growth in container volume
(Source: Progressive Railroading, September 24, 2019) The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) announced yesterday it marked its busiest month ever for containerized trade in August, handling a 16.5 percent increase in container volume compared to the same month last year....
Temporary workers are the No. 1 contract issue for workers, but UAW and GM can’t agree on it
(Source: Detroit Free Press, September 24, 2019) DETROIT — The UAW's strike against General Motors is in its ninth day as bargainers resumed meeting about 8 a.m. Tuesday. About half a dozen key issues remain in play, but none appears to be more contentious than...
Rail trespasser fatalities on the rise in California
(Source: San Francisco Chronicle, September 24, 2019) SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The number of people who step in the path of a moving train is ticking up each year in California, already the state with the highest number of trespasser deaths on railroads. Full story:...
Boost Metra’s clout and funding, CEO asks Congress
(Source: Daily Herald, September 24, 2019) CHICAGO — Metra's 280,000 daily riders deserve to be on an equal footing with freight trains and Amtrak, the agency's CEO testified to a congressional committee Tuesday. Transit passengers across the nation currently play...
Commuter rail CEOs testify on challenges faced during House T&I Subcommittee hearing
(Source: Mass Transit Magazine, September 25, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials held a hearing on Sept. 24 focused on the challenges faced by U.S. commuter...
Amtrak is blaming millennials as it cuts back on dining car meals, but the Internet’s not buying its logic
(Source: Business Insider, September 23, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — People are not thrilled with Amtrak's decision to begin culling traditional dining-car services from some of its long-distance routes. A change.org petition to keep the restaurant-style service on...
Alstom eyes continued growth in wake of Amtrak contract
(Source: Evening Tribune, September 23, 2019) HORNELL, N.Y. — Alstom Project Director Didier Cuadrado was happy to welcome a VIP visit from Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul this week, and he’s hopeful it was far from the last time a state or federal official will drop...
BLET News
Mother of BLET Vice President Geiger passes away
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen extends its deepest sympathy to the family of BLET Vice President Merle Geiger Jr. upon the death of his mother, Doris Merle Geiger. Mrs. Geiger passed away at her home in Carson City, Nev., on April 27, after a recent illness. She was 77 years old.
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.
