Rail Industry News
Claude Mongeau, former CEO of CN, elected to Norfolk Southern board of directors
(Source: Norfolk Southern press release, September 23, 2019) NORFOLK, Va. — Claude Mongeau has been elected a director of Norfolk Southern Corporation effective Sept. 23, Chairman, President and CEO James A. Squires announced today. Mongeau, 57, is former president...
Metra chief heads to D.C. in plea for federal help
(Source: Crain’s Chicago Business, September 23, 2019) CHICAGO — The head of Metra will be in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 24 for what is being billed as the first congressional hearing in a decade aimed as exploring the needs of the commuter railroad. Metra CEO Jim...
Dispute over MTA funding for LIRR, Metro-North
(Source: Times Herald-Record, September 23, 2019) NEW YORK — Members of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s joint Metro-North/Long Island Rail Road committee sparred Monday over the $1 billion difference in funding assigned to the railroads in the MTA’s...
UAW-GM strike, day 8: 1,200 more layoffs as walkout enters week two
(Source: Detroit News, September 23, 2019) DETROIT — General Motors Co. has laid off another 1,200 workers in the U.S. and Canada as a national strike by the United Auto Workers entered its second week. The automaker confirmed Monday that the temporary layoffs it had...
Amtrak police and Operation Lifesaver mobilize largest railroad safety operation in U.S.
(Source: Operation Lifesaver press release, September 24, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak Police and Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), the national railroad safety education organization, are partnering again for the third annual “Operation Clear Track” event during...
The future face of high-speed rail in the Northeast Corridor
(Source: Wired.com, September 24, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Three years ago, Amtrak announced it would spend $2.4 billion to upgrade its popular Acela service, which runs between Washington, DC, and Boston. Full story: www.wired.com
NTSB issues air brake recommendations to freight railroads
(Source: Freight Waves, September 23, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is asking U.S. freight railroads to review their air brake and train handling instructions for end-of-train devices following a fatal October 2018 accident...
Amtrak launches nonstop service between NYC and Washington, D.C.
(Source: NBC New York, September 23, 2019) NEW YORK — Travelers wishing to have a shorter train ride between New York City and Washington, D.C. don't have to wait any longer — Amtrak on Monday begins its Acela Nonstop service, offering direct service between the two...
Nebraska drivers complain after BNSF shuts down 156th Street without county approval
(Source: Omaha World-Herald, September 21, 2019) OMAHA, Neb. — Sarpy drivers hit quite the snag on their end-of-the-workweek commute — and county officials were flooded with complaints. County officials said BNSF Railway Co. shut down 156th Street — without approval —...
Rail and trucks go head to head as railroads may re-introduce dropped intermodal routes
(Source: Motley Fool, September 20, 2019) NEW YORK — Trucks are hearing the distant rumblings of an approaching freight train that they would rather see derailed. Precision scheduled railroading (PSR) may finally be paying off for railroads. Operating ratios have...
Norfolk Southern may have to pay back millions in fines to coal carrier
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, September 20, 2019) NEW YORK — Norfolk Southern Railway calls its situation with Drummond Coal Co. a case of buyer’s remorse. In federal court this week, the Class 1 railroad company might be the one having second thoughts. A jury...
Top NJ Transit executive discusses agency’s problems and prospects
(Source: NJ Spotlight, September 23, 2019) NEWARK, N.J. — With an aging infrastructure and an ever-growing fleet of buses and trains to maintain, NJ Transit has had no shortage of shortfalls. The agency has a progressive capital plan, but it’s unclear if the funding...
How GM’s profit sharing offer to UAW members missed the mark
(Source: Detroit Free Press, September 22, 2019) DETROIT — A sticking point in General Motors negotiations with the UAW involves profit sharing, and a person familiar with GM's proposal said it falls short of union demands. Full story: Detroit Free Press
August employment level reaches new low at U.S. railroads
(Source: Freight Waves, September 21, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The total number of employees working for the U.S. operations of Class I railroads in August sank to its lowest level in years, according to an analysis of data from the Surface Transportation Board. The...
Stopped trains blocking first responders, school buses in Muncie, Ind.
(Source: Television station RTV6, September 22, 2019) MUNCIE, Ind. — Trains are stopping for long periods of time in Muncie, causing disruptions to first responders, school buses and drivers, and the city said it is looking into writing tickets to train companies to...
Public urged to #StopTrackTragedies during rail safety week in North America
(Source: Operation Lifesaver press release, September 22, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C / OTTAWA — Every year, 2,100 North Americans are killed or seriously injured when they engage in unsafe behavior around tracks and trains. Operation Lifesaver, a nonprofit organization...
The end of an American tradition: The Amtrak dining car
(Source: Washington Post, September 22, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Harrison Keely’s most fond memories of riding Amtrak all include snapshots of the dining car. The shiny silverware and white linens. Enjoying thick slices of French toast covered with powdered sugar and...
After three years, federal grant for safety measures at CSX rail crossing near Baltimore remains unspent
(Source: Baltimore Sun, September 20, 2019) BALTIMORE, Md. — Three years after a CSX freight train hit a garbage truck, derailed and exploded in Rosedale in 2013, the state of Maryland won a $700,000 grant from the federal government for safety improvements at that...
California high-speed rail board votes on proposed Valley to San Jose route, amid backlash
(Source: Fresno Bee, September 17, 2019) SAN JOSE, Calif. — The California High-Speed Rail Authority board voted unanimously Tuesday on a route that may ultimately connect the San Joaquin Valley with San Jose — though it didn’t come without some backlash from...
Metra Electric Line schedule altered by PTC installation
(Source: Chicago Sun-Times, September 18, 2019) CHICAGO — Metra plans to tweak the schedule of Electric Line trains next year after installing a federally mandated electronic safety system intended to prevent collisions. The Positive Train Control safety system...
BLET News
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.
New book salutes working railroaders
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen are encouraged to look into a new book from Kalmbach Publishing Co. that is a tribute to the working men and women of American railroads.
BLET Job Bank: Amtrak (Oakland, Calif.)
Amtrak has an immediate need for qualified Class 1 locomotive engineers to work out of Oakland, Calif. The closing date is April 9.
BLET Job Bank: Indiana Harbor Belt
The Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad Company is looking to hire approximately 10 federally certified Locomotive Engineers for current vacancies on its property.
Asbestos bill bad news for rail workers
The U.S. Senate is currently deliberating on a bill, S. 1125, which will take away railroad workers rights to sue employers for asbestos related injuries.
Mother of BLET President Hahs passes away
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen extends its deepest sympathy to the family of President Don Hahs upon the death of his mother, Neisha Hahs Humphreys, on Saturday, March 27. Mrs. Humphreys was 89 years old and was a resident of the Harborwood Nursing Home in Clearwater, Fla.
BLET continues fight for remote control safety improvements
Leadership of the United Transportation Union reinforced their reputation as a “company union” earlier this week by jointly lobbying with rail carriers to block the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen’s (BLET) efforts to improve the safety and security of remote control train operations.
San Francisco adopts resolution opposing remote control
The City of San Francisco adopted a resolution on March 16 opposing remote control locomotives and calling on the Federal Railroad Administration to develop comprehensive guidelines governing use of the technology. The same resolution was adopted by the county of San Francisco.
BLET lauds Congressman Capuano for support of rail safety, security
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), a division of the Teamsters Rail Conference, applauded Congressman Mike Capuano (D-MA) for making a statement of record in support of improved railroad safety and security measures regarding remote control locomotives.
