Rail Industry News
PSR changes largely done, railroads make intermodal pitch
(Source: Freight Waves, September 19, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Executives at North America’s major railroads are making the case that intermodal service will be more reliable and consistent after a year of major service changes. This comes as weakness in the...
House lawmakers seek to slow White House plan for LNG rail shipments
(Source: Freight Waves, September 19, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Democratic head of the House committee with transportation oversight wants to put the brakes on a Trump administration proposal to let freight railroads haul liquefied natural gas in tank cars....
Class I employment fell in all categories during August 2019
(Source: Progressive Railroading, September 19, 2019) In mid-August, U.S. Class Is employed 139,284 workers, down 1.01 percent from mid-July and down 5.98 percent from mid-August 2018, according to Surface Transportation Board employment data. On a month-over-month...
AAR: Rail traffic down for week ending September 14, 2019
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, September 18, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending September 14, 2019. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was...
UAW-GM strike, Day 3: Ripples spread to trucking, Canada
(Source: Detroit News, September 18, 2019) DETROIT — The United Auto Workers strike against General Motors Co. has started to slow the automaker's production outside of the U.S. — and at least one local trucking company is also starting to feel the pinch. Full story:...
Why railroad crossings are a grave danger for self-driving cars
(Source: Forbes, September 19, 2019) NEW YORK — Since human drivers seem to be lacking in vigilance when crossing over railroad tracks, maybe we can solve the problem via the advent of self-driving cars. This brings up an interesting question: Will AI-driven...
Alberta sees progress on crude by rail talks to ease oil curtailments
(Source: Reuters, September 18, 2019) CALGARY, Alberta — The premier of Canada’s main oil-producing province Alberta said on Wednesday he is hopeful of more progress this month on talks between his government and producers about easing oil curtailments, as long as...
Railroad police patrol tracks in Louisville amid rise in trespassing
(Source: Television station WLKY, September 18, 2019) LOUISVILLE, Ky. — An uptick in railway trespassing has police patrolling the tracks and talking to residents about safety. According to Norfolk Southern Police, one person was injured on its tracks last year in...
Report examines seven ways MBTA’s commuter rail service could be better
(Source: www.masslive.com, September 18, 2019) BOSTON — The commute from Worcester to Boston is about to get even longer when several upcoming reconstruction projects on the Massachusetts Turnpike get underway. The report, released last week by transit advocacy group...
BNSF’s long trains, blocked crossing become an issue in Sidney, Montana
(Source: Sidney Herald, September 18, 2019) SIDNEY, Mont. — The collective complaint was the length of time trains sit at the crossings and how frequently it occurs, many saying it was happening several times per week. Attendees said often times all three access...
NJ Transit graduating 7 locomotive engineer classes in 2 years, the same number graduated in last 5 years combined
(Source: Tap Into Newark, September 16, 2019) NEWARK, N.J. — With the recent June 2019 graduating class and six more classes of locomotive engineering trainees graduating through December 2020, NJ TRANSIT will have graduated seven classes in two years (2019-2020)....
CSX to announce Q3 2019 financial results on October 16
(Source: CSX press release, September 18, 2019) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Corporation will release third-quarter financial and operating results after the market close on Wednesday, October 16, 2019. This will be followed by a conference call and live webcast hosted by...
Body of BNSF locomotive engineer found on girlfriend’s property
(Source: Television station KIRO 7, September 18, 2019. BLET Editor’s Note: Cameron Shelden was a member of BLET Division 402 in Pasco, Wash.) OTIS, Ore. — After a 17-day search, the body of BNSF engineer Cameron Shelden has been found. Shelden had been missing since...
Teamsters at Giant Food warehouse win raises, benefit increases, job security
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, September 17, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Workers at Giant Foods’ Fresh Food facility in Jessup, Md. will receive wage increases, improved benefits and more job security, among other improvements, under a...
GM strike could hurt unionized auto haulers first
(Source: Freight Waves, September 17, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The halt in vehicle production at General Motors plants on Sept. 16 over a labor dispute is expected to have ripple effects throughout the automakers’ supply chain, but experts say the severity of any...
GM stops paying for health insurance for striking workers as talks continue
(Source: Reuters, September 17, 2019) BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — General Motors Co shifted health insurance costs for its striking workers to the United Auto Workers union as its members walked the picket line for the second day on Tuesday. Full story: Reuters
Legislators resist “reckless” LNG rail tank car plan
(Source: Environment News Service, September 17, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two Democratic Congressmen have introduced legislation requiring a comprehensive review of the transport of liquefied natural gas, LNG, by rail tank car within the United States. On April 10,...
KCS eyes energy opportunities in Mexico
(Source: Freight Waves, September 17, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Kansas City Southern expects to leverage its operations in Mexico as U.S. and multinational companies take advantage of the country’s 2013 energy reform and export crude oil to Mexico. KSU chief...
Precision pushback: How CSX is changing the railroad industry
(Source: Jacksonville Business Journal, September 18, 2019) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As the rail industry moves to mimic CSX’s operating model, shippers are calling foul — arguing with the company’s numbers and asking for more regulation. “Fundamentally, this is a...
Teamster women kick off 2019 conference in Montreal
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, September 16, 2019) MONTREAL — It’s that time of year again to kick off the Teamsters’ annual Women’s Conference! And this year we’re across the Northern border in Montreal, Canada where Teamster women...
BLET News
Greene Fund now open to female children of BLET members
The Franklin P. Greene Educational Loan Fund has recently been authorized to allow lending to female children of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen members. Previously, loans were only issued to male children.
UTU evicted in Michigan
Due to its unaffiliated status, the United Transportation Union (UTU) was evicted from its offices in the Michigan State AFL-CIO building in Lansing, Mich.
Meany Center adds four rail worker hazmat training courses
The George Meany Center-National Labor College has added four hazardous materials training courses for railroad workers to its 2004 schedule.
Members: Pick your candidate
George W. Bush continues his attack on working families, from repealing ergonomics to taking away overtime to attempting to bankrupt our unions with outrageous reporting requirements. Put simply, the Bush administration is out of control. Fortunately, we have the power to stop this assault on working families.
Teamsters Canada Rail Conference scores sweeping victory over UTU at CP Rail
A plan by United Transportation Union leaders to raid the former Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers on the Canadian Pacific Railway has completely backfired on the aggressor union, resulting in a total and sweeping victory for the newly formed Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC).
Kentucky State AFL-CIO passes remote control resolution
The Kentucky State AFL-CIO passed a resolution asking the U.S. Congress to urge the Federal Railroad Administration to conduct a rulemaking process for remote control locomotives.
BLET members on CN’s former GTW territory ratify new contract
CN and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) announced today the ratification of a new labor agreement by BLET members on the railroad’s former Grand Trunk Western (GTW) territory in the United States.
New scholarship opportunity available for 2004
A new scholarship opportunity for the children all railroaders in all crafts will be available in 2004.
National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit Plan increases lifetime maximum
United Health Care recently announced that, effective January 1, 2004, the lifetime maximum benefit for each individual covered under the Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit Plan (ERMA) will increase from $84,100 to $88,100.
BLET logo proposals
The National Division of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen has compiled a set of proposed logos for the new organization, and is seeking membership feedback on the new designs.
