Rail Industry News
Teamster victory in San Bernardino as 11,000 county workers ratify new contract
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, September 11, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — An overwhelming majority of Teamsters voted this week to ratify a new four-year contract with the County of San Bernardino in California. After nearly a year of...
CN Rail CFO warns of softening economy, with consequences for railways
(Source: Canadian Press, September 11, 2019) MONTREAL — A Canadian National Railway Co. executive says a sputtering economy is contributing to weaker freight volumes after posting record revenues last quarter. Full story: Bloomberg
FRA again delays rule on passenger rail safety programs
(Source: Safety and Health Magazine, September 11, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Railroad Administration has extended until March 4 its stay on publishing a final rule requiring commuter and intercity passenger railroads to develop and implement system safety...
Opinion: LNG unit trains are safety risk to U.S. cities
(Source: Opinion column by Fred Millar, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 11, 2019. Millar is an independent consultant on chemical facility and transportation safety and security based in the Washington, D.C. area.) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Citizens in St Louis, Kansas...
U.S. rail volumes still sluggish
(Source: Freight Waves, September 11, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Year-to-date U.S. rail volumes fell yet again for the week ending Sept. 7, according to the latest data from the Association of American Railroads. Compared with the same period in 2018, year-to-date...
MTA rolls out new fleet of LIRR cars
(Source: Television station WABC, September 11, 2019) HUNTINGTON STATION, Suffolk County — The MTA is rolling out their first new train cars in 17 years on the Long Island Rail Road Wednesday morning. As a result, the LIRR says some of the busiest routes will have...
FRA grants rulemaking petition for Texas Central bullet train
(Source: Progressive Railroading, September 9, 2019) The proposed project to build a bullet train between Dallas and Houston took a major step forward last week when the Federal Railroad Administration granted the Texas Central's petition for a rule of particular...
EEOC sues Union Pacific for disability discrimination
(Source: JD Supra, September 10, 2019) CHICAGO — Union Pacific Railroad Company is violating federal law by refusing to return an employee who once had a brain tumor to work as a custodian, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit...
Massachusetts Republic Services strikers extend picket lines to California
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, September 10, 2019) BOSTON — Striking Marshfield Republic Services Teamsters extended their picket lines to Southern California early this morning. Members began picketing outside 17121 Nichols Lane in...
NJ Transit trails other railroads in PTC progress
(Source: www.nj.com, September 10, 2019) NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit is one of nine railroads where zero miles of track, equipped with a federally mandated safety system, are in regular service, federal officials said. Full story: www.nj.com
FRA publishes railroads’ Q2 2019 PTC implementation status updates
(Source: Federal Railroad Administration press release, September 9, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today provided a quarterly status update on railroads’ progress in fully implementing positive train control (PTC) systems. Based on...
Crews monitoring air quality after Dupo train derailment
(Source: Television station KSDK, September 10, 2019) DUPO, Ill. — Crews are monitoring air quality in Dupo, Illinois, after Tuesday’s train derailment at the Union Pacific yard. Union Pacific railroad says during the derailment, a tank carrying a chemical called...
UP derailment near Dupo, Ill., causes large fire and evacuations; no injuries
(Source: Associated Press, September 11, 2019) DUPO, Ill. — A freight train carrying a flammable liquid used in solvents derailed in an Illinois suburb of St. Louis on Tuesday, causing a fire that sent thick, black smoke into the air and prompted the evacuation of...
Remembering those lost 18 years ago on 9/11
(Source: New York Times September 11, 2019) NEW YORK — Once more, families gathered at ground zero, where nearly 3,000 people died on that bright September morning. Once more, there was an outpouring of grief. Once more, there were the sound of bells tolling in...
BNSF, NS advance more modern locomotives
(Source: Progressive Railroading, September 10, 2019) Two Class Is are aiming to push the technological envelope to improve locomotive operations. Full story: Progressive Railroading
U.S. cities play catch-up on high-speed rail
(Source: U.S. News & World Report, September 10, 2019) NEW YORK — For decades, countries such as China, Spain and Turkey have connected distant cities with rail links of 200 mph or faster while American infrastructure has languished. The country’s only moderately...
Editorial: When it comes to safety, devil is in the details
(Source: Editorial from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, September 9, 2019) PITTSBURGH, Pa. — The railroad and the inspectors should have been twice as careful about making sure those rails were safe and whole — especially as Norfolk Southern has pursued putting more...
UP identifies broken rail as cause of Portland train derailment, crash into columns
(Source: Television station KPTV, September 9, 2019) PORTLAND, Ore. — A broken rail caused a trail to derail and crash into bridge support columns in north Portland, according to Union Pacific. The railroad company stated Monday that the preliminary investigation...
Federal judge clears truck driver to continue Illinois biometrics class action vs CSX over fingerprint scans
(Source: Cook County Record, September 9, 2019) CHICAGO – A federal judge will allow a truck driver to continue part of his class action complaint accusing CSX of violating the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act, saying a recent Illinois Supreme Court decision...
How will dwindling coal freight affect rail shippers?
(Source: Supply Chain Dive, September 5, 2019) NEW YORK — Most Class I railroads have started turning to PSR to achieve higher on-time delivery rates demanded by intermodal service. But many shippers have been frustrated by this transition to PSR. Increasing...
BLET News
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.
Striking grocery workers need our help
The following is an open letter from BLET National President Don M. Hahs to all BLET members regarding the on-going Southern California grocery strike.
Statement by BLET President Hahs commemorating Martin Luther King Jr.
The following is a statement from BLET National President Don M. Hahs on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Timebook update
Members who have requested a 2004 BLET timebook will be able to pick one up from their Division Secretary-Treasurer in the next few weeks.
Historic jury verdict upheld in diesel asthma case
In an historic verdict against Norfolk Southern, a jury in Toledo, Ohio, handed down an award to a locomotive engineer who developed a condition known as diesel asthma while working for the railroad.
Phyllis June Sytsma, 1922-2004
Phyllis Sytsma, the wife of former BLE International President John F. Sytsma, passed away on January 10, 2004. She fought Alzheimer’s disease for more than eight years.
Serious remote control mishap leads to safety resolution in Ky.
On January 13, the Greenup County Fiscal Court in Greenup, Ky., passed a resolution condemning remote control train operations after a CSX employee lost part of his leg in a remote control switching accident on December 15.
BLET Job Bank: Amtrak (Cal Train)
Amtrak is looking for three qualified Locomotive Passenger Engineers for their Cal Train commuter operation in Northern California (San Jose).
Pennsylvania AFL-CIO enacts remote control safety measure
The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO has enacted a safety resolution that seeks to prohibit the operation of remote control locomotives in the state until safety practices are improved.
