Rail Industry News
BLET condemns Norfolk Southern furloughs as railroad puts profits before people
(Source: Virginian-Pilot, September 4, 2019) NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern furloughed nearly 300 employees in Roanoke and Pennsylvania this week. A spokesman for the company confirmed that 130 people were furloughed at its Roanoke properties. In Pennsylvania,...
AAR reports rail traffic decline in August and during the week ending August 31, 2019
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, September 4, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending August 31, 2019, as well as volumes for August 2019. U.S. railroads...
Rail industry publication attacks New York Times over Lac-Megantic oil train story
(Source: Desmog Blog, August 26, 2019) NEW YORK — Six years after the oil train derailment and explosion in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec — which claimed 47 lives and destroyed the downtown of this small lakeside town — The New York Times reviewed what progress has been made...
New oil-by-rail study encourages ND officials seeking to overturn Washington law
(Source: Bismarck Tribune, August 29, 2019) BISMARCK, N.D. — A federal study examining the volatility of Bakken oil is giving North Dakota officials encouragement in their petition to overturn a Washington state law that targets oil train shipments. Full story:...
Civil trial begins in fatal Amtrak derailment in DuPont
(Source: Television station KIRO 7, September 3, 2019) TACOMA, Wash. — The first lawsuit filed following the derailment of Amtrak 501 near DuPont went before a jury Tuesday. Full story: www.kiro7.com
CSX, NS ready themselves for Dorian
(Source: Freight Waves, September 3, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Eastern Class I railroads CSX and Norfolk Southern say customers should expect service delays this week as Hurricane Dorian brings heavy rains and strong winds to the southeastern coast of the U.S. CSX...
Opinion: Trust the people, not the powers that be, on the question of rail safety
(Source: Opinion column by Jason Doering in the Nevada Independent, August 31, 2019. BLET Editor’s Note: Jason Doering is the Nevada State Legislative Director for SMART Transportation Division.) LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Advocates for rail safety in Nevada achieved a great...
NS furloughs more than 50 at Conway Yard in Beaver County, Pa.
(Source: Times Online, September 3, 2019) CONWAY, Pa. — More than 50 Norfolk Southern Railway employees in Beaver County were furloughed Tuesday as the company continues to restructure resources and combat industry changes. Norfolk Southern Vice President of...
Norfolk Southern cuts 100 jobs at Juniata Locomotive Shop in Altoona, Pa.
(Source: Altoona Mirror, September 4, 2019) ALTOONA, Pa. — Norfolk Southern on Tuesday announced the layoff of about 100 employees at the Juniata Locomotive Shop in Altoona. In May, Norfolk Southern laid off 50 workers in Juniata as a result of the implementation of...
NS confirms 130 furloughs in Roanoke, Va.
(Source: Roanoke Times, September 3, 2019) ROANOKE, Va. — Norfolk Southern Corp. furloughed about 130 locomotive shop employees in Roanoke on Tuesday. About 83 workers lost their jobs at Shaffer’s Crossing and 47 to 50 at the East End Shops, said Shannon Spotswood, a...
LIRR crew commended for returning passenger’s case containing $9,000
(Source: NBC New York, September 3, 2019) LONG ISLAND, New York — Honesty is the best policy for an MTA conductor and crew working an LIRR train Thursday. The crew unexpectedly found themselves in the possession of $9,000 after a passenger on the 5:19 p.m. Atlantic...
LIRR will restore 14 rush hour trains following completion of Amtrak work
(Source: Queens Daily Eagle, August 29, 2019) QUEENS, N.Y. — More than a dozen Long Island Rail Road trains in Queens and Long Island that had been canceled or rerouted amid Amtrak track work will be restored to their normal service on Sept. 3. Full story: Queens...
18 injured when Amtrak train hits 18-wheeler in Liberty Co., Texas
(Source: Television station ABC 13, August 30, 2019) LIBERTY COUNTY, Texas — A train bound for New Orleans is moving again after it partially derailed in a crash with an 18-wheeler, injuring 18 people in Liberty County. Full story: www.abc13.com
DuPont train derailment victims take Amtrak to court
(Source: Television station Q13 Fox, September 2, 2019) DuPONT, Wash. — On Tuesday, Amtrak will face the first set of victims to take it to court in the deadly DuPont train derailment. Full story: www.q13fox.com
Editorial: Amtrak leadership wounds the Empire Builder yet again
(Source: Editorial in the National Parks Traveler, September 2, 2019) DENVER, Colo. — After the summer season in 2017, Amtrak leadership made the unilateral decision to cancel its support for the NPS guide service aboard the Empire Builder and all other long-distance...
Amtrak’s Southwest Chief lives to ride another day
(Source: Los Angeles Times, September 2, 2019) LOS ANGELES — The winds of politics have buffeted Amtrak for most of its 48 years. Like most rail passenger services worldwide, it requires government support to survive, let alone flourish. But for those who ride Amtrak...
Norfolk Southern planning another layoff
(Source: Altoona Mirror, September 3, 2019) ALTOONA, Pa. — Norfolk Southern is planning a second layoff in the last four months at its Juniata Locomotive shops. Pennsylvania Rep. Lou Schmitt (R-Blair) confirmed early this morning that he’s been informed that company...
High-speed California-to-Las Vegas train is a go
(Source: ABC News, August 29, 2019) LAS VEGAS — After a number of fits and starts, plans for a high-speed train connecting California and Las Vegas are back on track. The announcement was made at the Nevada Economic Development Conference on Tuesday. Full story: ABC...
Train operations in Central Florida stopped as Hurricane Dorian nears the coast
(Source: Television station Fox 35 Orlando, September 2, 2019) ORLANDO, Fla. — Train operations in Central Florida are closed until further notice as Hurricane Dorian nears the coast. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) reported on Monday that all train...
NS increasing efficiency, but use of PSR leads to job cuts
(Source: Altoona Mirror, August 31, 2019) ALTOONA, Pa. — Within the past year, Norfolk Southern has been putting the principles of Precision Scheduled Railroading into practice to increase efficiency, add profits and satisfy shareholders. Full story: Altoona Mirror
BLET News
BLE members ratify national contract
By a 62% majority, BLE members have approved a new collective bargaining agreement with the nation’s railroads.
Opinion: Death by friendly fire
The latest attack by the UTU leadership against the BLE’s efforts to bring safe remote control operations to our industry is filled with the usual baloney about what a great job the UTU is doing in looking out for the safety of its members.
UP worker killed in remote control accident heightens workers’ safety concerns
Early Sunday morning, December 7, 2003, a Union Pacific locomotive struck and killed a 37-year old railroad employee in San Antonio while he was operating two locomotives via a waist-strapped remote-control device. The remote-control device allows an operator to control a locomotive and move trains without an engineer on-board.
Members approve IBT merger
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers have overwhelmingly approved a merger with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, joining the largest and most powerful transportation union in North America.
Joint statement from General President Hoffa and President Hahs
The following is a joint statement issued by International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa and International Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers President Don M. Hahs.
Allen Park, Mich., is the 44th U.S. community to pass remote control resolution
The city of Allen Park, Mich., has joined 43 other U.S. communities in passing a remote control safety resolution.
Charlotte, N.C., bus drivers choose Teamsters over UTU
Bus drivers at the Charlotte (North Carolina) Area Transit System (CATS) voted by a huge margin to join Teamsters Local 71 on December 2.
Instructions for replacement ballots
The ballots for ratification of the BLE national contract and the BNSF Alternative Compensation Agreement were mailed during the last week of November.
BLE to conduct 2004 Local Chairman Workshops
The BLE Education & Training Department will conduct three Local Chairman Workshops in 2004 with the first scheduled for January 18-23.
West Virginia State Legislative Board Chairman Blake passes away
West Virginia State Legislative Board Chairman Darrell Blake died unexpectedly in his home in Huntington, W.Va., on December 1. Brother Blake was 58 years old.
