Rail Industry News
MBTA plans to shut down sections of core rail lines on fall weekends for repairs
(Source: NBC Boston, August 12, 2019) BOSTON — The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will shut down segments of key lines during weekends this fall to repair the aging system, which has been under scrutiny following a series of derailments this summer, under...
Opinion: The future of passenger train travel is here with Virgin Trains USA
(Source: Forbes.com opinion column by Blake Morgan, August 14, 2019) ORLANDO, Fla. — Taking a relaxing trip by rail or hopping on a high-speed commuter train to the next city is common in Europe and Asia, but it’s a foreign idea for most Americans. Virgin Trains USA...
Despite sale approval, Blackjewel mines have yet to reopen
(Source: Casper Star Tribune, August 12, 2019) CASPER, Wyo. — Despite repeated promises made during bankruptcy proceedings last week, the sale of two Wyoming coal mines has yet to be finalized and hundreds of workers remain out of work. Full story: Casper Star...
Metro-North engineer in fatal 2013 Bronx derailment drops lawsuit
(Source: Journal News, August 13, 2019) NEW YORK — Former Metro-North Railroad engineer William Rockefeller has dropped his $10 million lawsuit against the commuter rail nearly three years after claiming the railroad’s failure to install a backup safety system was to...
Canada invests over $100 million in rail-related infrastructure projects
(Source: Freight Waves, August 13, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Federal agency Transport Canada and Minister of Transport Marc Garneau have made a string of rail-related infrastructure funding announcements in recent weeks. These announcements come as politicians gear...
Court rules for U.S. in fight over Nevada plutonium shipment
(Source: Associated Press, August 13, 2019) RENO, Nevada — A federal appeals court on Tuesday ruled against Nevada in a battle with the U.S. government over its secret shipment of weapons-grade plutonium to a site near Las Vegas but the state’s attorney general says...
West Coast volumes poised to rip
(Source: Freight Waves, August 13, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — At the end of July FreightWaves asked a question that seemed almost counter-intuitive at the time – is the freight market starting to recover? When trucking carriers are shutting down at the highest rate in...
Crews dismantle Rio Grande Depot’s neon sign, a Salt Lake City landmark for decades
(Source: Salt Lake Tribune, August 12, 2019) SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — A landmark that welcomed rail travelers to Salt Lake City for decades came down Monday to make room for a renovated new sign. Full story: Salt Lake Tribune
How Caltrain tries to prevent fatalities
(Source: The Daily Journal, August 12, 2019) SAN MATEO, Calif. — Caltrain officials say separating train tracks from roads, commonly known as grade separations, is the most effective way to prevent people from getting struck and killed by locomotives. Full story: The...
BNSF freight train derails, spills diesel north of Madras, Ore.
(Source: Television station KTVZ, August 12, 2019) MADRAS, Ore. — An 80-car freight train struck two large boulders that fell onto the BNSF Railway tracks in a remote area about 20 miles north of Madras early Monday, causing five locomotives and a rail car to derail,...
Delegates elect new officers at SMART TD convention
(Source: Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Transportation Division press release, August 11, 2019) LAS VEGAS – SMART GEC Member and Transportation Division (TD) Vice President Jeremy R. Ferguson of Local 313 (Grand Rapids, Mich.) was elected President...
Rail service reliability issues, trade uncertainty could help push U.S. rail volumes lower
(Source: Freight Waves, August 12, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Trade concerns and shippers’ lingering doubts about rail service are factors that could contribute to a continued softening of U.S. rail carload volumes in the second half of the year despite some factors...
Discovery set to air never-before-seen footage of George H.W. Bush funeral train
(Source: Houston Chronicle, August 9, 2019) HOUSTON, Texas — Discovery is set to air "Uniting America: The President's Final Journey," featuring never-before-seen footage and behind the scenes moments with the Union Pacific employees who were instrumental in executing...
Amtrak considers extending Wolverine line from Chicago to Toronto
(Source: www.woodtv.com, August 9, 2019) EAST LANSING, Mich. — Amtrak is considering a proposal that would extend the Wolverine line’s rail service from Chicago to Toronto. Full story: www.woodtv.com
Train derailments plague NW Iowa
(Source: www.nwestiowa.com, August 10, 2019) SHELDON, Iowa — Railroad tracks in N’West Iowa have been in the perfect storm during the last 13 months. Three major derailments — two involving BNSF and one involving Union Pacific — have taken place since June 22, 2018....
South Florida Sysco workers vote to join Teamsters
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, August 9, 2019) MIAMI, Fla. — Sysco workers notched another union election victory today after 130 warehouse workers voted for Teamsters Local 769 representation. The workers join 132 drivers at Sysco...
Fire extinguished on CSX bridge over Susquehanna River
(Source: Baltimore Sun, August 9, 2019) BALTIMORE, Md. — No injuries were reported and all railway operations have resumed after a fire on the CSX railroad bridge, which spans the Susquehanna River between Harford and Cecil counties, was reported Friday afternoon....
Trucking rates putting more pressure on railroad industry
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, August 8, 2019) NEW YORK — Intermodal is still less expensive than on-road trucking, but the savings have been less over the last five years. Full story: Railway Track & Structures
Big tech companies ignore NTSB’s pleas on rail safety
(Source: Politico, August 10, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — In late 2016, federal investigators probing a fatal crash between a confused truck driver and a California commuter train made a plea to Google, Apple and Microsoft: Add information on the nation’s hundreds of...
RRB chairman appoints Cameron as assistant
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, August 8, 2019) CHICAGO — Kimberley M. Cameron has been named as an Assistant to the Chairman of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), Erhard R. Chorlé. At the time of her appointment, Ms. Cameron served as the...
BLET News
Resolution of the BLE Advisory Board
NOW THEREFORE, be it RESOLVED that we the undersigned do hereby unanimously pledge to fight to preserve the goals of our forefathers, to protect our union’s ideals of brotherhood and unity, to move the organization forward, and to be the caretakers of our rich tradition by approving documents that would create the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, a division of the Rail Conference in the U.S., and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
BLE responds to UTU raid at CP
Leadership of BLE Canada today strongly condemned an attempted raid of its Canadian Pacific membership by the United Transportation Union, while an elected BLE officer has been relieved of his duties for assisting the UTU raid.
Hoffa: Unity is key to strength
Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa spoke about transportation labor unity in the afternoon session on June 30 at the 67th annual Eastern Union Meeting Association of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
Photos available of RCTC rally
Photos are now available on the BLE website of the June 26 rally by striking BLE Rail Canada Traffic Controllers (RCTC).
Canada Day, Independence Day statement by President Hahs
All BLE members in the U.S. and Canada are joining together this week in a celebration of freedom.
EUMA opens in Baltimore
The BLE’s 67th annual Eastern Union Meeting Association kicked off on June 30 with the opening ceremonies.
BLE-RCTC strike enters its 10th day
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers-Rail Canada Traffic Controllers’ strike is entering its 10th day. The more than 200 RCTC members went on strike on June 18.
BLE appeals CIRB decision
On June 15, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers filed for a judicial review by the Federal Court of Appeals of a decision made by the Canada Industrial Relations Board.
General Chairman Pierce clarifies MRL remote agreement
Dennis Pierce, BLE General Chairman on BNSF/MRL, recently sent a letter to all BLE local chairmen on the BNSF-Northlines and Montana Rail Link (MRL), which clarified the BLE’s agreements for protection and compensation for remote control on the MRL, and compared the remote control implementation on MRL to the implementation of remote control on BNSF.
Arizona AFL-CIO adopts resolution questioning safety of remote control
The AFL-CIO Arizona State Federation has adopted a resolution calling for the State of Arizona and the Federal Railroad Administration to examine the implementation of remote control locomotives in the name of public safety.
