Rail Industry News
Freight railroad alert raised to “red” as shippers fear more West Coast port tensions
The slowdown in International Longshore and Warehouse Union work at West Coast ports has created a congestion contagion that is spreading to the freight railroads, with uncertain consequences for the supply chain.
Intermodal: “On the decline in 2023”
Both May 2023 and the week ending June 3, 2023 saw U.S. carloads rise and intermodal volume drop compared with the prior-year periods.
CN adjusting operations amid fierce Canadian wildfires
Canadian railway CN is keeping an eye on the wildfires occurring across several provinces and it is adjusting operations as needed, the railway told Freight Waves Wednesday.
Frustrations boil, tempers flare at East Palestine public health session
The hot topic of the session centered around independent testing that residents insist prove ongoing exposure to vinyl chloride and benzene.
Arson likely in fire that damaged short line bridge in Washington state
Arson is now suspected in a fire that damaged a wood trestle on the Puget Sound & Pacific Railroad last weekend, KLFD Radio reports.
FRA to conduct safety review of all major railroads
The Federal Railroad Administration will conduct safety assessments of all major U.S. railroads following the Feb. 3 derailment of a Norfolk Southern operated train in Ohio, according to a letter seen by Reuters on Tuesday.
Teamsters Rail Conference wins gains, protections for members
The Teamsters Rail Conference recently notched victories in the ongoing fight to improve the lives of its members.
BLET, Union Pacific reach paid sick leave agreement
Union Pacific and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen have reached a paid sick time agreement, the railroad and union announced today.
Most unionized U.S. rail workers now have new paid sick leave
Norfolk Southern became the first major North American freight railroad with deals to provide paid sick time to all of its workers Monday, but the other railroads are making progress, with nearly 65% of all rail workers securing this basic benefit since the start of the year.
House Science Committee seeks info on federal research of hazmat-by-rail safety
House Science, Space and Technology Committee members have asked the U.S. Department of Transportation for details on the research, development and technology (RD&T) efforts underway to improve the transportation of hazardous materials by rail in the aftermath of the Feb. 3 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Pennsylvania House passes rail safety bill
Four months after the train disaster in East Palestine, Ohio – less than a mile from the Pennsylvania border – the Pa. House on Monday voted in favor of final passage of a bill creating new state-level rail regulations.
CPKC employees will select railway’s new locomotive livery
CPKC employees will select the railway’s new locomotive livery through an online survey, a company spokesman says. The SurveyMonkey poll asks the railway’s 20,345 employees to choose one of five proposed paint schemes for CPKC locomotives.
Amtrak applies for FRA grants to fund projects on Northeast Corridor, long-distance, state-supported lines
Amtrak has submitted applications for nearly $7.3 billion in Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) funding for 14 proposed Northeast Corridor (NEC) projects and $716 million in funding for 16 proposed projects that would improve reliability, reduce travel times and expand service on its long-distance and state-supported lines.
Amtrak plan would extend passenger rail to connect Fort Worth to the East Coast
Amtrak has applied for $716 million in federal funds for 16 projects including the extension of its I-20 corridor service to Fort Worth. If approved, passengers could use Amtrak to travel from the Metroplex to Shreveport in Louisiana, Atlanta, Washington D.C. and New York City.
Freight rail CEOs realize relationship building required
Leaders of the Class I freight rail companies seem to agree they must repair rifts with their employees, customers and the communities they serve in order to usher in “a new era in railroading.”
NS files motion to overturn lawsuit over East Palestine disaster
Five months after the disastrous Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, the rail giant is looking to dismiss a mass class action lawsuit it faces.
NS vows to improve safety
Norfolk Southern Corp. hired an outside consultant for guidance on safety, declaring in a statement signed by its CEO and by union officials that the railroad “can do better.”
Machinists ratify new Amtrak contract
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers has ratified a new contract with Amtrak, the union announced on June 4.
Nearly 300 killed in India train accident; signal error blamed
A signal error that led a train to wrongly change tracks was to blame for the crash in eastern India that killed nearly 300 people and injured hundreds more, officials said Sunday.
DOT awards $570 million in funding for Rail Crossing Elimination program
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today announced it has awarded more than $570 million in Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program funding to projects in 32 states.
BLET News
BLET Eastern Regional Meeting in Washington D.C.: Speaker highlight – Robert Primus
Robert Primus, Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board, said rail labor is a major part of the economic success of America’s freight railroad system. He recognized and thanked railroad workers for keeping the nation’s supply chain moving during his presentation...
BLET Eastern Regional Meeting in Washington D.C.: Speaker highlight – Amit Bose
The head of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) encouraged BLET members to get on board as the FRA continues to advocate for safety in the railroad industry. Speaking at the BLET’s Eastern Regional Meeting in Washington D.C. on July 30, FRA Administrator Amit...
Senator Cantwell wants answers after UP undermines FRA safety culture survey
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, is looking for answers from the Union Pacific after the Federal Railroad Administration was forced to cancel a safety culture survey at the railroad. FRA launched the...
BLET scores organizing victory at COASTER
BLET National President Eddie Hall officially welcomed 36 new members into the BLET family today. Train and engine service employees with commuter railroad COASTER voted to join the union in an election certified by the National Mediation Board earlier this afternoon.
BLET Eastern Regional Meeting in Washington D.C.: Speaker highlight – Sara Nelson
Sara Nelson, International President of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA/CWA), energized the BLET crowd during opening ceremonies of the union’s Eastern Regional Meeting in Washington D.C. on July 30. Like the BLET, the AFA is governed by the Railway Labor...
CSX derailment in Niagara Falls the latest in string of remote control related accidents
The BLET obtained this drone footage showing the aftermath of a July 22 CSX remote control derailment in Niagara Falls, N.Y. ____________________ A CSX locomotive derailed in upstate New York on July 22, the latest in an alarming string of derailments involving...
BLET Eastern Regional Meeting in Washington D.C.: Speaker highlight – Rep. James Clyburn
U.S. Representative James E. Clyburn’s eloquent speech was a highlight of the BLET’s Eastern Regional Meeting in Washington D.C. on July 30. The legendary Democrat from South Carolina spoke about his background of fighting for Civil Rights and the need for unity to...
Bernie Sanders condemns railroad corporate greed in speech to BLET/Teamster Members
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) called out America’s railroad industry for putting profits over safety in his address to more than 300 members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) in Washington D.C. on July 29. “Nobody in America...
House hearing focuses on bipartisan Railroad Safety Enhancement Act
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy (left) and FRA Administrator Amit Bose testified during the July 23 hearing. T&I Committee images ____________________ A BLET-backed rail safety bill was the focus of a hearing before the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and...
Senator Bernie Sanders to address BLET members on July 29
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) will address BLET members during a welcome reception at the union’s Eastern Regional Meeting in Washington, D.C., on Monday, July 29. If time permits, the Senator plans to engage in a question and answer session. Senator Sanders...
