Rail Industry News
NS CEO Shaw sells $419,000 in company stock
Norfolk Southern Co. CEO Alan H. Shaw sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 1. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.55, for a total transaction of $419,100.00.
O’Brien: SCOTUS attacks all U.S. workers
“The Supreme Court is not upholding the law, nor is it advancing the American people. Supreme Court justices are ruling on behalf of billionaires alone — the very ones they socialize with at cocktail parties and who they owe their jobs to in the first place..”
AAR: North American rail volume down through 21 weeks
For the week ending May 27, 2023, U.S. Class I railroads hauled a total of 480,998 carloads and intermodal units, falling 4.8% compared with the same week last year.
NTSB: Critical hot box detector warning wasn’t heard before May 10 NS derailment
The 164th car of a Norfolk Southern train triggered a critical hot box detector alert before a May wreck in Pennsylvania, but the train continued on its journey for 15.34 miles before derailing because neither the crew nor the railroad’s network operations center received the warning that would have required the train to stop immediately, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report released today.
CEO Shaw says NS is “going to be the gold standard in safety”
“I’m taking it personal. We’re going to be the gold standard in safety in the rail industry,” Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw said at the North American Rail Shippers annual conference in Chicago last week.
STB issues draft environmental assessment for UP’s proposed new rail line in Mesa, Arizona
The Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) today issued a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed construction of a new rail line in Mesa, Arizona by Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP).
A look back at the first transcontinental railroad
The Pacific Railway Act of 1862 was enacted by President Abraham Lincoln to garner federal support for construction of the transcontinental railroad. While B&O Railroad was the first commercial transportation by rail in 1827, connecting Chicago to the East Coast, there still was not a direct connection completely west.
Q&A: Unemployment and sickness benefits for railroad employees
The RRB has prepared a list of questions and answers to describe these benefits, their eligibility requirements, and how to apply for and claim them.
FRA proposes rules for certifying train dispatchers, signal employees
The Federal Railroad Administration is proposing rules to formalize the certification process for two groups of craft employees working on U.S. freight railroads.
DOT Secretary says rail safety is still a big concern
US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is ramping up pressure on the country’s largest freight railroads to improve safety after a series of high-profile derailments.
GAO Blog: Freight rail safety and the potential impact of long trains
Some recent derailments and other rail incidents have had something in common: they involved longer freight trains.
Editorial: State legislation an engine for safer rails
Pennsylvania’s House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee gave 19-2 approval to House Bill 1028.
CPKC hazmat train derails in NW Minnesota
For the second time within two months, a train carrying hazardous materials has derailed in Minnesota. Canadian Pacific (CPKC) says 24 cars on a freight train went off the rails Wednesday.
Amtrak CEO to testify before House panel at June 6 hearing
U.S. passenger railroad Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner will testify on June 6 before a U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure railroads subcommittee.
First step toward improving rail service is treating employees better, CSX CEO says
Railroads have to mend frayed relationships with customers, employees, Congress, and regulators, CSX Transportation CEO Joe Hinrichs told a shipper conference last week.
New York senate passes series of rail safety bills
Following a nationwide legislative trend in the wake of February’s derailment and toxic-chemical release in East Palestine, Ohio, the New York state Senate has passed a series of bills seeking to regulate the way railroads operate in the state.
STB chairman: Class I railroad strategies are inviting stronger regulation
Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin J. Oberman told a shipper conference that Class I railroad behavior over the past few years – mass layoffs, crew shortages, and poor service – may require a new approach to regulation.
TCRC members ratify new contract with CN
The TCRC is pleased to announce the ratification of their new collective agreement affecting approximately 6,000 Locomotive Engineers, Conductors and Yard Workers employed with CN Rail in Canada.
Federal transit officials reject MBTA’s proposed safety plan
The Federal Transit Administration has ordered the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to resubmit a safety work plan it shared with the federal agency at the beginning of May.
Some states enact two-person crew law for rail safety
While the Bipartisan Rail Safety Act has yet to be made into law, some states are enacting their own safety laws, one of them being the two-person crew requirement that unions fought for, but did not get, in the recent 2023 negotiations.
BLET News
Operation RedBlock reaches 40-year milestone anniversary
Over the last four decades, Operation RedBlock has proven essential, especially given the highly unpredictable nature of employee schedules in the rail industry. ____________________ The railroad industry’s leading peer-based substance abuse prevention program turns...
Daughter of BLET member a candidate for Congress in Maryland
Sarah Elfreth (center) meets with BLET Director of Political Affairs Brendan Sullivan (left) and BLET VP and NLR Vince Verna (right) ____________________ The BLET is backing the candidacy of Sarah Elfreth — the daughter of a retired BLET member — in the upcoming...
PEB 251 established to settle ongoing BLET-NJ Transit contract dispute
President Joseph R. Biden Jr. appointed Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) No. 251 to investigate the collective bargaining dispute between the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and New Jersey Transit (NJT). Pursuant to the Railway Labor Act...
Take Action! Don’t let the budget axe fall on Railroad Retirement
BLET members and their families are urged to keep the pressure on Congress to avoid potentially catastrophic budget cuts to the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). Please use the Take Action area of the BLET website to contact Congress today, especially if you are...
Amtrak: BLET says carrier should put money into repairs, not executive bonuses
Days before widespread failures at Amtrak this summer, it was revealed that top executives received millions in bonuses in 2023. Photo courtesy of Cory Rusch, BLET Division 659 ____________________ It’s been a rough summer for Amtrak. Major electrical problems in the...
Capitol Hill: Rail safety bills back in the spotlight
The nomination of Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) as the Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States has put the Railway Safety Act (S. 576) back into the spotlight. Meanwhile, new legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would make C3RS...
Ohio: Division Legislative Representatives complete training
From left: Sam Schatz, Div. 447; John Peter, Div. 894; Ohio Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (District 23, Lakewood); John Esterly, Ohio SLB Chairman; Bruce Tatgenhorst, Div. 255; and Kevin Helton, Div. 292. ____________________ During the week of June 24-28, the...
Jim and Debbie Keele mark 50-years of membership
Jim and Debbie Keele at the 2024 BLET Western Regional Meeting in Kansas City. ____________________ Congratulations to retired BLET member Jim Keele and his wife Debbie, who are celebrating three milestone anniversaries this year: Brother Jim is a 50-year member of...
Breaking News: BLET members ratify new contract with SEPTA
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen today ratified a new three-year contract with SEPTA. An impressive 87 percent of eligible voters cast ballots, with 94 percent voting in favor. The contract provides numerous improvements for BLET...
Ohio: House of Representatives votes unanimously to advance bill honoring fallen BLET Brother Lou Shuster
Ohio Rep. Sean Brennan is the sponsor of HB 381 and is pictured here addressing BLET members in 2023. ____________________ By a vote of 87-0, the Ohio House of Representatives passed a bill that would rename a northeast Ohio highway interchange to honor fallen BLET...
