Rail Industry News
San Jose councilman: “Union Pacific has not been a good neighbor”
(Source: San Jose Mercury News, June 5, 2019) SAN JOSE, Calif. — Perhaps nothing in recent memory has galvanized San Joseans of all backgrounds and beliefs quite so much as the deep frustration with Union Pacific that has permeated conversations at City Hall and...
Texas bus driver indicted after deadly crash with UP train
(Source: Associated Press, June 6, 2019) NEW YORK — A Texas man has been indicted on manslaughter and injury to a child charges following the death of a 13-year-old boy on a school bus struck by a train in January, according to The Associated Press. Full story: ABC...
Railroad tracks were covered by water when train derailed in Fort Worth, official says
(Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, June 5, 2019) FORT WORTH, Texas — A set of south Fort Worth railroad tracks where a massive train derailment, ethanol spill and explosion occurred April 24 was underwater at the time the train came through, an official said. Full...
Wabtec and UE Locals sound optimistic about reaching fair and equitable outcome
(Source: www.yourerie.com, June 5, 2019) ERIE, Pa. — There's still no agreement this hour between Wabtec and UE Local 506 and 618. Wabtec and union workers have been working under a 90-day interim agreement. Full story: www.yourerie.com
Operating ratio is CSX’s scorecard, CEO says
(Source: Jacksonville Daily Record, June 5, 2019) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As far as James Foote is concerned, one number tells you everything you need to know about CSX Corp.’s performance: the operating ratio. Full story: Jacksonville Daily Record
More job cuts hit UP’s Bailey Yard
(Source: North Platte Telegraph, June 6, 2019) NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — The Union Pacific Railroad Wednesday carried out additional job reductions at North Platte’s Bailey Yard, the latest in a series of furloughs and job eliminations under U.P.’s systemwide Unified Plan...
Railroad union vows FRA’s decision to scrap proposal for minimum crew sizes won’t go unchallenged
(Source: Safety & Health Magazine, June 6, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Railroad Administration has withdrawn a 2016 notice of proposed rulemaking that would have established a minimum crew size of two members on most railroad operations. Full story: Safety &...
CSX wants Hyndman suit to stay in federal court
(Source: Altoona Mirror, June 5, 2019) ALTOONA, Pa. — CSX Transportation Inc. has filed a petition asking that a lawsuit filed by a Hyndman family as a result of a train derailment nearly two years ago remain in the U.S. District Court and not be returned to the...
Unions offer opportunity for younger workers
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, June 4, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Young adults in America are not optimistic about the future, and for good reason – financially they are doing far worse than those from previous generations. Statistics...
French police raid rail operator SNCF in probe into IBM contracts
(Source: Reuters, June 5, 2019) PARIS — French police raided the headquarters of national railway operator SNCF as part of an investigation into contracts handed to U.S. computer company IBM, a spokeswoman at the company and a judicial source said on Wednesday. Full...
Freeman succeeds Tedeschi as GCC President
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, June 4, 2019) SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — George Tedeschi, president of the IBT’s Graphic Communications Conference, retired June 2 after 60 years of union service and was succeeded by Kurt Freeman, a highly...
Lawmakers target Chinese rail cars over security concerns
(Source: The Hill, June 5, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Chinese company that is designing subway train cars for U.S. cities is at the center of growing scrutiny over worries that its products could be susceptible to hacking or remote control. Full story: The Hill
CP moves record amount of grain in 2018-19 crop year
(Source: Canadian Pacific Railway press release, June 4, 2019) CALGARY, Alberta — On the strength of its operating model and the power of its 13,000-strong CP family, Canadian Pacific continues to set records for the movement of Canadian grain. As of the end of May...
Illinois General Assembly OKs $100 million for proposed Metra extension into Kendall County
(Source: The Beacon-News, June 3, 2019) CHICAGO — Illinois lawmakers over the weekend approved an infrastructure bill that includes $100 million for a proposal to extend Metra train service beyond Aurora into Kendall County. Full story: Chicago Tribune
California’s top bullet train consultant is suspended amid a state ethics review
(Source: Los Angeles Times, June 4, 2019) LOS ANGELES — The top consultant on the California bullet train has been put on suspension after a state watchdog agency began reviewing his approval of a multimillion-dollar contract for a company in which he had heavily...
CN expects automation to save up to $400 million over next three years
(Source: Financial Post, June 4, 2019) OTTAWA — A typical railcar inspection takes about two minutes for a Canadian National Railway mechanic walking on uneven ground around the tracks, shining a flashlight on a car’s undercarriage to spot defects in need of repair....
Supreme Court ruling paves way for performance metrics for rail
(Source: Freight Waves, June 4, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a case again about whether Amtrak can have a role in crafting the on-time performance metrics and standards for the freight railroads. The Court’s June 3 action paves...
Union Pacific laying off 30 mechanical workers at South Morrill
(Source: BH News Service, June 5, 2019) MORRILL, Neb. — Union Pacific Railroad has announced it plans to furlough 30 workers at its mechanical shop at the South Morrill Yard. This week’s layoffs affect the smaller mechanical shop, where minor locomotive repairs and...
Teamsters in Wayne County, N.Y., ratify new agreement
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, June 3, 2019) ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Despite difficult negotiations and Wayne County’s premature declaration of impasse, Local 118 is pleased to announce that the members have overwhelmingly ratified a new...
Amtrak upgrading low-speed track between D.C. and Baltimore
(Source: Television station WTOP, June 4, 2019) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak is upgrading a 31-mile stretch of track between D.C. and Baltimore, as it positions itself for its next generation of high speed Acela Express trains, which are scheduled to enter service in...
BLET News
Pedestrian’s leg amputated in remote control accident
A pedestrian’s right leg was amputated at mid-thigh as he became trapped climbing between cars of a Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train in Galesburg, Ill. The train was being operated by remote control at the time of the accident on August 28.
President Hahs reflects on September 11, 2001
As BLE members join all Americans and most citizens of the world in remembrance of the tragic events of one year ago today, President Hahs issued the following statement:
BLE, Teamsters announce committee appointments
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters today announced the appointment of BLE and Teamster members to four joint committees charged with the task of drafting a Merger Agreement for the two organizations. Staff from both Unions will assist in the process as necessary.
BLE presents fatigue countermeasure plan to carriers
Leaders of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers presented a three-pronged fatigue countermeasures plan to the railroad industry and government regulators yesterday at a meeting in Washington, D.C.
Labor Day 2002 Statement by BLE President Don Hahs
The American labor movement is coming off one of the most challenging years to date as we mark our first post-September 11 Labor Day weekend. Thousands of everyday workers were killed on that fateful day, while thousands more are out of work (and out of luck regarding their 401(k)s) in the aftermath of the Enron and Worldcom debacles.
BLE, Fire Fighters to lead Labor Day parade
Members of BLE Division 166 will march in the annual Charlotte, N.C., Labor Day Parade on Monday, marking the fourth year in a row the BLE has represented rail labor in the nation’s second-largest labor day parade.
FRA, management deny remote control fatality
An official with the Federal Railroad Administration today contacted the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers to state that the August 8, 2002, fatality of a UTU member at a steel mill in Cleveland was not the result of remote control operations.
UTU member killed in remote control accident
A member of the United Transportation Union was killed on August 8 in an accident involving remote control operations.
Tie-breaking method for remote control arbitration decided
On August 16, Francis X. Quinn, the Procedural Neutral in the remote control arbitration, resolved a procedural issue regarding breaking a tie should one arise in arbitration.
BLE announces S-T training session, November 10-13
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers has announced it will conduct a Secretary-Treasurer training workshop November 10-13 on the campus of the George Meany Center in Silver Spring, Md.
