Rail Industry News
CN employee killed in Montreal
Authorities are investigating after a “fatal incident” occurred on Canadian National Railway (CN) property in Montreal’s east end. An employee is said to have died during the incident, which took place in the Rivière-des-Prairies–Pointe-aux-Trembles borough. CN would not confirm the nature of the incident.
Railroads taking tougher stance on paid sick leave for BLET
Wallace said his union was negotiating with the major railroads, but said they were seeking to make it harder for the operations workers than non-operational workers to take paid sick days – perhaps by giving them demerits when they do.
Wisconsin Rep.: BNSF touted rail safety days before derailment
“Thursday, these trains shot off the rails and wound up in the Mississippi River. So one week ago, I was assured by the BNSF railroad that they’re taken all the precautions they could to make sure this wouldn’t happen, and it did,” Van Orden said.
Blocked crossings crisis draws local and national calls for action
After seeing images of kids crawling under trains, regulators ask companies to address blocked crossings, lawmakers demand consequences, residents clamor for solutions and Norfolk Southern’s CEO calls a mayor to work out a fix.
UP says it made “significant progress” on embargoes
Union Pacific (UP) on April 27 submitted a year-to-date progress report on embargoes, inventory management and system fluidity to the Surface Transportation Board (STB), which last year ordered the Class I to explain its escalating use of embargoes as a method of reducing rail traffic congestion.
News photos: Flooding along the Mississippi
Railroads are dealing with flooding in areas along the Mississippi River.
Public airs concerns to EPA in East Palestine
When the Environmental Protection Agency opened the floor to questions at the conclusion of Thursday’s air monitoring informational session at The Way Station in East Palestine, residents were ready. The EPA was not.
NS train that derailed in East Palestine carried product ethyHexyl acrylate
Dow has confirmed that it had product, ethylhexyl acrylate, in one railcar on the Norfolk Southern trail that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio.
Maine regulators ask CPKC to fix roads, culverts after derailment
Maine environmental regulators have asked a railroad cleaning up a freight train derailment site to repair forest management roads and culverts damaged by heavy equipment and that led to the discharge of sediment into area waters.
Roseville yard disaster: Memories smolder 50 years after ammo train eruption
It’s been called the disaster lost in history: A local town, long before it became a bustling city, was rocked by explosions. Fifty years ago on Friday, a rail car carrying bombs bound for Vietnam exploded in Roseville.
Class I railroads included on “Dirty Dozen” list of unsafe employers for 2023
The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH) announced today the “Dirty Dozen” list of employers who put workers and communities at risk due to unsafe practices.
Michigan bills seek to limit train size, require two-person crews
Michigan State Senator Erika Geiss, D-Taylor, has sponsored two bills that would require shorter train lengths and mandate a minimum two-person crew on trains in an effort to improve rail safety and avert potential disasters like the NS derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Workers’ Memorial Day honors those who died on the job
The country’s largest labor union is calling for stronger safety protections for workers after a new report found more than 5,000 people died on the job in 2021, including 105 in Wisconsin.
FRA safety advisory warns railroads about long trains
The Federal Railroad Administration stopped short of recommending in its latest safety advisory issued Thursday that railroads limit the size of their trains, which can routinely stretch more than 2 miles long.
DOT says Republican budget plan would cut rail inspections
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on Wednesday said a Republican budget cut proposal would result in nearly 7,500 fewer rail safety inspection days and over 30,000 fewer miles of track inspected annually.
Driver of dump truck involved in Cleveland Norfolk Southern fatality pleads not guilty
The dump truck driver involved in the March 7 accident that killed Norfolk Southern conductor and BLET member Louis Shuster pleaded not guilty on Thursday morning.
Four injured as BNSF train derails into Mississippi River in Wisconsin
Four BNSF railroad crew members were transported to a nearby hospital for medical examinations after a southbound freight train derailed in southwestern Wisconsin, sending some rail cars into the Mississippi River.
Grain helps boost CPKC revenue in Q1 2023
A record-breaking January in which the railroad hauled 2.3 million tons of Canadian grain pushed grain revenues to C$515 million in the first quarter, up 43% from C$360 million in 2022.
Prisoner sues NS over East Palestine crash
An Ohio prisoner has sued Norfolk Southern over his alleged exposure to chemicals following the February derailment of a company-operated freight train that caused toxic substances to spill and catch fire in East Palestine, Ohio.
As rail profits soar, blocked crossings force kids to crawl under trains to get to school
“The length of the long trains is 100% the cause of what’s going on across the country right now,” said Randy Fannon, a national vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. “No engineer wants to block a crossing.”
BLET News
CN-IC, Iowa Northern: Ballots mailed in tentative implementing agreement
Ballots were mailed last week to BLET members to vote on a tentative implementing agreement regarding Canadian National-Illinois Central Railway’s (CN-IC) acquisition of the Iowa Northern Railway. Ballots were mailed to about 550 members. The tentative implementing...
Scott Bunten reelected NS Eastern Lines General Chairman
Brother Scott Bunten (fourth from right) with members, both in-person and virtual, of the NS Eastern Lines GCA at their quadrennial meeting in late April. ____________________ General Chairman Scott R. Bunten was reelected at the quadrennial meeting of the NS Eastern...
Canadian National/Wisconsin Central: BLET Divisions unanimously vote yes on new quality of life agreement
Nine Canadian National/Wisconsin Central (CN/WC) divisions that comprise the GCA voted unanimously April 24 that in favor of a new quality of life agreement that covers roughly 600 locomotive engineers. General Chairman Eric Hau said the goal was “to attract, retain,...
161st anniversary: BLET was founded on May 8, 1863
1896 BLE Convention in Ottawa, Ontario ____________________ On May 8, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) marks its 161st anniversary. The BLET and its members are proud of our heritage as the oldest labor union in North America. Our union was...
Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry turns his back on railroad workers, co-sponsors legislation to nullify new two-person crew regulation
Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District has been rated as one of the most competitive in the nation during this election year, but the incumbent seeking reelection, U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), must not care about the votes of union railroaders. Perry, along with...
Capitol Hill: BLET mourns passing of Rep. Payne
From left: National President Eddie Hall, Rep. Donald Payne Jr., VP & NLR Vince Verna and National S-T David Estes at a BLET Legislative Rep. training class in 2023. ____________________ Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr. (D-NJ), a staunch advocate for rail safety who...
North Dakota: Forschen reelected State Legislative Board Chairman
From left: Darin Hamre, Vince Verna, Sean Forschen, Dave Harness, and Tim Presler. ____________________ Brother Sean M. Forschen was elected to his second term as Chairman of the BLET’s North Dakota State Legislative Board during its quadrennial meeting in Bismarck,...
BLET Legislative Alert: Calling all Colorado and Minnesota members to Take Action!
BLET members in Colorado and Minnesota are urged to get involved and help advance rail safety legislation in their respective states. In Colorado, members should immediately contact their State Senators to request their support of railroad safety bill HB24-1030. The...
GCA news: Chris Hyde reelected CSXT Eastern Lines General Chairman
General Chairman Chris R. Hyde was reelected at the quadrennial meeting of the CSXT Eastern Lines General Committee of Adjustment, which was held via Zoom on April 21, 2024. Brother Hyde began serving as General Chairman on January 1, 2023, following the election of...
GCA news: Hau reelected to second term as CN-WC General Chairman
Brother Eric A. Hau was reelected General Chairman at the Canadian National-Wisconsin Central General Committee of Adjustment’s quadrennial meeting on April 16 in Appleton, Wisc. He was first elected General Chairman of the CN-WC GCA at its quadrennial meeting in...
