Rail Industry News
Unifor reaches tentative agreement with CP Rail
Unifor Local 101R has reached a tentative agreement with Canadian Pacific Railway (CP), covering 1,200 workers at 18 locations from British Columbia to Quebec.
Small Business Administration questions FRA’s estimated cost of proposed two-person train crew rule
The Federal Railroad Administration should revise and republish its initial regulatory flexibility analysis (IRFA) on its proposed two-person train crew rule because the agency “significantly understated” the potential impact on small businesses, the U.S. Small Business Administration says.
Rail Q4 2022 earnings on deck: What to expect
Railroad earnings season kicks off this month with rail companies likely to cite the impact of the extreme cold that hit much of the U.S. at the end of 2022.
Lac-Megantic bypass project advancing
Canada Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra on Jan. 14 announced that building a 12.5-km (7.75-mile) bypass to get trains out of downtown Lac-Mégantic “remains a priority.”
Amtrak petitions FRA to retire Maryland fixed wayside signals
Amtrak is seeking Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) approval to retire fixed wayside signals as automatic block points on the Mid-Atlantic Division’s Philadelphia-to-Washington line.
Teamsters: Honoring Dr. King and the fight for labor dignity
This year, Teamsters are channeling King’s dream of worker dignity with a day of action at UPS facilities all over the country.
UP route through Feather River Canyon closed by derailment
A Union Pacific spokesman said it was able to rescue its crew, but is still working on the derailed cars.
Corn arrives to feed Foster Farms chickens after Union Pacific delays
Union Pacific Corp and poultry producer Foster Farms say enough corn shipments have been made to replenish feed stocks after delayed trains in recent months caused inventories to drop to critical levels.
Arizona man sentenced for threats called in to Union Pacific, other spots in Omaha
A man from Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced Friday to 18 months in federal prison for calling in threats to Union Pacific’s headquarters and other locations in Omaha in April 2021.
Cost of Massachusetts’ proposed passenger rail route starts at $1 billion
The Northern Tier passenger-rail network project, which would connect North Adams to Greenfield and Boston, Massachusetts, will cost more than $1 billion.
Smarter railroad tracks are boosting train safety and efficiency
The goal is to lower the risk of derailments, system failures and, ideally, operate freight lines more efficiently by allowing trains to run closer together.
Rail traffic outlook isn’t good for 2023, analyst says
Rail traffic is expected to have another tough year as intermodal, carload, and coal traffic will all struggle to show growth.
Analysis: Union Pacific has lost its way
UP has a long list of problems, many of them self-inflicted as a predictable result of its pursuit of a 55% operating ratio.
Truck driver involved with major NS derailment arrested, charged in Tennessee
The driver of a vehicle that was struck by a Norfolk Southern train in Tennessee last month, resulting in a major derailment that was caught on camera, has been arrested.
Graves selected Chairman of House T&I Committee; Larsen is ranking Democrat
U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) has been named chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I) for the 118th Congress. U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) is the committee’s ranking Democrat.
U.S. railroads log carload gain, intermodal decline in Week 1 of 2023
Total carloads hauled in the week ending Jan. 7 rose 1.4% to 212,962 units, but intermodal volume tumbled 11.8% to 203,527 containers and trailers.
Crews working to reopen tracks in Maryland after 26-car NS derailment
Norfolk Southern crews and contractors were clearing a 26-car derailment near Fairplay, Maryland, with no injuries or hazardous materials spills reported.
U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear case over UP employment contract with Palestine, Texas
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review a lower-court ruling that Union Pacific is no longer bound by a contract requiring it to maintain a certain number of employees in the city of Palestine, which dates to an 1872 contract with one of the railroad’s predecessors.
O’Brien: Supreme Court must uphold right to strike
Workers in America have the fundamental right to strike, and American workers have died on picket lines to protect it. The ability to withhold your labor is the one powerful tool throughout the history of unionization that has ensured workers can improve their working conditions.
FRA issues safety bulletin after fatal accident on NS
In the wake of a fatal accident on Norfolk Southern last month, the Federal Railroad Administration has issued a safety bulletin urging railroaders to conduct pre-departure inspections to ensure that no objects are protruding from freight cars.
BLET News
BLET Fact Sheet on new UP paid sick leave agreement
The General Chairmen involved in negotiating a new paid sick leave deal with the Union Pacific Railroad have prepared a Fact Sheet to address potential membership questions.
BLET and Union Pacific reach paid sick leave agreement
Union Pacific Railroad reached an agreement with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) to provide paid sick leave to the approximately 5,600 locomotive engineers employed by the railroad. Under the agreement, BLET members will have up to seven paid days to use in the event of illness.
BLET’s paid sick leave agreement with NS is not tied to attendance policy
No concessions and no punitive attendance policy.” That was the clear message delivered to BLET’s Norfolk Southern members over conference calls and Zoom meetings set up to explain the breakthrough tentative agreement announced on May 18. The new policy will provide up to seven paid sick days per year to BLET members working at NS.
President Hall exposes dangers of long trains in Washington Post interview
President Hall exposes dangers of long trains in Washington Post interview Long trains have been a major safety issue for several years now, especially since the introduction of so-called Precision Scheduled Railroading by Class I railroads throughout the United...
Schulz reelected Chairman of Wisconsin State Legislative Board
Chuck M. Schulz was reelected to his third term as Chairman of the BLET’s Wisconsin State Legislative Board at the Board’s quadrennial meeting in Madison, Wisc., on May 24, 2023.
Driscoll reelected Conrail General Chairman
The Conrail SSA/CSXT-Northern District GCA is comprised of 13 different BLET Local Divisions on two properties, Conrail Shared Assets and CSXT Northern District, and represents approximately 1,400 active and retired members.
BLET to host virtual Secretary-Treasurer training June 12-13
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, May 25 — The BLET Education and Training Department will conduct a virtual training class for Division and State Legislative Board Secretary-Treasurers via Zoom on June 12 & 13, 2023. Registration for the class is available on a first come,...
Two-person crew becomes law in Minnesota
Minnesota is known for these numbers — 10,000 lakes and two-person crews. In a victory for railroad safety, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed a two-person crew bill into law on May 24.
New STF Investigators complete training at BLET National Division
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, May 24 — Members of the BLET Safety Task Force (STF) met for in-depth training and orientation meetings from May 23-25 at BLET National Division headquarters in Independence, Ohio. Several new members were recently appointed to Investigator...
BLET and Union Pacific reach historic agreement to improve work schedules and time off for locomotive engineers
The tentative agreement provides locomotive engineers with an 11 days on, 4 days off schedule.
