Rail Industry News
Railroads request STB “stay” requirement that Class Is commit to arbitration for small rate disputes
CSX, Norfolk Southern (NS), Union Pacific (UP) and the U.S. operating subsidiaries of CN on Dec. 29 requested that the Surface Transportation Board (STB) stay its requirement that the Class I railroads commit to a new arbitration program for small rate disputes.
Travel woes related to canceled flights reignites debate on California bullet train
This week, as hundreds of flights between California cities were canceled, flight prices surged and travelers were left stranded, the California High-Speed Rail Authority saw an opening.
Teamsters meet with Labor Secretary Walsh at Port of Los Angeles
Today, International Brotherhood of Teamsters Western Region Vice President Lindsay Dougherty and Teamsters Local 848 Principal Officer Eric Tate met with Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and Deputy Secretary Julie Su at the Port of Los Angeles to discuss the importance of union representation for port workers.
Some supply chain managers are wary of shifting trade back to West Coast ports
Nearly a third of logistics managers at major companies and trade groups say they do not know how much trade they would return to the West Coast once an International Longshore and Warehouse Union, or ILWU, labor deal is reached, according to CNBC’s supply chain survey.
FRA issues “unintended train brake release” safety advisory
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on Dec. 29 issued a safety advisory to make the rail industry aware “of a recent issue encountered by a train crew that experienced an unintended brake release of a train’s automatic air brakes while stopped at a signal,” and to recommend four steps to address the unintended release of train air brakes.
STB issues another emergency order as UP service woes continue
It was the second time in just six months that the federal regulator issued such an order forcing the Class I to serve the poultry producer.
UP issues embargo due to winter weather impact
Union Pacific (UP) on Dec. 29 told customers that it is implementing “catastrophic embargo #UP130022” for all traffic in and out of Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin “to maintain fluidity as this segment of the network works to move volumes” impacted by winter weather.
Trains Magazine’s top 10 stories of 2022: No. 1, Rail Labor and the near strike
Railroads were catapulted into national headlines in the fall as labor negotiations came down to the wire, raising the prospect of the first strike or lockout in three decades.
U.S. rail volumes fell nearly 5 percent in week ending December 24, 2022
The railroads hauled 193,195 carloads for the week, down 4.1%, and 207,094 containers and trailers, down 5.5%.
Schneider fully transitioned to Union Pacific for western rail service
Schneider, a premier multimodal provider of transportation, intermodal and logistics services, completed the transition of its western rail operations to Union Pacific Railroad, making it the largest company driver dray fleet on the rail network.
CEOs from BNSF, CN, NS set to appear at shippers meeting
CEOs of three Class I railroads are among the impressive list of speakers for this year’s winter meeting of the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers, set for Jan. 17-19 at the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center in Lombard, Ill.
Sounder trains’ future in limbo as riders are slow to return
In April 2020, two months after the first reported case of the coronavirus in the U.S., the future of the Sounder commuter rail line looked bright.
Unions push for Iowa law to limit length of trains
Unions that represent rail workers are lobbying for a state law that would limit the length of trains. A federal report found the length of trains increased 25 percent between 2008 and 2017. There is currently no limit in state or federal law on how long a train can be.
Class I employment levels up 4.4%
Employment numbers with the U.S. operations of the Class I railroads in mid-November were the highest since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in North America, according to data collected by the Surface Transportation Board. However, some are questioning whether some aspects of other employment data collected by the board truly reflect the state of employment in the industry.
PSR’s impact on rail safety “inconclusive,” GAO says
Implementation of precision scheduled railroading (PSR) at the nation’s largest freight railroads has resulted in longer trains and reductions in staff and assets, but the strategy’s impact on rail safety is inconclusive, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).
Labor strife, service problems were biggest issues for railroads in 2022
To say that 2022 was an eventful year for the U.S. and Canadian freight railroads would be an understatement.
Averting cyberattacks on operations a key focus for rail, expert says
FreightWaves recently chatted with Miki Shifman, co-founder and chief technology officer for Cylus, a global rail cybersecurity firm headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel.
AAR reports rail traffic decline during week ending December 17, 2022
For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 476,232 carloads and intermodal units, down 5.5 percent compared with the same week last year.
FRA solicits proposals to identify new passenger rail corridors
The Federal Railroad Administration yesterday put out a call for project proposals for intercity passenger-rail corridors as part of the new federal Corridor Identification and Development Program.
NS train derails after hitting truck moving concrete bridge beam; Two crew members injured
Officials say two Norfolk Southern employees were taken to the hospital, and the truck driver was not hurt.
BLET News
Ballots mailed in tentative agreement with South Buffalo Railway
Ballots were mailed on April 10 and will be counted on May 5, 2023. The three-year tentative agreement would provide a $1,000.00 signing bonus and general wage increases of 5.5% in 2023, 4.5% in 2024 and 4.0% in 2025.
Ohio governor signs two-person crew bill
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed the state’s $13.5 billion transportation budget into law on Friday, March 31. The bill includes a mandate for two-person train crews and other important rail safety measures in response to Norfolk Southern’s February 3 derailment and toxic chemical spill in East Palestine.
Teamsters Rail Conference holds first meeting of 2023
The Teamsters Rail Conference held its first Policy Committee meeting of 2023 on March 29 with the new leadership of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWED).
Historic milestone: Megan Mead first woman elected to BLET National office
“As we observe Women’s History Month, I salute Sister Mead for this significant accomplishment,” BLET National President Eddie Hall said. “Our union was founded in 1863, and this is the first time we have had a woman elected to serve at the National Division level. She should be proud of this historic milestone.”
Job announcement: Railroad Retirement Board is hiring
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is looking to hire qualified candidates for several open positions across the United States and for remote work positions.
Registration open for BLET’s Milwaukee regional meeting, June 26-30, 2023
Registration is now open for the BLET’s first regional meeting of 2023, which will be held at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center, June 26-30, 2023.
President Hall honors 40-year members John Tolman and Tom Pontolillo
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, March 27 — In a surprise ceremony today at BLET National Division headquarters, National President Eddie Hall recognized retired members John P. Tolman and Thomas A. Pontolillo Sr. for their contributions to the BLET and its members throughout...
One-person trains “make no sense” Senator Brown says
With the Norfolk Southern Rail Yard in Cleveland as a backdrop and leaders of the BLET by his side, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) held a news conference Monday calling for passage of the bipartisan Railway Safety Act of 2023.
Welcome aboard, Brother Gomez
Brother Jorge R. Gomez, a BNSF locomotive engineer and member of Division 264 in El Paso, Texas, has joined the BLET National Division staff as a full-time Special Representative. BLET National President Eddie Hall said his appointment became effective March 13, 2023
Registration open for Legislative Representative training class, June 5-9, 2023
The BLET Education & Training Department, in conjunction with the National Legislative Office, will conduct a class for BLET Division Legislative Representatives in Washington, D.C., from June 5-9, 2023.
