Rail Industry News
KCS touts shovel-ready industrial sites in U.S. South, Mexico
Kansas City Southern is letting customers know that it has created an industrial development program for companies seeking shovel-ready sites near its network in the U.S. and Mexico.
NCFO President Dean Devita issues a statement regarding national freight negotiations
Since the Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) #250, the NCFO has been asked to comment concerning this situation. This is a sensitive time in negotiations and we don’t believe in bargaining in the press, social media, or a microphone in the streets.
BMWED provides national freight bargaining update
On September 2nd, the National Mediation Board issued a notice to the carriers and the various Unions, including BMWED, instructing the parties that have not reached a tentative agreement to attend meetings beginning on September 7th and continuing through September 9th. These meetings are to be facilitated by the NMB.
UP train derails in Arkansas
Eleven cars of a Union Pacific train derailed early Tuesday morning, closing two streets in central Jonesboro, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports.
Amtrak, freight railroads maintain positions in latest Gulf Coast filings
The latest round of filings in the Amtrak Gulf Coast dispute essentially find the parties stating their old arguments in new ways.
STB extends public comment period for proposed CP-KCS merger draft Environmental Impact Statement
In response to a request from affected communities for additional time to provide comments, OEA has extended the public comment period to October 14, 2022. Public comments were originally due on September 26, 2022.
LeClaire approves settlement as Camanche opposes CP-KCS merger
LeClaire joined a growing list of Quad City Area governments approving settlements with Canadian Pacific on Tuesday.
Second KCS U.S./Mexico border bridge getting closer
Construction is expected to start in October or November on a second Kansas City Southern international rail bridge at the U.S./Mexico border connecting the border cities of Laredo, Tex. and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.
STB says five of seven Class I railroads were “revenue adequate” last year
Five of the seven Class I railroads operating in the U.S. were revenue adequate in 2021, the Surface Transportation Board said on Tuesday.
AFL-CIO announces largest ever voter mobilization ahead of midterms
The AFL-CIO on Friday launched an organizing drive that will aim to connect more than 100,000 volunteers with nearly 8 million voters ahead of November’s midterms.
UP derailment in Iowa spills asphalt into creek
A Union Pacific train derailed early Monday morning in Hampton, Iowa, impacting approximately 44 train cars and spilling asphalt into a creek.
Universities’ research aims to make railroads climate resilient
While the rail industry is accustomed to seasonal disruptions such as winter blizzards, the possibility of even more extreme weather events as a result of climate change takes disruption threats to a new level.
Transport Canada seeks adviser for high-frequency rail routes
Transport Canada this week announced the next phase of the High Frequency Rail project, which will explore options to increase the frequency of passenger-rail service, improve on-time performance and shorten travel times in southwestern Ontario.
KCS Holiday Express returns to the rails for 2022
Kansas City Southern (KCS) announced today the first return to the rails of the KCS Holiday Express train since the start of the pandemic in 2020.
Judge lets sexual harassment case go forward on woman conductor’s allegations against BNSF
A civil rights lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission can go forward on a female train conductor’s claims she faced a barrage of sexual harassment on a near daily basis while working at BNSF Railway’s Alliance rail yard.
IBEW reaches tentative agreement with NCCC
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers has reached a tentative agreement with the National Carriers’ Conference Committee, representing most Class I Freight Railroads in collective bargaining.
TCU/IAM reaches tentative agreement with NCCC
Today, TCU/IAM reached a Tentative Agreement with the National Carrier’s Conference Committee (NCCC). This Agreement will now go out for ratification by the members.
BMWED provides national freight rail bargaining update
BMWED-IBT National Division officers, General Chairpersons, and staff met in Washington, D.C. this week with the National Carriers Conference Committee for three days of continued bargaining in the wake of the Presidential Emergency Board 250’s recommendations. No tentative agreement was reached.
BRS publishes collective bargaining update
The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, which represents more than 6,500 members working on the nation’s freight railroads in national collective bargaining, issued the following statement today regarding PEB 250 recommendations:
Alabama train engineer indicted in death of worker on rails
A train engineer who was allegedly chatting on video when his locomotive struck heavy equipment on the tracks in south Alabama, killing a Mississippi man, was charged with reckless manslaughter in the crash, court documents show. The engineer worked for the Alabama Export Railroad at the time of the collision.
BLET News
BLET launches electronic delivery of publications
BLET members who prefer to receive the publications in print will continue to do so; those who don’t can update their preferences to view the publications in electronic-only format.
Trumble reelected to fourth term as Michigan State Legislative Board Chairman
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, March 29 — B.J. Trumble was reelected by acclamation to his fourth term as Chairman of the Michigan State Legislative Board at the Board’s Fifth Quadrennial meeting in Lansing, Michigan, March 7-9, 2022. A CN/Grand Trunk Western locomotive...
Union Solidarity, More Important Now than Ever
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President (BLET Editor’s Note: The following message from President Pierce has been excepted from the January-March 2022 issue of the Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen News.) INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, March 28 — In the piece that I wrote...
BLET, SMART-TD pursue arbitration to resolve Hi-Viz dispute
After thoroughly examining all possible avenues to best continue the Unions’ fight against the BNSF Hi-Viz attendance policy, BLET and SMART TD announced today that they will proceed as expeditiously as possible to arbitration over the policy.
Video of Pierce House testimony now available
A video of BLET President Dennis Pierce’s recent testimony before the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous materials is now available.
BLET announces new appointments to Safety Task Force
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, March 23 — BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce today announced the appointments of nine members to the BLET Safety Task Force (STF), the rail industry’s first and oldest labor-based accident investigation team. National Secretary-Treasurer...
Pierce, Wallace and Joynt elected to lead Teamsters Rail Conference
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, March 17 — BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce was reelected by acclamation to his fourth term as President of the Teamsters Rail Conference at the Rail Conference’s Fifth Quadrennial Convention in Chicago on March 17, 2022. BLET National Vice...
President Pierce condemns PSR at House hearing
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce was highly critical of the so-called “Precision Scheduled Railroading” business model as he testified at a March 8 hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials.
President Pierce’s House testimony now available
The written testimony of BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce, who is testifying today before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials at a hearing titled “Stakeholder Views on Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization,” is now available on the BLET website.
President Pierce to testify at U.S. House hearing on March 8
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce will testify tomorrow, March 8, before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials at a hearing titled “Stakeholder Views on Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization.”
