Rail Industry News
Report shows contamination in Houston’s Fifth Ward cancer cluster worse than anyone thought
There’s a shocking new bombshell about the cancer cluster in Houston’s Fifth Ward and Kashmere Gardens.
STB chairman “not optimistic” about pace of rail service improvement
Surface Transportation Board Chairman Marty Oberman expressed doubt that the four major U.S. Class I railroads could ramp up rail service and reach the service targets they laid out by December.
Chemical shippers tell STB rail performance has yet to improve
“To date, steps by Class I railroads to boost hiring and other measures have not translated into meaningful service improvements,” the American Chemistry Council (ACC) told the Surface Transportation Board (STB) in an update earlier this month on rail challenges and their impact on U.S. chemical producers.
Why the labor dispute doesn’t seem to matter to railroads
The railroads are most certainly watching midterm elections that will alter current congressional majorities, and they have their eye focused on the U.S. Supreme Court. It is virtually impossible to believe that the lineup of a conservative-leaning SCOTUS will support reregulation, price controls or more rail service oversight.
CP, TCRC arbitration ends with new two-year contract
Canadian Pacific Railway Limited today announced a new two-year collective agreement with the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) – Train and Engine following binding arbitration.
CN to STB: CP acknowledges divestiture of KCS line would increase competition
CN states how its proposal for the divestiture of KCS track to CN between Kansas City, Missouri, and Springfield and East St. Louis, Illinois, would — in CN’s view — create greater competition through the development of a new single-line service between eastern Canada, Detroit, Chicago and Kansas City.
CP-KCS merger gets clearance from Committee on Foreign Investment in U.S.
Canadian Pacific Railway Limited today announced it has received the required regulatory clearance from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”) for the proposed combination of CP and Kansas City Southern (“KCS”).
Kansas residents say railroads “just don’t care” after years of blocked crossings
After years of being blocked in their homes by trains for hours on end, a small Butler County neighborhood says that no matter what they do or who they call, nothing ever changes.
Railroads ignore train crew complaints at their own peril: Analysis
The union-management pot, which is normally set on simmer, is boiling over at the big four U.S. Class I railroads. And it’s prompting railroaders — even those with 10, 15, or 20 years of experience — to pull the pin before they’ve reached retirement age.
Freight rail unions and carriers running out of time to avoid strike that could cripple national supply chain
Currently, The United Rail Unions and a group representing the seven Class 1 freight carriers (National Railway Labor Conference) are waiting on a non-binding recommendation from a Presidential Emergency Board, summoned by President Biden in an attempt to hold off a strike.
California high-speed rail wins $25 million U.S. grant, seeks $1.3 billion more
California’s High-Speed Rail Authority said Thursday it won $25 million in new federal grant funding to advance its project beyond 119 miles under construction, while pursuing an additional $1.3 billion award.
Crew members sue NS over 2021 derailment
Two Norfolk Southern Railway employees who were controlling a train that derailed on East Carson Street in Baldwin in December are suing their company.
Cleanup continues in Galesburg following August 2 BNSF derailment
The State Street railroad crossing in East Galesburg remains closed until further notice after a BNSF freight train carrying 18 cars derailed here Aug. 2.
City of Palestine seeks rehearing after federal court rules for UP over employment provision
The city of Palestine and Anderson County are asking for the United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit in New Orleans, to rehear a motion seeking declaratory relief filed by Union Pacific.
AAR reports rail traffic for the week ending August 6, 2022
For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 496,526 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.6 percent compared with the same week last year.
FRA Administrator Bose: Safety is first
Federal Railroad Administrator Amit Bose didn’t elaborate on the Rule of 2 that his agency recently put forth for the public to weigh in on, but he made it clear as he spoke on the second day of the SMART Leadership Conference that the lines of communication at his agency are open.
North Platte union leader: UP policies leading Bailey Yard veterans to quit
Bailey Yard workers are more prone to give up on railroading after three years of layoffs followed by COVID-19, a North Platte rail union leader told an AFL-CIO virtual “town hall” last week.
Davenport aldermen approve $10 million agreement in CP-KCS merger
If a merger between two North American rail companies is approved by a federal board, Davenport will receive up to $10 million from the new company under an agreement aldermen unanimously approved Wednesday.
Carloads, intermodal down for the week ending August 6, 2022
U.S. carloads and intermodal traffic declined for Week 31 (the week ending Aug. 6, 2022), the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported on Aug. 10, with intermodal dropping more than carload.
Preliminary NTSB report says maintenance equipment turned in front of Amtrak train in July collision
Video from a locomotive camera shows that the operator of a Union Pacific maintenance-of-way vehicle turned in front of an Amtrak train and fouled the track just prior to a July collision in Oakland, according to the National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report on the July 15 accident.
BLET News
BLET members ratify contract with Metra
On February 7, 2022, members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with Metra (the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation, or NIRCRC).
2022 BLET Scholarship Directory
Each year, the BLET National Division compiles a list of scholarship opportunities available to the children of BLET members. Numerous financial aid opportunities are published here in the 2022 BLET Scholarship Directory.
BLET asks members to participate in fatigue research study
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), working in collaboration with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, is asking locomotive engineers and conductors to participate in a confidential survey regarding fatigue.
BLET, SMART-TD file Opposition to Preliminary Injunction in attendance dispute at BNSF
Yesterday, the BLET and SMART-TD filed their oppositions to BNSF’s request for the court to convert the January 25, 2022, Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) into a preliminary injunction. The unions each filed for their own preliminary injunctions against BNSF’s implementation of its new Hi Viz attendance policy last week on February 2.
BLET National Division launches improved website
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, February 7 — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has launched a new and improved website, www.ble-t.org. The redesigned website features a fresh look, daily news, improved navigation for easy access, an enhanced members-only...
Two online hazmat training classes for rail workers available in February, March
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, February 2 — The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Rail Workers Hazardous Materials Training Program, is offering two virtual classes in February and March 2022: a 10-hour OSHA General Industry Course and an 8-hour DOT...
BLET and SMART-TD seek immediate federal government investigation of carrier attendance policies
CLEVELAND, Ohio, (February 1, 2022) — By letter dated January 31, 2022, BLET and SMART-TD are seeking review by both the Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Transportation of all Class I attendance policies. In a joint letter to Labor Secretary Martin Walsh...
Update in BLET, SMART-TD attendance dispute at BNSF
BLET and SMART-TD on January 27 filed answers and counterclaims in the District Court seeking a Preliminary Injunction and Permanent Injunction against implementation of the BNSF’s Hi-Viz Policy.
BLET to conduct virtual training for Local Chairman
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, January 25 — The BLET Education and Training Department will conduct two virtual training classes for Local Chairman via Zoom from the BLET National Division headquarters in Independence, Ohio. Classes will be held February 22-24, 2022, and March...
Rail Labor’s largest coalition reaches dead end on path to voluntary agreement
After more than two years of bargaining with the major U.S. Class 1 railroads, discussions completely stalled last week.Accordingly, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Railway Labor Act, top leaders of 10 rail unions applied to theNational Mediation Board (NMB) for the assignment of a federal mediator to assist in our negotiations.
