Rail Industry News
BNSF Q2 2022 profit up 10% amid 15% increase in freight revenues
Net income for the western U.S. railroad the second quarter of 2022 was $1.66 billion, compared with nearly $1.52 billion for the second quarter of 2021.
Lawmakers seek to ban railroads from raising rates during service emergencies
Railroads would be prohibited from raising prices during service emergencies under a legislative package introduced this week meant to address the delays and high costs that have dragged down shipper operations for months.
Patriot Rail to acquire fellow short line railroad Pioneer Lines
Jacksonville, Florida-based short line operator Patriot Rail has signed an agreement to acquire Denver-based Pioneer Lines from parent company BRX Transportation Holdings.
Canadian officials solicit public input on Lac-Megantic rail bypass project
Canada’s Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra yesterday announced details of a new public consultation on hydrology and measures to mitigate the potential impacts of the Lac-Megantic rail bypass project in Quebec.
SMART-TD President Ferguson: The truth behind the need for two person crews
In an August 5 message, SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson counters rail industry propaganda regarding the FRA’s proposed rule that would require two-person train crews.
Fed up rail workers rally in Galesburg as potential national strike looms
Last month, for The Real News, I reported on the egregious working conditions that rail workers on Class I freight railroads are facing, including punitive and inhumane attendance policies, chronic understaffing (after rail companies collectively laid off 30% of their workforce since 2015), stagnant wages, and dire safety threats as trains have gotten longer and heavier while rail carriers have simultaneously sought to reduce crew sizes down to one person.
NS Director Jim Squires sells $26.2 million in company stock
Norfolk Southern Co. Director James A. Squires sold 105,420 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 2. The stock was sold at an average price of $248.81, for a total value of $26,229,550.20.
STB publishes draft Environmental Impact Statement in CP-KCS merger
The Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis determined the only potential adverse impacts of Canadian Pacific’s proposed merger with Kansas City Southern would be train noise, according to the STB’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement released Friday.
Berkshire Hathaway reports $44 billion loss but its businesses thrive
Berkshire said operating profits were up at all of its major units including its insurance companies, major utilities and BNSF Railway.
After “near death” experience, Amtrak prepares for rapid growth
Two years ago, Amtrak was facing a “near-death” experience, Stephen Gardner, CEO of the national passenger rail service, said at a briefing last week with the Association for a Better New York. Now, the agency is seeing an unprecedented demand for Amtrak seats.
Skagit County transfer station still struggling with lack of service from BNSF
Weeks after Skagit County had to shut down its transfer station because of unreliable service from BNSF Railway, little has been done to fix the problem. Without a consistent train schedule, garbage piles up at the station. Counties in the region are looking to BNSF for answers, but aren’t hearing solutions.
STB chairman says higher pay would help solve railroad crew shortages
“The railroads are not offering sufficient rewards – a combination of quality of life and compensation – to keep people there. There’s a price at which people will stay,” Oberman says.
Federal regulators welcome input from rank-and-file railroaders amid widespread service problems
Union leaders routinely comment on matters such as mergers, line spinoffs, and labor protection issues. But Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin J. Oberman and former chairman Daniel Elliott II, who served on the board from 2009-2017, say they couldn’t recall ever hearing from rank-and-file workers before.
BNSF set to reopen one line of Southern Transcon after derailment
BNSF Railway has told customers it expects to reopen one of two tracks this morning (Thursday, Aug. 4) on its Southern Transcon main line at the site of a Tuesday derailment in East Galesburg.
Teamsters edge closer to a national work stoppage at Costco
Costco Teamsters are one step closer to a nationwide work stoppage following another day of contentious negotiations for a new national contract.
As East Coast ports take more share of China trade, expect more bottlenecks for supply chain
Port productivity remains a huge hurdle for the U.S. supply chain as billions of dollars of products are at anchor or landlocked, and a shift to use of East Coast ports over West Coast ports creates new pressures.
AAR reports rail traffic for July and the week ending July 30, 2022
Total U.S. carload traffic for the first seven months of 2022 was 6,900,820 carloads, down 0.1 percent, or 6,610 carloads, from the same period last year; and 7,912,632 intermodal units, down 5.8 percent, or 485,376 containers and trailers, from last year.
Four U.S. legislators back CP-KCS merger
Four federal legislators — three from Missouri and one from Kansas — have told regulators that they back the proposed Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger.
Unifor members ratify labor contracts with VIA Rail
Unifor National Council 4000 and Local 100 members employed by VIA Rail Canada Inc. have ratified new collective-bargaining agreements that provide a wage increase and work flexibility.
Rail and port labor issues adding to supply chain misery, expert says
The struggle by the freight railroads and their unions to reach consensus on a labor agreement comes at a time when it is already anyone’s guess how existing challenges in the supply chain will play out over the next several months.
BLET News
Eric Gabaldon, Brendan Sullivan join BLET National Legislative Office
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, November 2 — BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce today announced that he has appointed two BLET members to serve in key roles at the Union’s National Legislative Office in Washington, D.C. Brother Eric A. Gabaldon of Division 400 (Albuquerque,...
Cunningham reelected BNSF (former ATSF) General Chairman
Brother M. Robby Cunningham was reelected by acclamation to his second term as General Chairman of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (former ATSF) General Committee of Adjustment at the GCA’s quadrennial meeting in San Diego, California, October 4-7, 2021.
Nevada SLB Chairman Matt Parker reelected to third term
Matthew B. Parker was reelected by acclamation to his third term as Chairman of the Nevada State Legislative Board at the Board’s quadrennial meeting on September 16, 2021.
Unions counter Norfolk Southern COVID vaccine mandate
On October 29, 2021, the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART-TD) and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) responded to the suit Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) filed against them on October 21, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Chicago Division.
Unions file for injunctions against NS
The BLET and the SMART–TD escalated their fight against Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) to stop the railroad from forcing locomotive engineers to work as conductors, and for disciplining those who don’t.
Rail Workers’ Right to Choose Medical Network Upheld
The decision is a major victory for railroad workers covered by national agreement health care plans, as their bargained-for right to choose their own medical network remains intact.
Unions join to fight Union Pacific on COVID orders
The Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART-TD) and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) are jointly taking on Union Pacific Railroad (UP) over a series of unilateral and unlawful actions taken by the carrier recently.
RRB Labor Member update: Field Offices remain closed, FAQs available
The following is a message to Rail Labor from John Bragg, Labor Member of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board.
Open enrollment for 2022 Health FSA to run from October 1-31, 2021
From now until midnight on October 31, 2021, you can enroll or change your Medical or Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA) benefit selections for the 2022 benefit year.
Unions join together to thwart Norfolk Southern’s effort to eliminate train service crafts
The BLET) and SMART-TD have joined forces to defeat efforts by Norfolk Southern to supplant the train service crafts of conductors and brakemen by calling locomotive engineers to work their assignments.
