Rail Industry News
Support for Freight Rail Shipping Fair Market Act grows as shippers demand relief from costly, unfair practices
The Freight Rail Shipping Fair Market Act has gained support from captured freight rail customers who stand to benefit from provisions that would create a more fair and competitive marketplace.
Weekly rail traffic increases for first time since February
After 22 consecutive weeks of total traffic declines, this is the first time a gain has been reported since the week ending Feb. 17, 2022.
House bill seeks to allow some online training of new railroad hires
An Ohio congressman has introduced a bill which would allow trainees for railroad jobs to complete some aspects of their training online.
BNSF freight train derails in East Galesburg; no injuries reported
The State Street railroad crossing in East Galesburg is closed as the result of a BNSF train derailment here Tuesday evening. No injuries were reported.
How the CP-KCS merger could impact Davenport businesses
The merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern continues to gain traction in the Quad Cities.
Railroads get off track in obsessing about profit margins
In pushing those margins over the past five years to a level that analysts most likely would have thought were unobtainable, the railroads have angered their customers with high prices and poor service and have alienated their workers, who complain they’re being overworked after the railroads cut their ranks as much as possible.
House bill would expand STB’s authority over railroad service
The Freight Rail Shipping Fair Market Act, introduced Tuesday, would give regulators more authority to deal with service emergencies, require railroads to include service standards in contracts with customers, and give shippers the ability to slap fees on railroads that delay privately owned freight cars.
Chairs Payne Jr., DeFazio, Scott, and Costa introduce Freight Rail Shipping Fair Market Act
This legislation will reauthorize the Surface Transportation Board (Board), the federal agency charged with the economic regulation of freight rail, and create a fair marketplace for the Class I freight railroads and their captured customers.
Chemical shippers support Congressional action to address rail service problems
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) welcomes the introduction of the Freight Rail Shipping Fair Market Act and calls on members of Congress to support its passage.
UP reactivates the hump at Davidson Yard in Fort Worth
Union Pacific has reactivated the hump at Davidson Yard in Fort Worth, Texas, to ease the burden on the classification yard at West Colton, Calif., where UP is expanding the small “pop-up” intermodal terminal it opened in the summer of 2021.
CN releases annual grain plan
CN has published its 2022-2023 grain plan, which describes the railroad’s preparations for moving a western Canadian grain crop that is expected to rebound from last year’s drought-impacted level.
Passenger rail briefs: Amtrak, NJ Transit, Government of Canada
Amtrak construction crews begin work to reactivate five Gulf Coast stations, with a groundbreaking event in Bay St. Louis, Miss. Also, NJ Transit and federal and state officials break ground on new Portal North Bridge, and the Govt. of Canada launches consultations on establishing permanent public transit funding.
Rail companies have been cutting costs to the bone, and workers are fed up
The rail companies have been very profitable as they’ve put these and other cuts into place, but they’ve continued to squeeze workers—and they’re making moves that could harm a lot of people beyond their own workers. In fact, many observers say the rail companies have contributed to supply chain problems as they’ve tried to cut costs to the bone.
Opinion: We’ve come full circle
While the pandemic had some impact, I believe our current situation is primarily the result of the industry having Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) thrown back in its face. Power storage? Worker layoffs? Sound familiar?
UPS Teamsters kick off contract fight
Teamster members at UPS have begun a nationwide call to action today with parking lot rallies, leafletting actions and other activities taking place at UPS centers throughout the country.
Host railroads to STB: Amtrak Gulf Coast service would “unreasonably” impair freight service
The launch of Amtrak Gulf Coast service without infrastructure improvements would cause “immediate and future impairment to freight service that is unreasonable under any definition,” CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern argue in their latest filing with the Surface Transportation Board.
Amtrak to STB: Gulf Coast service won’t “unreasonably” impair freight service
Amtrak late last week filed with the Surface Transportation Board a supplemental brief and evidence in the railroad’s quest to relaunch passenger-rail service along the Gulf Coast.
Railroad workers rally Saturday in Galesburg
The workers and unions have been negotiating with rail companies since late 2019. The freight train workers said they want higher wages, better hours and to be treated respectfully.
Transport Canada wants specifics on how railways will manage equipment in winter
Transport Canada is now requiring railway companies to submit winter operating plans for their equipment, including how the railways will manage the maintenance of air brakes in very cold temperatures, as part of a broader effort to improve rail safety.
Q&A: RRB financial reports
As required by law, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) submits annual financial reports to Congress on the financial condition of the railroad retirement and railroad unemployment insurance systems. These reports must include recommendations for any financing changes that may be advisable to ensure the solvency of the systems. In June, the RRB submitted its financial reports on the railroad retirement and railroad unemployment insurance systems.
BLET News
Coordinated Bargaining Coalition Update
In January, we said that “the Rail Carriers have not made any proposals worthy of consideration by the membership of the CBC Unions.” No Carrier proposals have beenreceived since our January 2021 update that would change the veracity of that statement.
Donate to Teamsters Disaster Relief to help victims of Hurricane Ida
Through its Disaster Relief Fund, the Teamsters provide needed relief and outreach to our members, and we need your help in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. You can help your fellow members in their time of need by donating needed supplies.
BLET’s Washington D.C. Legislative Board concludes 5th quadrennial meeting
On July 27, 2021, members of the BLET’s District of Columbia State Legislative Board convened their 5th quadrennial meeting at the International Brotherhood of Teamsters headquarters in Washington, D.C. Brother Herbert Harris Jr. was reelected by acclamation to a fifth consecutive term as Chairman.
Special Open Enrollment for the BLET Critical Illness and Accident Insurance
The Benefits of Belonging to the BLET include numerous legal and contractual advantages, as well as certain benefits available only to members of our Brotherhood and their families. Among these is the BLET Critical Illness (CI) and Accident Insurance (ACC) Plan.
Resources for those impacted by current disasters and emergencies
The following health and wellness resources are available to members covered by The Railroad Employees National Health and Welfare (GA-23000) Plan or The National Railway Carriers and United Transportation Union (NRC/UTU) Health and Welfare (GA-690100) Plan, who are currently impacted by declared disasters and emergencies (such as hurricanes, wildfires and floods).
Labor Day 2021
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President Labor Day is dedicated to protecting the social and economic achievements of American workers. It is also an annual national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our nation.
Save the date: 2022 BLET regional meetings
The BLET National Division is pleased to announce the dates and locations of its 2022 regional meetings: June 13-17 in Denver, Colorado; and August 1-5 in Baltimore, Maryland.
BLET opens Nashville regional meeting
More than 300 members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and their families convened in Nashville, Tennessee, on the morning of August 3 for opening ceremonies of the BLET’s second regional meeting of 2021.
BLET members ratify new contract with PATH
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH), which governs rates of pay, work rules, and health care for over 175 members.
Kerley reelected General Chairman of CSXT-Western Lines
Keith Kerley was reelected by acclamation to his second term as General Chairman of the BLET’s CSXT Western Lines General Committee of Adjustment at the GCA’s quadrennial meeting on July 13-14,2021.
