Rail Industry News
Rail traffic down for 21st week in a row
U.S. rail traffic for the week ending July 16, 2022 (Week 28) was 498,899 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.8% from the same week last year.
In letter to STB, UP engineer laments high level of misrouted freight cars
Pressure to reduce terminal dwell figures has prompted some Union Pacific yards to routinely depart trains that include misrouted cars simply to get them moving, a UP engineer alleges in a letter sent to federal regulators.
CSX’s Foote: Blaming PSR for rail problems is “nonsense”
“If I had the decision to make over again … we would have never laid off an employee,” CSX CEO Jim Foote said.
STB receives an earful on CP-KCS merger
The Surface Transportation Board has been receiving testimony on the proposed merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern — and it’s been an earful.
Half of Kansas rail crossings lack signals, and some say that’s just the start of the safety problems
Crossing railway tracks is a daily fact of life in most Kansas communities. The industry is a key part of the state’s history and lore, from its status as the terminus of the Chisholm Trail and a crucial waypoint for cattle drivers to the freight companies that have borne the name of Kansas cities for decades.
UP starts returning its rail cars to service
Union Pacific Railroad is beginning to “strategically and gradually” return some of its rail cars to the network, as the Class I continues to work on improving freight-rail service, a UP executive informed customers late last week.
Members appointed to PEB No. 250
President Biden has appointed the following members to Emergency Board 250: Ira F. Jaffe, Chairman; Barbara C. Denhardt, Member; and David P. Twomey, Member.
Rail workers push to strike. Here’s why they’re angry.
NBC News talked to more than 10 current and former workers about the conditions on the rails. All of the current workers said they supported a stoppage.
Unions and railroad carriers in labor battle as strike looms
All of the nation’s major railroad carriers are currently in a heated labor negotiation with around a dozen unions representing the workers.
Class I railroads expect intermodal boost after several disruptive supply-chain kinks smooth out
Similar to the massive fluctuations in the U.S. stock market over the past few months, there have been colossal highs and lows in the North American intermodal sector of late.
Railroad cargo backups threaten new logjam, Los Angeles port chief says
Railroads and importers must remove cargo that is stacking up at the nation’s busiest seaport in Los Angeles to avoid exacerbating supply chain congestion, the port chief said on Wednesday.
CP, KCS say their merger should get green light from regulators
Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern — responding to critics, skeptics, and opponents — told federal regulators this week that their proposed merger is in the public interest and should be approved.
Three injured when Amtrak train strikes UP on-track maintenance vehicle in California
Three people were injured after an Amtrak Capitol Corridor train hit on-track maintenance equipment late Friday morning, disrupting rail service for several hours.
Amtrak to STB: Deny CN’s responsive application
Amtrak is calling on the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to deny CN’s conditions to the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger.
BNSF claims CP-KCS merger will throw Houston terminal into gridlock
Projected traffic increases from the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger will put the critical Houston terminal into gridlock, BNSF Railway has warned federal regulators this week, citing a new analysis.
Two crew members injured as NS train derails in South Carolina
Two Norfolk Southern crew members were injured when their train derailed Monday morning, according to the Columbia Fire Department.
CN sees slight traffic gain in Q2 2022 while other big systems see volume declines
Canadian National was the only one of the big six railroads to gain traffic in 2022’s second quarter. CN’s traffic was up 0.4%, essentially flat compared to last year’s second quarter.
Railroad workers call for better wages, working conditions at rally in Lincoln
Many at the rally expressed concerns of how their current wages are not keeping up with inflation and the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Railroaders rally for new contract
Railroad workers across the country have been working without a contract since 2019. They are pushing for better pay, change in their harsh attendance policies, and further issues affecting railroad workers, their families, and their community.
BNSF workers call Hi-Viz “a brutal policy”
In February, BNSF instituted an attendance policy known as Hi-Viz, which drew immediate criticism from employees and railroad unions.
BLET News
Amtrak General Chairman Mark Kenny reelected by acclamation
Mark B. Kenny was reelected by acclamation to his seventh term as General Chairman at the Amtrak General Committee of Adjustment’s fifth quadrennial meeting, which was held May 19-20, 2021.
On the Right Track: 2021 Triennial Election manual now online
The 2021 edition of “On the Right Track,” the Local Division nomination and election procedure manual, is now available for download from the Members’ Area of the BLET website and, for those Officers who have access, the document is also accessible in the Document Library in UnionTrack.
RRB Labor Member reminds railroaders about importance of Form BA-6
The following is a message to Rail Labor from John Bragg, Labor Member of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board.
Registration ongoing for BLET regional meetings in Austin, Nashville
Registration remains ongoing for the BLET’s two regional meetings taking place in 2021: July 12-16 in Austin, Texas; and August 2-6 in Nashville, Tennessee. For both meetings, CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19 protocols will be strictly enforced to protect the health and safety of everyone in attendance.
Lyons reelected CSX-Northern Lines General Chairman
William P. Lyons was reelected by acclamation to his third full term as Chairman of the CSX-Northern Lines General Committee of Adjustment at its quadrennial meeting in Pittsburgh, Pa., held May 4-6, 2021.
Members can view RRB pre-retirement seminar information online
The Office of the Labor Member had announced that the RRB””””s 2021 Pre-Retirement Seminar presentation is now available to view online.
Open enrollment for the BLET Critical Illness and Accident Insurance
The BLET is constantly searching for ways to add value to our membership, through initiatives like our Benefits of Belonging Program. The BLET Critical Illness (CI) and Accident Insurance (ACC) Plan has been an important part of that program. We are pleased to inform you that the Open Enrollment for these important benefits has begun and is open to all active, dues paying members of the BLET and their families.
Registration open for BLET’s Nashville regional meeting, August 2-6, 2021
The BLET is pleased to announce that registration is now open for its second regional meeting of 2021, which will be held in Nashville, Tennessee, August 2-6, 2021. CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19 protocols will be strictly enforced to protect the health and safety of everyone in attendance.
BLET to mark 158th anniversary on May 8
On May 8, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) will mark its 158th anniversary. The union was founded as the Brotherhood of the Footboard on May 8, 1863. In 1864, the union changed its name to Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE), the name it retained for 140 years until merging with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters on January 1, 2004, when it became the BLET. The BLET is the oldest labor union in the Western Hemisphere.
Two online hazmat training classes for rail workers available in May
The Rail Workers Hazardous Materials Training Program is offering two virtual class in May: a Disaster Recovery/Response Course; and a DOT Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety and Security Course.
