Rail Industry News
Two coal train derailments this weekend: one on UP, the other on CN
wo separate and unrelated coal train derailments occurred this weekend.
Metrolink system would stop trains during earthquakes
The transportation rail system Metrolink announced this week it is equipping some of its trains with a new earthquake warning system that can automatically slow or halt travel during a temblor.
STB sets Q3 2022 Rail Cost Adjustment Factor
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has set the third-quarter 2022 RCAF (Rail Cost Adjustment Factor), described as “an index formulated to represent changes in railroad costs incurred by the nation’s largest railroads over a specified period of time.”
12 rail unions and NCCC enter cooling-off period
Absent agreements or the establishment of a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB), the parties could exercise Self-Help as of 12:01 a.m. EDT, July 18, 2022.
IBEW workers on strike at CN in Canada
CN workers have gone on strike after failing to reach an agreement on Saturday over benefits and wages, according to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers lead negotiator.
UP hit with STB emergency service order for California poultry, feed producer
The emergency service order, issued in response to a plea this week from Foster Farms, directs UP to give preference and priority to unit trains bound for Foster’s facilities at Turlock and Traver, Calif.
Cleanup underway after massive UP coal train derailment in Kansas
Just after 5p.m. Friday, coal cars detached from an engine on Union Pacific tracks at North 1900 Road, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s office.
Drone’s infrared camera helps check derailed rail cars for fire near Lawrence, Kansas
A drone’s infrared technology was used this weekend to help check for dangerous hot spots after about 40 rail cars of a Union Pacific Corp. coal train derailed near Lawrence, police said in a release.
Sen. Hoeven presses BNSF over backlog of rail cars
North Dakota’s senior senator is concerned about the backlog of rail cars in North Dakota and has called on Burlington Northern Santa Fe’s chief executive officer to continue working on the issue.
Blocked crossings become daily occurrence in Houston’s Fifth Ward, East
Workers like Jesse Torres, along with people going to school or work are forced to wait sometimes past eight hours as 100 trains a day from three different railroad companies block intersections, blow loud horns and even park trains behind homes while hauling goods as they pass through.
IBEW threatens strike at CN in Canada
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) has notified CN of its intention to strike as of 11 a.m. ET on July 18, the Class I railroad reported June 15.
FRA requiring railroads to submit worker fatigue management plans
The Federal Railroad Administration is now requiring the Class I railroads, Amtrak and commuter railroads to include fatigue risk management plans as part of their larger system safety and risk reduction programs.
FTA orders safety improvements to Boston’s transit-rail system
The Federal Transit Administration yesterday ordered the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to take immediate action on safety issues at the greater Boston transit agency.
LIRR, Metro-North set new pandemic-era ridership records
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced this week that Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad set new pandemic-era ridership records on June 14.
AAR reports rail traffic for week ending June 11, 2022
For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 510,295 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.6 percent compared with the same week last year.
STB calls “time out” in Mobile slugfest
The issue was how much infrastructure would have to be built before Amtrak can run two daily round trips between New Orleans and Mobile.
Railroad talks stall, so Biden likely to pick review board
Railroad contract talks remain deadlocked after more than two years of negotiations, so President Joe Biden will likely soon have to appoint a board to help settle the dispute.
For House Rail Subcommittee, an earful on safety
The aim: for members “to hear from government and stakeholder witnesses about the state of freight rail safety and issues pertinent to keeping rail operations, rail workers and communities safe.”
Class I railroads slammed over gaps in rail service recovery plans
The Surface Transportation Board is criticizing the four major U.S. Class I railroads for not providing enough pertinent information on their rail service recovery plans, and it is asking the railroads to supplement what they have already provided.
Rail traffic down for 16th straight week
U.S. freight rail traffic dipped again in Week 23, compared with the prior-year period, as carloads were down 2.8% and intermodal fell 4.4%.
BLET News
FRA grants unions’ request for longer-term extension to file certification petitions
In response to a series of joint petitions by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on February 11 granted a longer-term waiver, providing a 60-day extension to time limits in which certain petitions for review must be filed with the Operating Crew Review Board (OCRB). Previously, the unions had secured a series of waivers, which date back to April 7, 2020.
Canadian Pacific looking to hire certified conductors
The Canadian Pacific Railway/DM&E is looking to hire certified conductors to work out of: Mason City, Iowa; Marquette, Iowa; Davenport, Iowa; Ottumwa, Iowa; Savanna, Ill.; and Kansas City, Mo.
Reminder: Hoffa scholarship deadline is March 1
As a reminder, the deadline for the 2021 James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund (JRHMSF) Academic and Vocational/ Training Program scholarship applications is March 1.
BLET members ratify new contract with Pan Am Railways
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with Pan Am Railways.
Teamsters and 18 other unions endorse two for NMB
On January 26, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, representing Rail and Airline Teamsters, and 18 other unions sent a letter to President Joe Biden and Democratic U.S. Senate leaders Chuck Schumer and Patty Murray reminding the president that appointing new members to the National Mediation Board (NMB) should be prioritized. The unions endorsed the appointment of Deirdre Hamilton and the reappointment of Linda Puchala to the board.
Retired Amtrak Vice General Chairman “Mac” McDowell, 1951-2021
The BLET National Division sends deepest condolences to the family and friends of Brother Craig A. “Mac” McDowell, who lost his battle with cancer on January 21, 2021. Brother McDowell faithfully served the BLET membership for many years as Vice General Chairman of the Amtrak General Committee of Adjustment. He was 69 years old.
BLET reaches tentative agreement with Bombardier for MARC engineers
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative agreement with Bombardier Transportation Services (BTS). The agreement covers rates of pay, benefits and work rules for 15 members who work for Bombardier’s Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) passenger line operating between Martinsburg, W.Va. and Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Md.
2021 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 2021 BLET Scholarship Directory.
Coordinated Bargaining Coalition Update
The Rail Unions comprising the Coordinated Bargaining Coalition (CBC), negotiating together in the current round of National Negotiations, issued a statement on January 22.
Allen reelected to third term as Washington SLB Chairman
Brother Shahraim C. Allen was reelected by acclamation to his third term as Chairman of the Washington State Legislative Board at the Board’s quadrennial meeting on December 10, 2020.
