Rail Industry News
BNSF says California congestion relief project moving forward
BNSF is advancing a project to expedite the flow of trains at its San Bernardino (Calif.) Intermodal Facility.
Railroads predicted to be looming bottleneck
Widely reported excess freight from China due to shutdowns appears over-hyped, and a potential upcoming backlog (which is expected to arrive in the last week of June) is likely from inventory pull-forward, equipment challenges, and a challenged rail network.
Cost pressures prompt Union Pacific to reduce financial outlook
Union Pacific has lowered its financial expectations for this year in light of rising fuel prices, inflation, and the impact of its sluggish operations.
Settled: Amtrak Cascades 2017 derailment case
A settlement has been reached more than four years after Amtrak Cascades train 501, on its inaugural Point Defiance Bypass run, derailed in DuPont, Wash., as it entered a 30-mph curve at approximately 79 mph.
NS marks 40 years at NYSE
Norfolk Southern (NS) on June 7 marked the 40th anniversary of the merger that created the Class I railroad.
California congresswoman urges STB to reject CP-KCS merger
U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., has urged the Surface Transportation Board to reject the proposed Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger, arguing that the first Class I combination in two decades would stifle competition.
Rail unions seek release
The rail unions bargaining as part of the Coordinated Bargaining Coalition (CBC) and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way/SMART Mechanical Coalition are calling on the National Mediation Board (NMB) to “put forth a proffer of arbitration,” following the second week of compulsory joint NMB-mediated negotiations with the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC).
Congestion concerns rise amid severe labor shortages on U.S. railroads
CSX is turning away business. The Class I rail company is struggling to meet demand, acknowledged CEO Jim Foote. He blamed the problems on shortages in manpower, saying that the company has struggled to recruit sufficient staff.
Railroad service failures may lead to ballot shortage in advance of fall elections
If you thought freight rail service was bad, we learned recently that it could pose a real threat to the upcoming elections this fall because of the railroads’ failure to deliver in time the kind of paper needed for ballots.
Canada’s Minister of Transport announces new measures to improve track safety
The Government of Canada is continuing to move ahead with concrete actions which improve railway track safety to better protect those living and working near Canada’s rail corridors.
Analysis: Railroads’ automotive carloads show signs of improvement
Class I railroads are hauling more automotive carloads, a possible sign that the auto sector’s supply chain is improving.
Norfolk Southern CEO sells $241,840 in company stock
Norfolk Southern Co. CEO Alan H. Shaw sold 1,000 shares of Norfolk Southern stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 1.
AAR reports traffic for May and the week ending May 28, 2022
Combined U.S. carload and intermodal originations in May 2022 were 2,031,300, down 4 percent, or 85,079 carloads and intermodal units from May 2021.
FRA announces over $368 million in grants for 46 projects in 32 states to improve rail infrastructure
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today announced over $368 million in Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program funds to 46 projects in 32 states and the District of Columbia.
CSX-Pan Am merger complete
CSX on June 1 reported completion of its Pan Am Railways, Inc., acquisition, six weeks after the Class I railroad received regulatory approval from the Surface Transportation Board (STB). Transaction terms were not disclosed.
AAR: U.S. rail traffic down for 14th week in a row
This is the 14th consecutive week that total traffic has declined. (Total traffic gains were last seen in Week 7, which ended Feb. 17, 2022.)
Gov. Hochul announces new LIRR terminal in Midtown Manhattan, will be named Grand Central Madison
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the 700,000-square-foot Long Island Rail Road terminal nearing completion below Grand Central Terminal and Madison Avenue from 43rd Street to 48th Street will be named Grand Central Madison.
Railroad Retirement Board resumes in-person service
Effective April 25, 2022, the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is offering in-person appointments at its nationwide network of 53 field offices.
CSX, NS call Amtrak request for more Gulf Coast information “irrelevant, unhelpful”
Amtrak’s continuing effort to gain access to data relating to freight traffic on the route of its proposed Gulf Coast passenger service has drawn strong protest from CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern
Railroad delays stifle corn mill growth opportunity
U.S. corn wet mills that produce key ingredients for food are seeing their opportunity for growth and a chance to steal back market share from China stifled because of persistent railroad delays that have become the focus of intense criticism on Capitol Hill and the White House.
BLET News
August 4 update from Railroad Retirement Board’s Labor Member regarding China investments
By John Bragg, Labor Member of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board I want to reiterate that our trust fund is stable and NRRIT’s investments are producing the returns needed to ensure the stability of the fund well into the future.
United Rail Unions sue to block carriers from modifying Healthcare benefits without bargaining
On August 5, 2020, 12 rail unions whose members and their families are covered by the NRC/UTU Plan and the Railroad Employees National Health and Welfare Plan, filed suit against the nation’s Class I railroad carriers in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
Arbitrator approves replacing American crews with Mexican crews in Laredo
A three-year contract struggle against actions by Kansas City Southern Railway Company (KCS) and its affiliate Texas Mexican Railway (Tex-Mex) to replace BLET-represented crews that shuttled trains between Laredo Yard and the U.S.–Mexico border concluded on August 4th, when a majority of a Special Board of Adjustment (SBA) ruled in the Carriers’ favor.
BLET reaches tentative agreement with Pacific Harbor Line
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative agreement with Pacific Harbor Line (PHL). Ballots have been mailed to active members of the BLET employed by PHL who are eligible to vote in the ratification of this agreement.
Pierce elected Chairman of CRLO
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce has been elected Chairman of the Cooperating Railway Labor Organizations (CRLO) following the retirement of long-serving Chairman Robert A. Scardelletti. His election became effective on August 1, 2020.
Coordinated Bargaining Coalition: National Negotiations Update, July 31, 2020
Bargaining teams from 10 unions that make up the Coordinated Bar-gaining Coalition (CBC) for this round of national freight rail negotiations participated in a Zoom conference with National Railway Labor Conference (NRLC) Chairman Brendan Branon and participating Carrier representatives on July 28, 2020.
BLET, SMART-TD and ARLA urge Supreme Court to protect FELA
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), along with the SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD) and the Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys (ARLA), have filed a joint motion and brief urging the United States Supreme Court to prevent railroads from seeking property damages from their employees who are involved in railroad accidents.
Telephone service restored at BLET National Division
As a follow up, all BLET members and subordinate bodies are advised that the telephone and voice mail systems at the BLET National Division headquarters have been restored to normal. Thank you for your patience.
Temporary telephone outage at BLET National Division
All BLET members and subordinate bodies are advised that the telephone and voice mail systems at the BLET National Division are temporarily out of service due to an unexpected computer hardware malfunction. It is expected that full service will be restored near the close of business tomorrow, July 30, 2020.
Kansas DOT proposes safety rule requiring two-person train crews
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen is applauding the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) for proposing a statewide two-person crew regulation to help ensure safe train operations within the state.
