November 29, 2023 | Amtrak, News, Tentative Contract
As announced on November 10 (https://blet.link/47n02YO), the BLET has reached a tentative agreement for more than 1,400 locomotive engineers who operate Amtrak’s passenger and commuter trains. Ballots were mailed on November 15. Eligible members who have not received...
November 22, 2023 | Accident, Amtrak, Headlines
(Source: Associated Press, November 21, 2023) A 911 call center on Monday took some responsibility for an Amtrak train derailment last week in southwestern Michigan, saying it misidentified a crossing and contacted a different railroad to warn that a car was stuck on...
November 10, 2023 | Amtrak, Contract Negotiations, News, Tentative Contract
The BLET has reached a tentative contract agreement for more than 1,400 locomotive engineers who operate Amtrak’s passenger and commuter trains over its 21,000-mile, 46-state route system.The seven-year tentative agreement includes full retroactive payments dating to...
November 10, 2023 | Amtrak, Commuter Rail, Headlines
(Source: Urben Field Notes, October 26, 2023) On several rail-friendly corridors — big city pairs less than 300 miles apart — train travel will go from an eccentric travel option to a perfectly logical one. That vision of the not-so-distant future starts to...
November 8, 2023 | Amtrak, Commuter Rail, FRA, Headlines
(Source: Amtrak press release, November 6, 2023) Amtrak has been awarded nearly $10 billion in Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) funding from the Biden-Harris Administration to modernize critical infrastructure, improve stations and support future ridership growth...
November 6, 2023 | Amtrak, Commuter Rail, FRA, Headlines
Biden announces $16.4 billion for Amtrak rail improvements along Northeast Corridor (Source: CNN, November 6, 2023) President Joe Biden announced Monday the federal government will pump more than $16.4 billion into improving the nation’s busiest rail line. At an event...
November 3, 2023 | Amtrak, Headlines
(Source: The Hill, November 2, 2023) House Republicans are punting plans to vote on a housing and transportation government funding bill this week amid concerns from members over costs and Amtrak. Among the spending reductions outlined in a summary of the bill...
November 3, 2023 | Amtrak, BNSF, Fatality, Headlines, NTSB
(Source: Associated Press, November 2, 2023) The NTSB is focusing on BNSF’s inspection and maintenance practices after a fatal derailment in Colorado on October 15. Preliminary reports indicate a broken rail caused the crash. Poor track conditions have...
November 1, 2023 | Amtrak, Headlines, High Speed Rail, Legislation
(Source: Trains.com, October 31, 2023) The House of Representatives is set to vote Wednesday on an appropriations bill that would cut Amtrak funding by more than 60% and block federal support for the California high speed rail program. Even if the bill passes the...
October 13, 2023 | Amtrak, Commuter Rail, FRA, Headlines
(Source: Federal Railroad Administration press release, October 12, 2023) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced a final rule requiring the installation of inward- and outward-facing image recording devices on all passenger train lead...
