Rail Industry News
Federal agency mandates two-person train crews just weeks after Virginia gov. vetoes bill
Mark Wallace, First Vice President of the BLET, said: “The engineers are a lot of times hyper-focused on the controls, and what’s happening not only on the front of the train, but what’s happening in the middle and on the rear of the train. It’s very helpful, and we think, necessary to have a second crew person on the train with us.”
NS reports preliminary Q1 2024 results
In an outlook for Q1 earnings, which are to be released April 24, Norfolk Southern said adjusted earnings would come in at $2.49 a share and adjusted operating ratio would be 69.9%.
Lawyers want East Palestine residents to wait for details of $600 million derailment settlement
The lawyers who negotiated a $600 million settlement with Norfolk Southern over that railroad’s disastrous 2023 derailment in Ohio want residents to talk with them before deciding the historic deal isn’t enough.
NJ Transit board approves 15% fare hike
NJ Transit’s board convened Wednesday to vote on what would be its first fare hike in nearly a decade, a 15% increase that would take effect on the heels of New York City’s controversial congestion pricing tolls, if all goes according to plan.
$430 million improvement plan for PATH
The two-year program calls for the repair or replacement of infrastructure throughout the system, including rail cars, bridges, tracks and track switches.
NS reaches $600 million settlement to resolve East Palestine class-action lawsuits
But Norfolk Southern didn’t admit to any liability or wrongdoing as a result of the settlement.
Now trains must have two-person crews. Will that continue for airplanes?
Once the Department of Transportation (DOT) on Tuesday unveiled new rules requiring two-member crews on board most freight trains, three U.S. pilot unions raised the question: Can the same policy continue for aircraft?
Report urges railroads to adopt growth strategies to regain freight lost to the highway
Recent research on potential 2030 scenarios for North American Class I railroads shows that focusing on growth — backed by a cost-efficient and reliable operation — is the only strategy likely to lead to long-term value creation.
Logjam at Canadian ports as import surge meets rail shortages
A surge of imports meeting strained rail capacity has pushed up container dwell times at North American west coast ports, especially in Vancouver.
Norfolk Southern prunes intermodal network and puts focus on operating ratio improvement
NS has eliminated 53 low-volume intermodal lanes — or 15% of its intermodal network — that had limited growth prospects. The railroad did not say how much volume would be lost as a result.
Victims of Montana asbestos pollution that killed hundreds take BNSF to court
Almost 25 years after federal authorities responding to news reports of deaths and illnesses descended on Libby, Montana, a town of about 3,000 people near the U.S.-Canada border, some asbestos victims and their family members are seeking to hold publicly accountable one of the major corporate players in the tragedy: BNSF Railway.
AAR reports rail traffic for March and the week ending March 30, 2024
Combined U.S. carload and intermodal originations in March 2024 were 1,889,186, up 4.2 percent, or 75,802 carloads and intermodal units from March 2023.
New train crew rule tests industry’s clout
A new rule finalized by the Federal Railroad Administration will require freight trains in the United States to operate with at least two crewmembers in most circumstances.
U.S. finalizes rule requiring two-person crews on freight trains
The Biden administration announced on Tuesday that it had finalized a new rule that will require the nation’s largest freight railroads to maintain their current staffing of two crew members per train, settling a contentious issue between organized labor and the industry.
TCRC calls for strike authorization vote by CN, CPKC train crews
Leaders of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference told their members on Thursday that a strike vote will be held from April 8 to May 1. If the rank and file vote to authorize a strike, the earliest a walkout or lockout could occur on CN and CPKC in Canada is May 22.
OIG: FRA lacks needed oversight of fatigue management
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) recently found that the Federal Railroad Administration needs to improve its oversight of procedures related to railroad hours of service (HOS) compliance and railroad fatigue management requirements.
EPA didn’t declare a public health emergency after East Palestine derailment
The aftermath of last year’s fiery train derailment in eastern Ohio doesn’t qualify as a public health emergency because widespread health problems and ongoing chemical exposures haven’t been documented, federal officials said.
CSX rerouting traffic to avoid Port of Baltimore after bridge collapse
CSX is starting a new dedicated freight rail service between Baltimore and New York for its clients on Tuesday to help mitigate the trade disruption as a result of the closure of the Port of Baltimore after the cargo vessel Dali collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge leading to its collapse on March 26.
U.S. issues rule requiring at least two people on longest freight trains
“Safety improvements have come too slowly to the railroads but it is great to be finally working with an administration that is listening to workers,” said Vince Verna, a vice president at the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
NS calls activist plans a slash-and-burn strategy that would require furloughs
Norfolk Southern today urged shareholders to back its board and management team in its proxy battle, saying that the plans touted by activist investor Ancora Holdings amount to a “slash and burn” strategy that would hurt service and safety.
BLET News
New law better protects railroad workers from assault
From left: BLET New England Legislative Board Chairman Daniel Cadogan with Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey at the signing ceremony. ____________________ Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed a bill into law in December that better protects the safety and...
Vice President Pete Semenek to retire, concluding his 34-year railroad career
From left: BLET President Mark Wallace congratulated Vice President Pete Semenek on his upcoming retirement during the December BLET Advisory Board meeting. Photo by Bonnie Brihan ____________________ The BLET Advisory Board held its final meeting of 2025 on December...
BLET, BMWED to oppose the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger
Today, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division representing 53 percent of the unionized workforce at the Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Corporation, announced their opposition to the...
Voting continues as BLET members consider tentative national agreement
Voting continues on the BLET’s tentative national agreement. Ballots were mailed December 5 to 12,000+ BLET members. The vote count and the announcement of the results is scheduled for Tuesday, December 30. Earlier this month the BLET wrapped up its series of nine...
James Rasnick continues proud CSX Santa Train tradition for members of BLET Division 781
Every November since the 1940s, Santa Claus trades his sleigh and reindeer for a CSX train ride through Appalachia with a member of BLET Division 781 (Erwin, Tennessee) at the controls. This year it was James Rasnick’s turn. The 26-year member of Division 781 operated...
Workers at Dakota & Iowa short line vote to join BLET
The BLET notched its 14th organizing victory since 2023 this month as a majority of workers at the Dakota and Iowa Railroad (D&I) voted to join the BLET. The National Mediation Board certified the election results on December 4. The D&I is a short line that...
GA-4600 lifetime maximum adjusted for 2026
The lifetime maximum benefit for the Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit Plan (also known as ERMA or GA-46000) will increase from $202,900 to $212,800 on January 1, 2026. At the end of 2001, Labor and Management agreed on various...
ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS: Teamsters Scholarship Fund is now accepting applications for 2026
High school seniors from the Class of 2026 who are the financial dependent of a Teamster in good standing (which includes BLET and BMWED members) are encouraged to apply for financial aid from the Teamsters Scholarship Fund by April 1, 2026. Scholarships are available...
Senate Commerce Committee holds hearing for STB, NTSB nominees
Congress returned from a holiday recess last week. Prior to Thanksgiving, the Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing to consider three nominees to positions at federal agencies that have oversight of the rail industry. Richard Kloster was nominated to be a member of...
BLET members ratify new contract with SEPTA
BLET locomotive engineers who operate regional rail trains for SEPTA have ratified a new one-year contract with the transit agency. Ballots were counted on December 11. The new agreement builds upon gains achieved in the previous round of negotiations and provides a...
