Rail Industry News
AAR: Intermodal traffic soars in most recent week
(Source: Railway Age, April 28, 2021) NEW YORK — U.S. intermodal continued its double-digit growth trend for the week ending April 24, 2021, with a whopping 34.3% gain vs. the prior-year period, according to an Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) April 28 report....
CP shareholders say bidding war for KCS unnecessary
(Source: Reuters, April 28, 2021) TORONTO — As Kansas City Southern’s share price rises above Canadian Pacific Railway’s offer on prospects of a bidding war, CP shareholders and analysts say the company should stick to its initial proposal, noting Canadian National...
Comparison of benefits paid by Railroad Retirement and Social Security
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, March 30, 2021) CHICAGO — Employers and employees covered by the Railroad Retirement Act pay higher retirement taxes than those covered by the Social Security Act. As a result, railroad retirement benefits are higher...
Amtrak celebrates 50th anniversary with 50% off fares
(Source: Amtrak press release, April 28, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak is celebrating a half a century of moving America where it wants to go. The 50th Anniversary Sale offers sale fares at 50% off, with a maximum of $50 per segment, available on coach class for...
Amtrak STB petition cites CSX, NS “unwillingness to engage meaningfully” on Gulf Coast return
(Source: Railway Age, April 27, 2021) NEW YORK — Amtrak, on the eve of a 50th Anniversary virtual celebration slated to feature President Joe Biden, has filed a petition asking the Surface Transportation Board to deny CSX’s and Norfolk Southern’s motion to dismiss...
CN posts lower net income, flat revenue in Q1 2021
(Source: Progressive Railroading, April 27, 2021) CN yesterday reported first-quarter 2021 net income fell 3.7% to CA$974 million, or $1.37 per diluted share, from CA$1.01 billion, or $1.42 per diluted share, in the same period a year ago. Full story: Progressive...
Rail shippers pick sides as CP, CN bid for KCS
(Source: Reuters, April 26, 2021) WINNIPEG — North America’s freight rail customers, from grain shippers to logistics compa-nies, are choosing sides as Canadian Pacific Railway and Canadian National Railway fight to buy Kansas City Southern. Full story:...
CP says CN’s voting trust rationale is “contrary to law”
(Source: Railway Age, April 27, 2021) NEW YORK — Yet another letter. Be warned: This one, nearly 3,000 words, is from Canadian Pacific’s attorney to the Surface Transportation Board. It essentially says CN has it totally wrong by asking the STB to approve a voting...
Norfolk Southern achieves all-time quarterly operating ratio in Q1 2021
(Source: Freight Waves, April 28, 2021) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Norfolk Southern reached an all-time quarterly record operating ra-tio (OR) in the first quarter amid a 7% increase in operating income. Norfolk Southern’s (NS) OR was 61.5% in the first quarter of 2021,...
Norfolk Southern reports Q1 2021 results
(Source: Norfolk Southern press release, April 28, 2021) NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern Corporation today reported first-quarter 2021 financial re-sults. First-quarter net income was $673 million, diluted earnings per share was a first-quarter record of $2.66, and...
Funding to help Amtrak recover from pandemic, recall furloughed workers
(Source: Associated Press, April 27, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Just in time to mark its 50th anniversary, the National Railroad Passen-ger Corporation, better known as Amtrak, is getting federal funding. The Department of Transpor-tation’s Federal Railroad...
Biden will mark Amtrak’s 50th anniversary in Philadelphia
(Source: New York Times, April 27, 2021) NEW YORK — President Biden will travel on Friday to attend Amtrak’s 50th anniversary cele-bration in Philadelphia where he will promote his infrastructure plan and celebrate his signature mode of transportation, the White House...
AAR, Railinc, ag shippers team on food safety
(Source: Railway Age, April 26, 2021) NEW YORK — The Association of American Railroads (AAR), Railinc and a coalition of agricul-tural shippers will launch in late 2021 an online portal that will provide greater visibility into the most recent commodities hauled in...
Biometric info at center of truckers’ lawsuit against UP
(Source: Land Line Media, April 26, 2021) CHICAGO — Union Pacific Railroad must face a class action lawsuit filed by truckers alleging the company violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act. In March, an Illinois federal district court denied Union...
Sen. Wicker urges STB to approve Amtrak petition for Gulf Coast service
(Source: Progressive Railroading, April 26, 2021) In a letter the Surface Transportation Board (STB), U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said he supported restoring passenger-rail service to the route between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, that was damaged by...
CN to discuss merger with KCS, sends STB support letters from customers
(Source: Freight Waves, April 26, 2021) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Rival Canadian suitors CN and Canadian Pacific are seeking to win the hearts of the shareholders of Kansas City Southern. Full story: Freight Waves
KCS mulls dueling railroad takeover bids
(Source: Associated Press, April 26, 2021) OMAHA, Neb. — As deal talks begin, Canadian National railroad said Monday it is receiving broad support for its $33.7 billion bid to buy Kansas City Southern. Full story: www.marketwatch.com
CP comments on CN’s request to name former KCS CEO Starling as intended trustee
(Source: Canadian Pacific Railway press release, April 26, 2021) CALGARY — Canadian Pacific Railway Limited issued the following statement about Canadian National's (CN's) request to name David Starling as intended trustee in its unsolicited bid of Kan-sas City...
Regulators say older merger rules apply to KCS
(Source: Freight Waves, April 23, 2021) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A proposed merger between Kansas City Southern and Canadian Pacific can proceed under older rules governing Class I mergers, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) determined Friday. Full story: Freight...
CN’s Q1 2021 net income slips nearly 4%
(Source: Freight Waves, April 26, 2021) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — CN’s net profit for the first quarter of 2021 fell 3.7% to CA$974 million, or $1.37 per diluted share, compared with CA$1.01 billion, or $1.42 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2020. One Canadian...
BLET News
Announcement of verified results of BLET National Division Officers election
As prescribed by the Rules for the 2014 BLET National Division Officers Election, National Secretary-Treasurer William C. Walpert yesterday released the verified results of the 2014 BLET National Division Officers election. A total of 26 National Division Officers and Alternates were chosen in the election and all were elected by acclamation. Four-year terms of office will begin on January 1, 2015.
Thanksgiving 2014
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President:
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I would like to express my thanks to all BLET members, officers and staff for their hard work and dedication throughout 2014.
Teamsters to join Black Friday protests at Walmart
Teamsters nationwide are gearing up to join other union members in Black Friday protests against Walmart on November 28, and two new reports have come to light that expose the retailer’s unparalleled corporate greed.
GA-46000 Lifetime maximum adjusted for 2015
The lifetime maximum benefit for the Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit (also known as ERMA or GA-46000) Plan will increase from $141,400 to $145,800 on January 1, 2015.
BLET members to vote on Letter of Agreement with BNSF
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen has reached a Letter of Agreement with the BNSF Railway that would provide a 3 percent general wage increase to approximately 7,500 locomotive engineers across the BNSF system.
Thank You!
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President September 29th of this year, our Brotherhood assembled for its Third National Convention as the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, a Division of the Teamsters Rail Conference. This was our third convention since the International Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers merged with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, becoming the pioneer Division of the Teamsters Rail Conference. Prior to the merger, the BLE had convened 61 International Conventions, bringing our total number of International and National conventions to 64 since our founding in 1863.
BLET says FRA should reject SEPTA’s request for safety waiver
Citing SEPTA’s failure to follow its own scheduling procedures, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has asked the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to reject the transit agency’s request for an extended waiver of safety rules. The waiver would decrease the amount of rest time available for SEPTA’s locomotive engineers.
Ballots mailed in tentative BLET, CSXT agreement
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative contract agreement with CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT). BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce announced that ballots were mailed today to active members of the BLET employed by CSX Transportation who are eligible to vote in the ratification of this agreement.
BLET members to keep Health FSA plan for 2015
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen will keep their Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) through 2015 thanks to the level of participation in the money-saving plan.
Veterans Day 2014
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President On behalf of the entire Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, I offer thanks to the millions of veterans and active-duty soldiers on Veterans Day. You are the protectors of the greatest nation on earth, and your sacrifices and devotion have preserved our way of life and our freedoms for generations.
