Rail Industry News
U.S. railroads moved a bit more traffic in week 5
(Source: Progressive Railroading, February 10, 2021) U.S. freight railroads logged 495,815 carloads and intermodal units during the week ending Feb. 6, a 2.2% increase compared with the same week last year, according to Association for American Railroads (AAR) data....
AAR reports rail traffic for week ending February 6, 2021
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, February 10, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending February 6, 2021. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 495,815...
General President Hoffa’s statement on the shooting death of UPS worker & Teamster member Dylan Wall
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, February 11, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa issued the following statement on the tragic murder of Teamsters Local 391 member Dylan Wall in Raleigh, North Carolina on...
Union Pacific plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions gets approval
(Source: Union Pacific press release, February 10, 2021) OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific today announced it received approval of its science-based targets determining how much and how quickly the company will reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). The Science Based...
Pandemic left NJ Transit hanging by a thread, but big changes may lie ahead
(Source: Jersey Digs, February 9, 2021) NEWARK, N.J. — Riding an NJ Transit bus can be a nuisance. The delays. Bus stops are often blocked by parked cars. And did you bring exact fare? Drivers don’t give change. Full story: Jersey Digs
Revised California high-speed rail plan reaffirms Central Valley segment as a priority
(Source: Trains, February 9, 2021) SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After a year’s delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and an uprising in the California Legislature, the head of the state’s financially strapped high-speed rail project unveiled a “revised draft business plan”...
TrinityRail permanently closing plant in Texas
(Source: Freight Waves, February 10, 2021) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Trinity Industries will permanently close a plant in Vidor, Texas, laying off 59 workers by April 30, according to a notice sent to state officials Tuesday. Full story: Freight Waves
Cenovus ramps up Western Canadian Select crude by rail program as market conditions improve
(Source: S&P Global Platts, February 9, 2021) NEW YORK — Cenovus Energy resumed crude-by-rail shipments in the fourth quarter of 2020 as market conditions improved for moving Western Canadian Select crude from Alberta to refineries in the US and Canada, the company...
APTA applauds House budget reconciliation providing $30 billion in public transit emergency funding
(Source: Transportation Today, February 10, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) applauded the House of Representative’s Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Budget Reconciliation Title, which provides $30 billion...
AAR: Traffic holding steady
(Source: Railway Age, February 10, 2021) NEW YORK — Week 5 rail freight traffic didn't change much from Week 4, the Association of American Railroads has reported. U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Feb. 6, 2021, largely reflected the previous week’s figures, with...
NJ Transit loses 18th employee to COVID
(Source: www.nj.com, February 10, 2021) NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit lost its eighteenth employee to the coronavirus, Francesco “Frank” Prifitera, assistant manager of the agency’s locomotive shop in the massive Meadowlands Maintenance Complex, officials said Wednesday...
Teamsters laud House Committee for including pension reform in stimulus bill
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, February 9, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Teamsters are applauding the House Ways & Means Committee’s inclusion of a multiemployer pension reform measure in a broader stimulus package introduced by the...
LIRR expanding access to Citi Field for COVID-19 vaccinations
(Source: AM New York, February 9, 2021) NEW YORK — The Long Island Rail Road is pulling out all the stops to get New Yorkers to the vaccination site at Citi Field in Queens, and by that we mean all train schedules on the Port Washington line will include a stop the...
More transportation improvements taking shape under Biden administration
(Source: Alton Telegraph, February 9, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Regional transportation officials hope a $2 trillion infrastructure plan proposed by President Joe Biden's administration will provide money to help them realize plans to increase the number of electric...
Statement of Acting FRA Administrator Amit Bose on California high-speed rail
(Source: Federal Railroad Administration press release, February 9, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — “America has a chance to lead the world once more through innovation in infrastructure-- connecting our communities, creating good jobs, addressing climate change and ensuring...
Teamsters mark Black History Month 2021
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, February 9, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — As we look to Black History Month 2021, a number of factors merge to create unique topics for discussion. The election of the first black woman vice president, the...
Crude-by-rail stages a comeback as oilsands production recovers and grows
(Source: Calgary Herald, February 10, 2021) CALGARY — As Canadian oilsands production has rebounded and even climbed above pre-pandemic levels, another area of the industry is also picking up steam: crude-by-rail shipments. Full story: Calgary Herald
BNSF receives patent for moving block system
(Source: Trains, February 9, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — BNSF Railway has received a patent for a virtual track block system that has the potential to significantly boost existing mainline capacity, raise average train speeds, and improve the detection of broken rails....
U.S. House panels to vote on $57 billion boost for transportation
(Source: Reuters, February 9, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two U.S. House panels will vote Wednesday on a plan to provide about $57 billion in assistance to transportation sectors and workers as part of a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan. Full story: Reuters
House T&I Committee’s draft legislation would provide $30 billion in transit relief
(Source: Railway Age, February 9, 2021) NEW YORK — The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has drafted a Budget Reconciliation Title providing $30 billion of COVID-19 emergency funding for public transit and $1.5 billion for Amtrak, including $820...
BLET News
BLET urges investment in Amtrak at Senate hearing
At a Senate subcommittee hearing on April 17, John Tolman, Vice President and National Legislative Representantive of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, made a strong case for the U.S. to make a major investment in Amtrak — particularly along the Northeast Corridor — for the expansion of service and high-speed rail.
Email outage at BLET National Division
The BLET National Division Office is currently suffering an email outage due to complications with corrupt server software. As a result, email users attempting to contact the National Division are experiencing message delivery failures.
Greenfield Village event sold out at BLET 150th
Members and guests who have not yet registered for the BLET’s 150th anniversary celebration in Detroit are advised that the May 7 trip to the Henry Ford Museum/Greenfield Village is now sold out.
Overflow hotel, Greenfield Village update for BLET 150th anniversary celebration
The BLET National Division is announcing overflow hotel information for the Organization’s 150th anniversary celebration in Detroit in early May.
BLET enters 150th year
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen enters its 150th year on May 8, 2013. It is the oldest transportation labor organization in North America.
Richmond to host BLET for 86th annual SMA
All members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) are invited to Richmond, Va., for the 86th annual Southeastern Meeting Association (SMA) from June 23-28, 2013.
Railroad Retirement Board to host informational conferences in 2013
The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board will host a series of informational conferences throughout 2013. Additional conferences will be added to the list throughout the year as more dates and locations are available.
Sequester impacts RUIA benefits
The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board announced on Friday that unemployment and sickness benefits payable under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) for days after February 28, 2013, are being reduced by 9.2% as part of a package of automatic spending cuts required by the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA), which was passed in August 2011.
BLET donates to help striking school teachers
The National Division of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has donated $1,000 to striking educators in Strongsville, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland.
Teamsters host training workshop on Railway Labor Act
The Teamsters Leadership Academy is hosting a three-day program to educate members regarding the Railway Labor Act. Scheduled for May 29-31, 2013, the workshop will take place at Teamsters headquarters in Washington, D.C.
