Rail Industry News
Stokes joins PHL as Chief Engineer
(Source: Pacific Harbor Line press release, February 5, 2021) LONG BEACH, Calif. — Pacific Harbor Line has appointed Monte Stokes as chief engineer of the 75-mile short-line railroad serving the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. Effective February 1, he succeeds...
CSX could begin construction on widening Philly-area rail tunnel in 2021
(Source: Freight Waves, February 8, 2021) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — CSX reports that it’s still on course for a plan to allow double stacking in a tunnel in the Philadelphia area. Full story: Freight Waves
Amtrak passenger arrested after making bomb threat, police say
(Source: Deseret News, February 8, 2021) SALT LAKE CITY — An Amtrak passenger was arrested Sunday after police say he made a bomb threat, forcing Amtrak to evacuate one of its passenger rail cars. Full story: Deseret News
DOT Secretary Buttigieg meets with Amtrak to discuss COVID relief funding
(Source: Global Railway Review, February 8, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — On February, 2021, U.S. Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg, met with Amtrak and transit officials as well as front line transit and rail workers at Union Station, where he discussed the...
CP Rail reports record January for Canadian grain transport
(Source: Canadian Pacific Railway press release, February 8, 2021) CALGARY — Canadian Pacific moved 2.22 million metric tons (MMT) of Canadian grain and grain products in January 2021. This exceeds the previous January record in 2020 by 6 percent. CP has shipped 16...
Canadian rails see crude increasing on Keystone XL cancellation
(Source: S&P Global Platts, January 29, 2021) HOUSTON — Canadian railway executives expect increased crude-by-rail shipments now that US President Joe Biden has essentially canceled the Keystone XL Pipeline project and as the much-litigated Dakota Access Pipeline...
APTA endorses House panel’s $30 billion plan for transit
(Source: Progressive Railroading, February 9, 2021) The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) yesterday praised the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure's Budget Reconciliation Title, which called for providing $30 billion of COVID-19...
Congressional Democrats set to back for than $50 billion for transportation sector
(Source: Reuters, February 8, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Democrats in the U.S. Congress are set to release a sweeping plan on Monday to provide more than $50 billion in additional assistance to U.S. airlines, transit systems, airports and passenger railroad Amtrak and...
FRA proposes rule requiring certain railroads to have a fatigue risk management program
(Source: Safety and Health Magazine, February 5, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Railroad Administration is seeking comment on a proposed rule that would require certain railroads to develop and implement a fatigue risk management program as a component of their...
UP locomotive 4141 to be donated to George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum
(Source: Radio station KFYO, February 5, 2021) HOUSTON — The Union Pacific train engine which carried the body of former President George H.W. Bush to his final resting place is being donated to his presidential library and museum at Texas A&M University. The iconic...
California pushes back high-speed rail construction deadline
(Source: Associated Press, February 5, 2021) SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California is again pushing back the deadline and raising the cost for its high-speed rail project, this time asking the Biden administration for a one-year extension on completing construction on a...
Montana Teamsters united to defeat anti-union bills
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, February 4, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Big business and their legislative cronies in Helena are trying to tear down hardworking Montanans who for generations have joined together to advocate for better wages...
Federal judge rules Union Pacific allowed to break 149-year-old contract with Palestine, Texas
(Source: Palestine Herald-Press, February 5, 2021) PALESTINE, Texas — A federal judge ruled Wednesday that Union Pacific Railroad is no longer bound to its 149-year-old contract with the City of Palestine and Anderson County. County officials called the move a blow to...
Mask violations on planes, trains, buses could result in fines up to $1,500
(Source: USA Today, February 7, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Transportation Security Administration announced Friday that it will recommend fines ranging from $250 to $1,500 for people who do not abide by the new transportation mask order issued by President Joe Biden...
Federal COVID-19 relief measure would benefit airline, Amtrak workers
(Source: Reuters, February 5, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — A senior U.S. House lawmaker told reporters that a COVID-19 relief package would include a new round of payroll assistance for U.S. airline workers. Additionally, Amtrak Chief Executive Bill Flynn told reporters...
DOT Secretary Buttigieg speaks with transit workers at Union Station in D.C.
(Source: NBC Washington, February 5, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg met with Metro employees and front line rail workers at Union Station in D.C. in his first official event on Friday. Buttigieg discussed the new public...
NTSB issues preliminary report in 2020 death of short line worker
(Source: National Transportation Safety Board press release, November 11, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — On November 11, 2020, at 9:43 a.m. local time, a Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad (DREI) conductor, riding the rear rail car of train 200-11, was killed while picking...
AAR reports rail traffic for January and the week ending January 30, 2021
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, January 30, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending January 30, 2021, as well as volumes for January 2021. U.S. railroads...
Montana passenger train advocates look southward
(Source: Montana Free Press, February 3, 2021) BILLINGS, Mont. — An effort to restore regular passenger rail service through southern Montana is gaining steam, but proponents near and far believe its success will depend on Congress creating a multi-state commission to...
CN announces new grain movement record to begin 2021
(Source: Canadian National press release, February 2, 2021) MONTREAL — CN is proud to announce that for the 11th consecutive month it has set a new record by shipping over 2.95 million metric tons (MMT) of Canadian grain and processed grain products via carload in...
BLET News
2013 BLET Scholarship Directory
Each year, the BLET National Division compiles a list of scholarship opportunities available to the children of BLET members. Numerous financial aid opportunities are published here in the 2013 BLET Scholarship Directory.
Teamsters offer disaster relief assistance in Mississippi
The Teamsters Disaster Relief Fund is accepting applications for assistance from members who live in Mississippi after severe storms, tornadoes and flooding caused major damage to homes and property on February 10, 2013.
Call Congress on Valentine’s Day: Tell members to stop heartless cuts
This Thursday, February 14th, we encourage Local Unions, Joint Councils, and your members to join in the national call-in day to tell Congress to have a heart and reject any cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, as well as the across-the-board cuts affecting working families that will take place under sequestration.
Rail Conference pushes for stronger whistleblower protections
Representatives from the Teamsters Rail Conference supported improved whistleblower protections for railroad workers during the final week of January when they spoke before the Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee in Washington, D.C.
Members in Virginia: Call your legislators and tell them to vote for Amtrak funding
BLET members in Virginia are encouraged to call, write or email their state legislators, and urge them to fully fund regional Amtrak service by supporting the Inner-City Passenger Rail Operating Capital Fund.
Day of Action planned for Wednesday, January 30
All BLET members are being urged to participate in a Day of Action on Wednesday, January 30, to let Congress know that we do not support cuts to Railroad Retirement, Social Security, Medicare and education.
Update from BLET Tax Compliance department
Internal Revenue Service regulations require the BLET National Division to inform its members that a certain portion of your National Division dues are not tax deductible as a miscellaneous itemized deduction on your personal tax returns.
Secretary-Treasurer, Local Chairman workshop are full: Waiting lists created for upcoming classes
The BLET Education & Training Department announced today that waiting lists have been established for upcoming Secretary-Treasurer and Local Chairman workshops. The Secretary-Treasurer Workshop near Baltimore (February 10-14) and the Local Chairman Workshop at the University of Illinois-Champaign (March 17-23) are full.
OSHA hits ‘home run’ for rail workers
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced today that the agency has signed an accord with BNSF Railway Co. (BNSF), under which the railroad has agreed to voluntarily revise several personnel policies that OSHA alleged violated the whistleblower protection provisions of the Federal Railroad Safety Act (FRSA) and discouraged workers from reporting on-the-job injuries.
Ballots mailed in tentative BLET-Missouri & Northern Arkansas agreement
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) has reached a tentative contract agreement with the Missouri & Northern Arkansas (M&NA) Railroad, BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce announced. Ballots are being mailed today to active members of the BLET employed by M&NA who are eligible to vote in the ratification of this agreement.
