Rail Industry News
R.J. Corman appoints Batory to Board of Directors
(Source: Railway Age, February 1, 2021) NEW YORK — The R.J. Corman Railroad Group, LLC named Ronald L. (Ron) Batory, former FRA Administrator, to the Board of Directors on Feb. 1. Until earlier this month, Batory had served as the 14th FRA Administrator; he was sworn...
Runaway train in Goderich, Ontario, leaves significant damage
(Source: CBC News, February 1, 2021) GODERICH, Ontario — No one was hurt after a train derailed in Goderich, Ont., Monday afternoon, leaving significant damage in its path. The incident involved the Goderich-Exeter Railway (GEXR), a freight railway that runs from...
Union Pacific maintenance worker killed in accident in southern Arizona
(Source: Associated Press, February 1, 2021) VAIL, Ariz. — A Union Pacific worker in southern Arizona has died in an accident on the job. Company spokesman Tim McMahan confirmed that James Morgan, who worked on engineering matters as a systems laborer, was fatally...
Insurance companies must pay NJ Transit for trains damaged by Sandy, N.J. Supreme Court rules
(Source: www.nj.com, January 27, 2021) NEWARK, N.J. — The New Jersey Supreme Court backed up a lower court ruling that told insurance companies to pay up after Hurricane Sandy damaged NJ Transit trains parked in the Meadowlands Maintenance Complex train yard that...
Suspect shoots at Norfolk Southern police officer on Chicago’s southwest side
(Source: NBC Chicago, January 30, 2021) CHICAGO — A police officer with the Norfolk Southern Railroad exchanged gunfire with a suspect Saturday evening in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on Chicago's Southwest Side, authorities stated. Full story: NBC Chicago
Man for La Mesa charged in derailment of BNSF train in southern New Mexico
(Source: Department of Justice press release, U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of New Mexico, January 29, 2021) ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Luis Angel Rodriguez, 27, of La Mesa, New Mexico, made his initial appearance in federal court today where he was charged with...
Unifor, Via Rail reach agreement in principle affecting 2,400 employees
(Source: Canadian Press, January 30, 2021) MONTREAL — Via Rail and the Unifor union announced on Saturday a new agreement in principle concerning the renewal of a collective agreement for more than 2,400 workers. Full story: www.ctvnews.ca
Strong unions are key to a stronger America
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, February 1, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Working Americans have been hit hard by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic – not just their health, but their wallets as well. Millions are out of work and struggling to...
CN CEO optimistic about 2021
(Source: BNN Bloomberg, January 27, 2021) MONTREAL — The head of Canada’s largest railway says the company expects a positive second half of 2021, pinning his hopes to fewer COVID-19 cases and the nation’s prospects for economic recovery. Full story: BNN...
Class I railroads upbeat about intermodal in 2021
(Source: Freight Waves, January 29, 2021) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Class I rail executives are hoping anticipated higher North American intermodal volumes will be a moneymaker for their companies in 2021. Full story: Freight Waves
Attentive CSX locomotive engineer saves homeless man on tracks in Marietta, Ga.
(Source: Radio station WSB 95.5, January 31, 2021) MARIETTA, Ga. — Marietta Police shared a story Saturday on their Facebook page about an attentive CSX train engineer who was making his way through town and spotted something ahead of him on the tracks. Full story:...
Exploring the history of BNSF
(Source: Freight Waves, January 27, 2021) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — This is the first installment of a multi-part article on the history of BNSF Railway, one of the seven Class I railroads remaining in North America. Much of the information contained in this and later...
STB extends Uinta Basin Railway DEIS comment period
(Source: Railway Age, January 28, 2021) NEW YORK — The Surface Transportation Board (STB) is extending until Feb. 12 the comment period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed 85-mile Uinta Basin Railway in Utah. Eagle County, Colo.,...
South Carolina legislators may borrow $550 million to pay for rail yard, barge system
(Source: Post and Courier, January 28, 2021) NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — South Carolina legislators are looking to borrow up to $550 million to help pay for a pair of projects that would help move cargo at the Port of Charleston and its newest shipping terminal. Full...
CN burning off propane after 20-car derailment near Edmundston
(Source: CBC News, January 28, 2021) EDMUNDSTON — A CN team trained to dispose of dangerous goods was at the site of a train derailment near Edmundston on Thursday. Full story: www.cbc.ca
Amtrak clarifies what emergency funding would mean for frequencies, furloughs
(Source: Trains, January 29, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak has clarified details of a letter sent by CEO William Flynn to all U.S. House and Senate last week, confirming to Trains News Wire that legislators have the ability to override the metrics the passenger...
Pete Buttigieg wins Senate vote as Transportation Secretary
(Source: Reuters, January 27, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pete Buttigieg, a former mayor who challenged Joe Biden for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, won U.S. Senate Commerce Committee approval on Wednesday, 21-3, to head the U.S. Transportation Department....
Canadian oil by rail surges 87% in November 2020
(Source: Canadian Press, January 25, 2021) Canadian exports of crude oil by rail jumped 87 per cent in November as oil production rose in Western Canada amid limited pipeline capacity for heavy crude. The Canada Energy Regulator says rail shipments of oil amounted to...
APTA: Public transportation industry faces $39.3 billion shortfall
(Source: American Public Transportation Association press release, January 28, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — An independent, economic analysis conducted by EBP US Inc. for the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) found that public transit agencies still face a...
AAR reports rail traffic for week ending January 23, 2021
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, January 27, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending January 23, 2021. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 529,030...
BLET News
Unions join forces to fight carrier’s implementation of inward cameras
During a meeting with the Presidents of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the SMART Transportation Division on April 24, 2013, Kansas City Southern Railway announced that it intends to install and begin to use inward facing cameras in all of its locomotives over the next few weeks.
Speakers highlight BLET’s 150th anniversary celebration in Detroit
It was a proud day for a proud union yesterday as the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen — the oldest labor union in North America — marked its 150th anniversary with ceremonies in the city of Detroit, Mich., where the Organization was founded 150 years ago.
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen celebrates 150 years
Leaders of both railroad labor and industry came together in Detroit today to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, the oldest railroad labor union in the western world. Presidents of unions and railroads alike received standing ovations from the more than 300 attendees.
Teamsters honor 150 year anniversary of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
The following is a statement by Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa and General Secretary-Treasurer Ken Hall on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
U.S. Senators thank BLET members on union’s 150th anniversary
Seven members of the United States Senate are congratulating the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and its members on the Organization’s 150th anniversary. Included are letters from Senators who lead labor and transportation committees thanking the BLET and its hard-working members for their many contributions to the railroad industry, to the labor movement, and to key workplace safety improvements that benefitted not just railroaders but many workers in other industries all throughout the United States.
Members of U.S. House recognize BLET’s 150th anniversary
Seven members of the U.S. House of Representatives have issued congratulatory letters recognizing the 150th anniversary of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.
Illinois Governor declares BLET Day; Three more states, two cities also honor BLET’s 150th anniversary
CLEVELAND, May 3 — Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has signed a proclamation declaring May 8, 2013, as “Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Day” throughout Illinois in honor of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen’s 150th anniversary. Governor Quinn joined three additional state governments (California, Massachusetts, and Ohio) and two cities (Detroit and Marshall, Mich.) in recognizing North America’s oldest railroad labor union.
Thanks to our union heroes
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President The horrifying scenes from Boston were difficult to watch last week. Cowards — called terrorists by some — detonated homemade bombs at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring hundreds of others. But the bravery of our fellow union workers in Boston provided a silver lining in what was otherwise a horrible tragedy.
Change notification for BLET members from Express Scripts Pharmacy
BLET members who receive medications through their home delivery pharmacy service may notice a change to their prescription bottle and the packaging it comes in. This is because members may get their medications from either an Express Scripts Pharmacy or a Medco Pharmacy beginning May 1. Medco is part of the Express Scripts family of home delivery pharmacies.
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.
