Rail Industry News
Why the U.S. isn’t in desperate need of the Keystone XL pipeline
(Source: CBC News, January 22, 2021) OTTAWA, Ontario — David Braziel, CEO of RBN Energy, an energy markets consultancy based in Houston, Texas, said that when the Keystone XL project was first announced, back in 2005, the U.S. was certainly in need of the additional...
Made in America executive order takes necessary steps toward strengthening economy
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, January 25, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Teamsters Union applauds President Biden’s efforts to reform and strengthen Buy American policies through the Made in America Executive Order signed today. The Made...
NTSB: Failed brake system caused 2018 fatality in Granite Canyon, Wyoming
(Source: National Transportation Safety Board press release, January 25, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Transportation Safety Board determined Monday that an airbrake failure caused the fatal, Oct. 4, 2018, collision between two Union Pacific trains in Granite...
1,500 gallons of diesel fuel spills at CSX yard in Nashville
(Source: News Channel 5, January 24, 2021) NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A train's fuel tank ruptured and spilled around 1,500 gallons at a railyard Sunday afternoon. Full story: News Channel 5
6 train cars, 2 locomotives derail on bridge at CSX’s Queensgate Yard
(Source: Fox 19, January 24, 2021) CINCINNATI, Ohio — A portion of Gest Street in Queensgate remains closed after a train derailed on a CSX Railroad bridge early Sunday morning. Full story: www.fox19.com
KCS’s Q4 2020 net income rises 30%
(Source: Freight Waves, January 22, 2021) CHATTANOOG, Tenn. — Kansas City Southern’s net profit for the fourth quarter of 2020 rose 30% over a year ago despite a 5% decline in revenue. Fourth-quarter 2020 net income was $165.7 million, or $1.80 per diluted share,...
KCS eyes lower operating ratio
(Source: Freight Waves, January 23, 2021) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Kansas City Southern expects to execute the third phase of its version of precision scheduled railroading (PSR) this year in a bid to lower the company’s operating ratio (OR) to the mid-50s by 2022. Full...
KCS projecting double-digit growth in 2021
(Source: Trains.com, January 22, 2021) KANSAS CITY. Mo. — Kansas City Southern, which reported fourth-quarter and full-year earnings growth today, expects revenue to grow at least 11% this year as cross-border petroleum and intermodal traffic continue to soar. Full...
Coronavirus challenges CSX’s Q4 2020
(Source: Freight Waves, January 22, 2021) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — CSX is not only eyeing a volume recovery in 2021 but also a recovery from the coronavirus among its workforce. As COVID-19 cases spiked after Thanksgiving across the U.S., so too did the number of CSX...
Coronavirus infections hit KCS operations in Mexico
(Source: Trains.com, January 22, 2021) KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The coronavirus pandemic has hit Kansas City Southern de Mexico particularly hard, with up to 15% of the railroad’s train crews out on leave due to COVID-19. On a typical day, about 5% of train crews systemwide...
Rail Labor says no carrier proposals worthy of consideration
(Source: Railway Age, January 22, 2021) NEW YORK — The rail unions comprising the Coordinated Bargaining Coalition (CBC) involved in the current round of national negotiations on Jan. 22 issued a statement that the carriers “have not made any proposals worthy of...
High-speed rail in California moves along, but slowly
(Source: Cap Radio, January 21, 2021) SACRAMENTO, Calif. — While California voters approved a proposition in 2008 to fund a high-speed rail line that would connect major cities like San Francisco to Los Angeles, progress has been slow in the years since. Full story:...
What’s on rail operator KCS’s Mexico agenda
(Source: BN Americas, January 21, 2021) NEWARK, Del. — After investing US$167 million in its Mexican network last year, railway operator Kansas City Southern (KCS) will keep focusing on capacity projects this year. Full story: www.bnamericas.com
AAR reports rail traffic for week ending January 16, 2021
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, January 20, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending January 16, 2021. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 528,547...
Oberman to chair STB
(Source: Railway Age, January 22, 2021) NEW YORK — Martin J. Oberman was designated Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Jan. 21 by President Joe Biden. He was sworn in as an STB member on Jan. 22, 2019, and has held the Vice Chairman position since...
Deputy administrators of FRA, FTA among appointments to U.S. DOT
(Source: Trains, January 21, 2020) Amit Bose has been named deputy administrator for the Federal Railroad Administration and Nuria Fernandez the deputy administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, part of a group of more than three dozen appointments to the...
CSX reports Q4 2020 financial results
(Source: CSX press release, January 21, 2021) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Corp. today announced fourth quarter 2020 net earnings of $760 million, or $0.99 per share. These results include a charge of $48 million, or $0.05 per share after-tax, related to the early...
KCS to help develop Texas logistics park
(Source: Kansas City Southern press release, January 20, 2021) KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Southern (KCS) announced today that it has entered into a joint agreement with NorthPoint Development to develop the master planned Wylie Logistics Park in Wylie, Texas,...
BNSF outlines $3 billion capital investment budget for 2021
(Source: Freight Waves, January 20, 2021) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Privately held Western U.S. railroad BNSF expects to spend $2.99 billion in 2021 for capital projects that will upgrade and maintain the company’s rail network. Full story: Freight Waves
Grain, intermodal boost U.S. weekly rail volumes
(Source: Freight Waves, January 20, 2021) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Higher intermodal and grain volumes boosted U.S. rail traffic last week, with weekly volumes rising nearly 6% compared with the same period last year. Full story: Freight Waves
BLET News
BLET leaders press NTSB on safety concerns
Top BLET leaders took advantage of a two-day session on railroad safety this week to bring key safety issues for locomotive engineers and trainmen to the attention to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is the transportation industry’s primary accident investigation body.
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.
