Rail Industry News
Biden: $20 billion for “hardest hit” public transit agencies
(Source: Railway Age, January 15, 2021) NEW YORK — President-elect Joe Biden unveiled a $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan on Jan. 14 that includes a $20 billion investment to “protect the future of transit.” This first step in rescue and recovery, Biden said, tackles...
Hackers leak medical records of UPS, Norfolk Southern workers
(Source: Freight Waves, January 17, 2021) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — UPS and Norfolk Southern said they are looking into whether employee health data was compromised after hackers posted medical records of truck drivers and rail workers to a leak site following an apparent...
Coal’s share in U.S. power generation forecast to inch up
(Source: Freight Waves, January 14, 2021) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Coal’s share in the generation of U.S. power could grow in 2021 and 2022 amid expectations that higher natural gas prices will spur natural gas’ share to decline, the U.S. Energy Information Administration...
U.S. DOT awards $40.25 million for commuter rail grade crossing improvements
(Source: Railway Age, January 14, 2021) NEW YORK — Five commuter rail agencies will receive a total of $40.26 million in grants for highway/rail grade crossing improvements from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in coordination with the Federal Railroad...
Amtrak testing locomotives at site of deadly DuPont derailment
(Source: Railway Track & Structures, January 14, 2021) NEW YORK — Positive Train Control (PTC) could have prevented the Amtrak derailment over I-5 that killed three people in DuPont, Wash. The technology was not yet installed in 2017. It’s there now, and officials are...
High winds impact UP operations across SE Wyoming
(Source: Union Pacific customer advisory, January 13, 2021) OMAHA, Neb. — High winds with gusts reaching 80-100 miles per hour have been impacting much of southeast Wyoming since early Wednesday morning. The winds are expected to continue through Thursday morning,...
AAR reports rail traffic for week ending January 9, 2021
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, January 13, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending January 9, 2021. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 525,253...
Amtrak joins BLET, SMART-TD in call for expanding TSA’s No Fly List to passenger rail
(Source: Statement by Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn, January 14, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — “There is nothing more important than the safety of our employees. Since the start of the pandemic, our dedicated frontline employees have kept our trains running, providing a vital...
Unions: Passenger rail needs better security, no-ride list
(Source: Associated Press, January 14, 2021) OMAHA, Neb. — Two major railroad unions said Wednesday that tougher security measures are needed in light of last week's riot at the U.S. Capitol because people who took part in the insurrection and were subsequently placed...
FreightWaves Classics: Exploring the history of U.S. railroads
(Source: Freight Waves, January 11, 2021) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — As profiled in an earlier Flashback Friday article, the railroad was first developed in Great Britain. Although they developed later in the United States than in England, wooden railroads were also built...
The Moynihan Train Hall’s glorious arrival
(Source: The New Yorker, January 13, 2021) NEW YORK — The building that now bears Moynihan’s name is a reassertion of his political and cultural values. It’s not traditional or modern but both, combining early-twentieth-century grandeur with early-twenty-first-century...
Towing vessel damages CSX bridge in Louisiana
(Source: U.S. Coast Guard press release, January 13, 2021) NEW ORLEANS, La. — The Coast Guard is responding following a maritime accident involving a railroad bridge near Slidell Wednesday. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a notification around...
Metra to buy 500 new rail cars
(Source: Chicago Sun-Times, January 13, 2021) CHICAGO — After years of promising a multibillion-dollar overhaul, Metra will finally give its passengers some nicer coaches to ride in. The commuter rail system’s board of directors on Wednesday unanimously approved...
Bradbury acting Secretary of U.S. DOT
(Source: Railway Age, January 13, 2021) NEW YORK — Following Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao’s resignation, effective Jan. 11, Steven G. Bradbury is Acting Secretary of Transportation in accordance with the Department’s established order of succession. Full...
AAR: Intermodal double-digit gains continue
(Source: Railway Age, January 13, 2021) NEW YORK — For the week ending Jan. 9, 2021, total U.S. rail traffic was 525,253 carloads and intermodal units — up 4.7% from the comparable week of 2020, ending Jan. 11 — based on a double-digit intermodal gain, according to an...
Biden no longer taking Amtrak to D.C. over inauguration security concerns
(Source: Associated Press, January 13, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — President-elect Joe Biden will no longer be taking an Amtrak train to Washington for his inauguration because of security concerns, a person briefed on the decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday....
BLET, SMART-TD ask feds to beef up security on D.C. Amtrak service
(Source: Progressive Railroading, January 13, 2021) In the wake of last week's riot at the U.S. Capitol, the leaders of two major unions representing railroad workers have asked the Federal Railroad Administration(FRA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to...
BNSF plan aims to reduce train-related grizzly bear deaths
(Source: Montana Public Radio, January 12, 2021) MISSOULA, Mont. — The BNSF Railway Company Tuesday published a long-awaited habitat conservation plan intended to reduce grizzly bear mortalities in Northwest Montana. Full story: www.mtpr.org
PA approves $31.3 million rail infrastructure investment
(Source: Railway Age, January 21, 2021) NEW YORK — The Pennsylvania State Transportation Commission has approved distribution of $31.3 million for 26 freight rail improvement projects through the Rail Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) and the Rail Freight...
MBTA details increase in COVID-19 cases that led to reduction of commuter rail service
(Source: State House News Service, January 11, 2021) BOSTON — Commuter rail operator Keolis managed to avoid major workforce impacts for the first seven months of the COVID-19 pandemic, recording a total of 43 confirmed cases between March and October. Full story:...
BLET News
Hoffa to rally Teamsters at GOTV rally in Cleveland on Saturday
Jim Hoffa, General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, will attend a major Get Out The Vote rally in Cleveland on Saturday, October 13. All BLET members in Ohio and surrounding states are encouraged to attend.
BLET Job Bank: CN hiring qualified engineers along Illinois Central territory
CN has multiple vacancies for qualified Locomotive Engineers at: Fulton, Ky., Memphis, Tenn., and Jackson, Miss. These positions are covered under the BLET agreement with the CN/Illinois Central. For further details and to apply go to http://jobs.cn.ca. Applications close on October 19, 2012.
Wilmesher reelected by acclamation in Colorado
Jim Wilmesher was reelected by acclamation to the office of Chairman of the BLET’s Colorado State Legislative Board during the Board’s Fifth Quadrennial meeting in Denver, Colo., September 20-21, 2012.
Announcing a new benefit available for certain railroad employees — Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Plan
A new Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Plan will be available to certain railroad employees for the plan year beginning January 1, 2013.
Obama thanks BLET for endorsement
Yesterday, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen received a letter from President Barack Obama thanking the Organization and its members for their endorsement of his re-election campaign.
Attention! Open enrollment has begun!
The Open Enrollment process has started! Please go to the Railroad Information Depot site (www.rrinfodepot.com) to log into the on-line enrollment system.
BLET sets the record straight, asks for apology following misleading Washington Post drug and alcohol article
BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce today blasted a careless and inaccurate report published in the Washington Post, calling on the newspaper to issue an apology to the men and women who operate Amtrak’s locomotives.
Important open enrollment announcement for Medicare-eligible BLET members and retirees
If you are a BLET member, retiree, spouse or dependent, and entitled to Medicare Part A and/or enrolled in Medicare Part B, you are eligible for the TEAMStar Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program (PDP). You are eligible for this program regardless of your health history or the drugs you are currently taking.
Teamsters Rail Conference backs high-speed rail project
In a letter to Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation, Teamsters Rail Conference President Dennis R. Pierce voiced strong support for the DesertXpress high-speed rail project between Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Warren Hinely, CSX-Eastern Lines VGC, passes away
It is with deepest regret that the BLET National Division reports the passing of J. Warren Hinely, Vice General Chairman of the CSX–Eastern Lines General Committee of Adjustment.
