Rail Industry News
Via Rail still struggling
(Source: Railway Age, December 7, 2020) NEW YORK — VIA Rail, Canada’s counterpart to Amtrak and a much-smaller system, is not doing well and seeking emergency government funding. It recently reported an 82% drop in ridership and an 84% decrease in revenue compared...
Amtrak, Delaware complete $71.2 million NEC project
(Source: Railway Age, December 7, 2020) NEW YORK — Amtrak, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) and the Delaware Transit Corp. (DTC) recently wrapped up a $71.2 million Northeast Corridor (NEC) capacity improvement project between Wilmington and Newark,...
Railway Age’s 2021 outlook: The second great railroad revolution?
(Source: Railway Age, December 8, 2020) NEW YORK — As one of the most difficult years in world history draws to a conclusion that at times felt like it would never come, the North American railway industry—battered and bruised but refusing to go down — looks to a new...
Feds, Amtrak settle disability discrimination case
(Source: Progressive Railroading, December 4, 2020) The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier this week announced it has reached an agreement with Amtrak to resolve the department’s findings of disability discrimination in violation of the Americans with...
BNSF offers $10,000 reward for information leading to arrest in Vado derailment
(Source: Television station KTSM, December 6, 2020) EL PASO, Texas — The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway company is offering a $10,000 award for information leading to an arrest in connection to a costly train derailment Wednesday in Vado, N.M. Full story:...
Amtrak employee in golf cart struck by train at Union Station
(Source: Washington Post, December 3, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Officials said an Amtrak employee was injured after being struck by a train at Union Station. D.C. Fire spokesman Vito Maggiolo said the incident happened around 5 a.m. Thursday when rescuers got a call...
“Amtrak Joe” could arrive for his inauguration by train
(Source: CNN, December 7, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — President-elect Joe Biden could return to the nation's capital for his inauguration ceremony the way he long bridged his life at home and his job in politics: On an Amtrak train from Wilmington, Delaware, to...
KCS announces 20th anniversary Holiday Express fundraising results to date
(Source: Kansas City Southern press release, December 1, 2020) KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Southern (KCS) announced in September that it would celebrate the 20th anniversary of its KCS Holiday Express program and partnership with The Salvation Army with a...
CP announces best-ever November for Canadian grain transport
(Source: Canadian Pacific press release, December 1, 2020) CALGARY — Canadian Pacific has completed its best-ever November and second-best-ever month for shipping Canadian grain and grain products, with 2.96 million metric tons (MMT) moved. This exceeds the previous...
Amtrak lands contract to operate Metrolink trains
(Source: Amtrak press release, December 1, 2020) LOS ANGELES — Amtrak announced that Metrolink, Southern California’s passenger train service, awarded Amtrak a four-and-a-half-year contract for commuter train operations services that will begin on January 1, 2021 and...
Multiple fire departments called to NS train derailment in Amherst, Ohio
(Source: Chronicle Telegram, December 2, 2020) AMHERST, Ohio — Ten train cars derailed around 1 p.m. Tuesday in the midst of a winter storm that slammed Lorain County with snow and ice. An eastbound Norfolk Southern train heading from Elkhart, Indiana, to Binghamton,...
Port of Savannah sets all time container record in October
(Source: Savannah Morning News, December 1, 2020) SAVANNAH, Ga. — October proved to be another busy month for the Port of Savannah with container volumes reaching 464,095 twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs), up 35,714 TEUs or 8.3% compared to the same month...
Georgia Port’s mega rail project hits milestone
(Source: Railway Age, December 1, 2020) NEW YORK — Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has completed track installation to link the Garden City Terminal’s Chatham and Mason Mega rail yards, which it said boosts on-terminal storage capacity 35% and helps accommodate nearly...
Judge deems Oklahoma train crossing law unconstitutional
(Source: The Oklahoman, December 2, 2020) OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — An Oklahoma City federal judge has permanently barred the state from enforcing a law that prevented trains from blocking streets for longer than 10 minutes. BNSF Railway Co. challenged the law after...
Canada’s crude by rail exports crater as output cuts free up pipeline space
(Source: S&P Global Platts, December 1, 2020) HOUSTON — Canada's crude-by-rail exports have crashed as the coronavirus pandemic saps fuel demand and frees up cheaper pipeline space. The biggest loser in the shift appears to be not Canada's big railways but the...
NJ Transit testing new technology to protect riders, employees
(Source: Railway Age, December 1, 2020) NEW YORK — New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) will participate in a multi-week test of new technologies — from air purification to antimicrobial light—to help protect employees and riders during the pandemic. It is part of the...
Norfolk Southern lays off 71 workers in Bellevue, Ohio
(Source: Sandusky Register, December 2, 2020) GROTON TWP., Ohio — Norfolk Southern Railway has apparently laid off dozens of workers over the past few months at the Moorman Yard terminal outside Bellevue. Dave Sabo, Bellevue’s economic development director, said he's...
U.S. Senators say pandemic relief plan would give airlines $17 billion, Amtrak $1 billion
(Source: Reuters, December 1, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. airlines would receive $17 billion for four months of payroll support under a new $908 billion bipartisan Senate COVID-19 relief proposal, staffers for two U.S. Senators said on Tuesday. A bipartisan group of...
CP to serve expanded grain facility in Minnesota
(Source: Progressive Railroading, November 30, 2020) Riverland Ag Corp., a subsidiary of Ceres Global Ag Corp., has entered into an agreement with Farmer's Co-op Grain and Seed Association (FCGS) to form a grain merchandising joint venture to be based in Thief River...
Amtrak maintains funding needed for continued service
(Source: Transportation Today, November 30, 2020) WASHINGTON D.C. — Amtrak officials maintain that funding is needed to continue focusing on improving future intercity passenger rail service in the wake of the carrier meeting the challenges presented by the COVID-19...
BLET News
Important reminder: Register to vote!
With just under 90 days until Election Day, the BLET’s National Legislative Board is reminding all members to register and vote in the upcoming November elections. National elections will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012.
BLET members ratify contracts at three short lines
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) recently ratified new collective bargaining agreements with three different short line railroads.
Express Scripts and Medco are now one company
Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions, Inc., have come together as one company to manage your prescription benefit. Express Scripts will be the new prescription drug provider to many BLET members. Members should experience no change in the quality of service or member experience as a result of this merger.
On the Right Track: 2012 Triennial Election manual now online
The 2012 edition of “On the Right Track,” the Local Division nomination and election procedure manual, is now available for download from the BLET website.
BLET to conduct Advanced Local Chairman workshop, Sept. 30-Oct. 5
The BLET Education & Training Department is seeking participants for an Advanced Local Chairman Workshop scheduled for September 30-October 5, 2012.
BLET Safety Task Force investigates fatality of UP trainman
At approximately 3 a.m. today, a trainman received fatal injuries while performing switching duties at the Union Pacific yard in Mason City, Iowa.
BLET endorses Barack Obama for Reelection
Just moments before the opening of the 72nd Annual International Western Convention (IWC), the BLET’s Advisory Board voted unanimously today to endorse Barack Obama for reelection as President of the United States.
BLET applauds OSHA, Federal Railroad Administration agreement to protect workers from retaliation
On July 17, the Federal Railroad Administration and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that they had reached a memorandum of agreement to begin working together to address the seriousness and overwhelming number of whistleblower complaints that OSHA has received from railroad workers. BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce applauded the announcement.
Important changes for the 2013 calendar year open enrollment period
Railroad Enrollment Services has announced an upgrade to the upcoming open enrollment process, which will be switched to online open enrollment for the first time.
Atlantic City to host BLET for 2012 EUMA
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen will convene in Atlantic City, N.J., for the 74th annual convention of the Eastern Union Meeting Association (EUMA), August 20-24, 2012.
