Rail Industry News
STB urges BNSF and UP to be prepared for West Coast container surge
Specifically, Primus asked the railroads for their plans to provide reliable service, how they will allocate resources to West Coast ports, and how the railroads are sharing information with port officials.
Biden-Harris administration calls on Class I freight railroads to guarantee paid sick leave and get to 100% worker coverage
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and U.S. Department of Labor Acting Secretary Julie Su today sent letters to the CEOs of three Class I freight railroads – CPKC, CN, and CSX – calling on them to guarantee paid sick leave to all of their employees.
Regulators scrutinize trends on second day of rail growth hearings
At the opening of today’s Surface Transportation Board hearing on the lack of rail freight volume growth, Vice Chair Karen Hedlund said she was still struck by what she heard the day before from analysts and shippers and Class I railroad executives.
Railroads and regulators must address the dangers of long trains, report says
The report said there is a clear correlation between the number of derailments related to in-train forces and the long trains that routinely measure more than a mile or two long.
Norfolk Southern CEO fired for “consensual relationship” with railroad’s chief legal officer
A statement from the company on Wednesday said that Shaw had been dismissed “for cause,” which could prevent him from collecting the kind of exit package that CEOs often receive when shown the door.
Safety concerns are at the heart of the TCRC-CN/CPKC dispute as arbitration decision draws near
A major issue in the ongoing negotiations is fatigue safety. According to the union, the railway companies are seeking to weaken protections around rest periods, shift length and scheduling.
Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw to step down amid misconduct probe, sources say
The Wall Street Journal reported that the railroad’s board opened a probe into him late Sunday over an alleged affair with an employee.
Amtrak and partners break ground on new Connecticut River Bridge
The new bridge will support a maximum train operating speed of 70 mph, a 55% increase from today’s maximum speed of 45 mph.
TCRC formally appeals binding arbitration order
The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (Teamsters) filed appeals challenging the decisions that led to binding arbitration being imposed on workers at CN and CPKC, effectively stripping them of their right to collectively bargain.
ATDA organizes train dispatchers at Genesee & Wyoming
On September 4, 2024, the NMB announced that Train Dispatchers from the Genesee & Wyoming Railroad have voted to unionize with the ATDA.
Rail worker’s death in Ohio railyard highlights union questions about remote control trains
BLET Vice President Randy Fannon, who heads the union’s Safety Task Force, said he thinks, “This tragic incident in Ohio involving a remotely operated train, blindly controlled from behind, would not have happened if there had been a locomotive engineer in the cab.”
BNSF stresses safety but is still held back by longstanding industry issues, report finds
The FRA also reiterated its recommendation for BNSF and all the major freight railroads to sign on to the confidential federal safety reporting hotline for workers to report concerns without fear of being punished.
Back-to-work order issued at CN, CPKC; TCRC will comply, but lawsuit planned
The Canadian arbitrator appointed to resolve a messy railroad labor dispute to protect the North American economy has ordered employees at the country’s two major railroads back to work so both can resume operating.
Canada forces arbitration in freight train labor dispute; Union cries foul
The union representing 10,000 engineers, conductors and dispatchers responded angrily to the order, accusing the railroads of intentionally creating a crisis to force the government to intervene. It also said it would keep its picket lines in place while reviewing the decision.
CN and CPKC begin lockout in Canada
Despite months of good faith negotiations on the part of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, parties remain far apart, and both CN and CPKC have began their lockout of 00:01 today.
Canada’s Labor Minister to meet with rail companies, union to avoid massive shutdown
Without a last-minute agreement or binding arbitration, the bulk of Canada’s freight rail traffic could grind to a halt this week.
TCRC receives lockout notice from CN
Work stoppage still set for 00:01 on Thursday, August 22, unless parties reach last-minute agreement.
Participants line up to bend STB’s ear at rail growth hearing
Regulators will hear from railroad execs, shippers, suppliers, trade groups, rail labor, and analysts at next month’s hearing on the long-term decline in carload volume
Canadian government rejects CN request to intervene in labor dispute ahead of potential lockout, strike
Labour Minister Steve MacKinnon has rejected the Canadian National Railway Company’s request to intervene in the ongoing labour dispute between the company and the union representing railway employees.
Hidden report reveals how workers got sick while cleaning up East Palestine derailment site
Workers who reported headaches and nausea — while shooting compressed air into the creek bed, which releases chemicals from the sediment and water — were sent back to their hotels to rest, according to a report obtained by The Associated Press about their illnesses.
BLET News
2026 BLET SCHOLARSHIP DIRECTORY: Financial aid is available to the dependents of BLET members
BLET members and their dependents seeking academic scholarships are encouraged to explore the 2026 BLET Scholarship Directory, a resource for a variety of financial aid programs. If you or a family member are looking for scholarship opportunities, don’t delay....
MBTA considering bids for new transit operator
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is taking bids to handle transit operations and maintenance at the nation’s fifth-busiest commuter rail system. According to a report from NBC Boston, the list of potential bidders includes Keolis, Alstom Transport USA...
BLET-backed rail safety bill signed into law requiring two-person crews, wayside detectors
Outgoing New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a BLET-backed rail safety bill into law last week. The bill mandates a minimum of two crew members on hazardous material trains and requires the proper installation and ongoing maintenance of wayside detector systems....
FRA moves to reestablish RSAC safety program
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has announced that it will reestablish the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC), an important venue for labor, management, shippers and federal regulators to collaboratively discuss and develop rules to improve safety in...
UP-NS merger: Mark it “return to sender.” STB rejects merger application.
In a unanimous decision announced on January 16, the Surface Transportation Board rejected the merger application filed by Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern as “incomplete.” The STB said the merger application does not contain certain information required by the...
Register soon for rail worker hazmat training
BLET members should act quickly to register for a spot in one of two upcoming rail worker hazardous materials training sessions scheduled for February and March. Spaces are limited and the courses are filling up quickly. These 40-hour, in-person classes will be held...
Rail worker fatigue: Railroads thwart safety fixes, costing lives
A widely circulated analysis by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism has found that too little is being done to counter safety lapses related to fatigue in the railroad industry, leading to preventable accidents and death. Behind the lax oversight is the...
Education & Training: Training to assist with U.S. Department of Labor reporting announced for February
The BLET National Division Education & Training Department will offer a full slate of training opportunities throughout 2026. Two Secretary-Treasurer classes are confirmed for February: LM-3 / LM-4 Refresher Class (Zoom) Dates: Feb. 17–19, 2026 • Class One: Tue.,...
Still time to apply for a Union Plus scholarship: Deadline is January 31
Rising education costs are making it difficult for many union families to afford the cost of tuition. That’s one reason Union Plus, which provides important consumer benefits to union members and retirees, offers a unique scholarship program. It has distributed more...
Union coalition requests second PEB in dispute with LIRR
Last week a coalition of five rail unions that includes BLET, representing the majority of unionized workers at the Long Island Rail Road, wrote to the White House to formally request that a second Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) be appointed to resolve a nearly...
