Archive for May 2023
President Hall exposes dangers of long trains in Washington Post interview
Long trains have been a major safety issue for several years now, especially since the introduction of so-called Precision Scheduled Railroading by Class I railroads throughout the United States. The BLET has argued that these long trains put profits over safety — the safety train crews who operate the trains and the citizens of towns…
Read MoreBLET and Union Pacific reach historic agreement to improve work schedules and time off for locomotive engineers
OMAHA, Neb., May 24, 2023 – The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and Union Pacific Railroad today announced a historic tentative agreement that enhances the quality of life for Union Pacific’s locomotive engineers and their families by making it possible for them to have more predictable schedules. It also will enable the railroad…
Read MoreBlocked crossings crisis draws local and national calls for action
(Source: ProPublica, May 1, 2023) After seeing images of kids crawling under trains, regulators ask companies to address blocked crossings, lawmakers demand consequences, residents clamor for solutions and Norfolk Southern’s CEO calls a mayor to work out a fix. Full story: ProPublica
Read MoreUP says it made “significant progress” on embargoes
(Source: Railway Age, April 28, 2023) Union Pacific (UP) on April 27 submitted a year-to-date progress report on embargoes, inventory management and system fluidity to the Surface Transportation Board (STB), which last year ordered the Class I to explain its escalating use of embargoes as a method of reducing rail traffic congestion. Full story: Railway Age
Read MoreRailroads taking tougher stance on paid sick leave for BLET
(Source: The Guardian, May 1, 2023) U.S. freight rail companies nearly spurred a nationwide railroad strike last fall by refusing to grant paid sick days, but in a surprise move welcomed by workers, those railroads have recently granted paid sick days to almost half their workforce. But the union representing workers who operate the trains day to…
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