BLET News
Bill would allow Amtrak to sue freight railroads for delaying trains
(Source: Television station WPSD, March 6, 2020) CARBONDALE, Ill. — How long are you willing to wait for a train? A report from the Office of Inspector General found Amtrak trains were late 27% of the time. The on-time performance for the Illini/Saluki router, which serves Carbondale, received a failing grade because of freight rail…
Read MoreRail unions urge FRA to act regarding spread of coronavirus
CLEVELAND, Ohio, March 6 — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD) jointly petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on March 6 to take action in responding to the rapidly spreading COVID-19 (coronavirus) in the United States. “With at least 231 patients treated in 22 states, and at…
Read MoreBLET urges rail industry to address coronavirus pandemic
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, March 6 — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) is urging the railroad industry to take steps to protect BLET members, their co-workers and the general public from the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce voiced the union’s concerns in a March 5 letter to Brendan Branon,…
Read MoreRRB cautions customers against scams
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, February 17, 2020) CHICAGO — The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is reminding its customers to use caution and common sense to avoid being the victim of a telephone or email scam. Should there be some type of issue with an individual’s account or benefits, the RRB will typically communicate…
Read MoreSpread of coronavirus has implications for North American freight railroads
(Source: Railway Age, March 4, 2020) NEW YORK — Wide-scale spread of the COVID-19 virus (Coronavirus) is very real. Cases reported outside China recently exceeded new cases reported inside China, a possible tipping point. What could the implications be for North American freight railroads? Full story: Railway Age Wednesday, March 4, 2020
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