BLET News

(Source: Lincoln Journal Star, January 29, 2019)  LINCOLN, Neb. — The future of BNSF Railways’ Havelock shops appears to be up in the air. BNSF spokesman Andy Williams said in an email this week that the railroad is “working on a restructuring at Havelock,” although he declined to provide any details. Full story: Lincoln Journal Star…

(Source: Bloomberg, January 24, 2019)  NEW YORK — Heavy Canadian crude isn’t getting any cheaper — but that hasn’t stopped companies from splurging on costly rail shipments. Rail-car loadings hit a record 356,000 barrels a day in the week ended Jan. 11, up from a daily average of 296,000 barrels in December, according to Genscape…

(Source: CityLab, January 25, 2019) LOS ANGELES — Japan’s rail network allowed lower-wage workers to access exurban areas where housing development is less expensive. While areas close to stations experienced price increases, in general prefectures linked by rail were more affordable than they would have been without rail. A new study suggests that California high-speed…

(Source: National Transportation Safety Board press release, January 28, 2019)  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Employees of the National Transportation Safety Board returned to work Monday, resuming normal operations and developing plans to address the work that could not be accomplished during the partial shutdown of government. Of the 397 agency staff, 367 employees were furloughed, 26 employees…

(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, January 24, 2019)  WASHINGTON, D.C. — The following is a statement from Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa about legislation reintroduced by Reps. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) and Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) that would repeal the 40 percent excise tax on comprehensive health insurance plans included in the Affordable Care Act (ACA),…