BLET News

INDEPENDENCE, July 17 — On May 3, the BLET Advisory Board adopted Rules for the 2018 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen National Division Officers Election. These rules provide detailed guidelines for compliance with Section 48 of the National Division Rules of the BLET Bylaws, which governs the election of National Division Officers. Specifically, the…

(Source: DeSmog Blog, July 13, 2017) NEW YORK — “We were very lucky in this instance,” Plainfield Fire Chief David Riddle said. “There was no fire, nobody got hurt by the grace of God.” As the residents of Lac-Megantic were preparing to acknowledge the 4th anniversary of the oil train disaster that leveled and poisoned…

(Source: Lewiston Tribune, July 16, 2017) LEWISTON, Idaho — One of the biggest questions in the debate about removing the four lower Snake River dams is whether rail could haul the grain that’s now barged to Portland and transferred onto ocean-going vessels headed to the Pacific Rim. Full story: Lewiston Tribune Monday, July 17, 2017

(Source: Railway Age, July 14, 2017) NEW YORK — In a major victory for freight railroads, a Surface Transportation Board (STB) attempt to revive what previously was ruled an unconstitutional regulatory scheme has been blocked by the federal Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Full story: Railway Age Monday, July 17, 2017

(Source: Reuters, July 13, 2017) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The White House plan to cut transportation spending, privatize air traffic control and scrap long-distance train service is facing strong resistance in Congress. In May, the Trump administration proposed cutting discretionary U.S. Transportation Department spending by 12.7 percent, or $2.4 billion to $16.2 billion. Full story: Reuters Friday,…