General Information

(Source: Railway Age, January 10, 2024) For the week ending Jan. 6, 2024 (Week 1), total U.S. rail traffic was 417,257 carloads and intermodal units, rising 2.3% from the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Jan. 10. Total rail traffic for the week ending Jan. 6, 2024, comprised 208,176 carloads, up 0.9%…

(Source: Trains.com, January 11, 2024) Union Pacific has asked federal regulators to squash BNSF Railway’s request to gain access a proposed short line railroad in Utah. Full story: Trains.com

On January 11, BLET members ratified a new on-property agreement with the Portland & Western Railroad (PNW). The five-year contract governs rates of pay, benefits and work rules for approximately 55 operating employees. Members will earn general wage increases of 21.5% (23.4% compounded) over the life of the contract (6% in 2024, 3% in 2025, 3%…

(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, January 3, 2024) Railroad retirement annuitants are responsible for notifying the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) of certain events and activities that can affect the payment of their annuities. If not reported to an RRB field office, these events and activities can cause overpayments that have to be repaid, sometimes…

(Source: Freight Waves, January 1, 2024) The passage of any rail safety legislation in Congress next year is likely to be influenced by two things, industry observers told FreightWaves: the 2024 presidential election and the release of a report by the National Transportation Safety Board on the February 2023 derailment of a Norfolk Southern train…