Class I

Photograph Courtesy of CN, via Twitter

CN, TCRC Ratify Collective Agreement

CN announced May 26 that the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC), which represents approximately 6,000 locomotive engineers, conductors, yard conductors, and yard coordinators working on the railroad’s mainline, short lines and yards,

Melissa Boyles (left) and Mike Pal (center), Valley Metro; Tony Giamboy, Railroad Software.

People News: Valley Metro, Railroad Software

Valley Metro of Phoenix, Ariz., appoints Melissa Boyles as Chief of Staff and Mike Pal as Chief Transportation Officer. Also, Railroad Software hires Tony Giamboy as Director of Product Engineering.

STB Eyes Alternatives to URCS (UPDATED May 25)

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) in October 2022 sought public comment on a new report that identifies and evaluates alternatives to the Uniform Railroad Costing System (URCS) that could be used as a replacement general-purpose costing methodology. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) and the Western Coal Traffic League (WCTL) respond.

NS: ‘Safety First’ Gets ‘Nuclear Power’

Norfolk Southern has retained Atkins Nuclear Secured (ANS) to conduct a multi-year independent review of the railroad’s “safety-first culture.” NS and ANS “will build upon the work and safety initiatives under way

Four East Palestine High School students receive scholarships for higher education.

Class I Briefs: NS, CSX

Norfolk Southern’s (NS) President and CEO Alan H. Shaw awards first Bulldog Legacy Scholarships. Also, NS and CSX are ranked among America’s Climate Leaders by USA Today.

(BNSF Photograph)

BNSF, SMART-TD Reach Tentative Agreements

BNSF on May 24 announced on LinkedIn that it has reached new tentative agreements with the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD) granting individual paid sick days.

(Union Pacific Photograph, via Twitter)

UP, BLET Reach Tentative Agreement on Work Schedules, Time Off

Union Pacific (UP) and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) on May 24 reported reaching a tentative agreement to provide engineers with a “more predictable” work schedule that will also enable the Class I railroad “to better manage staffing levels, which supports more consistent and reliable service.”