CPKC
At CPKC, 16 collective bargaining agreements with various unions in the United States have been ratified, the Class I reported Jan. 15. All span five years and provide “increased wages” to approximately 700 railroaders working in Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin.
Following is the breakdown:
- One agreement with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) representing approximately 300 locomotive engineers on the Soo Line property operating trains in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.
- Five agreements with the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen representing 231 carmen on the Delaware & Hudson, Soo Line, Kansas City Southern, MidSouth, SouthRail, and TexMex properties.
- Five agreements with the Transportation Communications Union (TCU/IAM) and American Railway and Airway Supervisors Association (ARASA) representing clerks, maintenance workers, and mechanical and engineering supervisory employees on the Delaware & Hudson, Soo Line, and Kansas City Southern properties. The agreements cover approximately 108 U.S. employees.
- Two agreements with the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers (NCF&O) representing 26 hostlers and laborers in the United States on Soo Line and Kansas City Southern properties.
- Three agreements with: the Soo Line Locomotive and Car Foreman’s Association (SLL&CFA) representing 19 U.S. mechanical foremen employees on the Soo Line property; the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers and Blacksmiths (IBB) representing three boilermakers on the Kansas City Southern property; and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Mechanical Department (SMART-MD) representing one sheet metal worker on the Kansas City Southern property.
“We are very pleased to see all these agreements ratified and thank our union leaders across the United States who have worked with us at the bargaining table to reach agreements that benefit hundreds of our railroaders,” CPKC President and CEO Keith Creel said. “With these agreements reached at the bargaining table and now ratified, we remain focused on serving our customers as we safely and efficiently move American business and contribute to economic growth.”
CPKC also reported that two tentative five-year collective agreements were reached last month with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) representing 76 electricians in the United States on the Soo Line and Kansas City Southern properties. Both are subject to ratification.
Further Reading:
- 2025 CPKC Holiday Train Raises Record $2MM
- CTA Releases Annual Maximum Grain Revenue Entitlements for CN, CPKC
- CPKC Names Safe Shipper Award Honorees
- CPKC Takes Delivery of 100th Tier 4 Wabtec Evolution Series Diesel-Electric
NS
NS on Jan. 15 reported achieving a 1.14 locomotive Fly Rate in 2025, surpassing its goal of 1.5. Fly Rate represents the number of mechanical failures per locomotive in a year of operation, according to the Class I, and a lower Fly Rate means “a better-maintained fleet with fewer mechanical failures, greater reliability, and improved service for our customers.”
“Our disciplined approach to maintenance and reliability is paying off,” said Ryan Stege, Senior Director Locomotive Operations and Maintenance at NS. “Achieving a 1.14 Fly Rate is the result of our dedicated team working collaboratively across roles, focused on keeping locomotives in service and reducing mechanical failures. This commitment translates directly into faster, more dependable service for our customers and reinforces our position as an industry leader.”
NS provided this example for context: “If we have 1,500 road locomotives in service at a 1.14 Fly Rate, that translates into fewer than five failures per day—just 0.3% of the active fleet.”
Separately, NS last fall reported powering past its 1000th DC-to-AC locomotive conversion.
Further Reading:
- 2026 Railroader of the Year: Norfolk Southern’s John Orr
- CN on UP+NS: ‘Show Us Schedule 5.8′ (UPDATED with BNSF, CSX and CPKC Filings)
- UP+NS Merger Application ‘Complete’?
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