Jim Blaze

Jim Blaze is a railroad career economist with an engineering background and a strategic analysis outlook. Jim’s career spans 21 years with Consolidated Rail Corporation (CONRAIL), 17 years with the rail engineering firm Zeta Tech Associates, 7 years with the State of Illinois Department of Transportation in Chicago urban goods movement research, and two years studying what to do with the seven bankrupt and unrecognizable Northeast railroads at the federal agency USRA. Now primarily a teacher and writer, Jim likes to focus on contrarian aspects of the railroad industry.

Rail

Jim Blaze Friday, April 3, 2020
1 144

Commentary: Railroad tank cars take a hit

Jim Blaze looks at the declining need for railroad tank cars. Why is this happening and what's next?
Read More »
Rail

Jim Blaze Thursday, March 26, 2020
0 528

Commentary: What is the risk to rail freight volume?

The coronavirus is impacting all sectors of the economy, and railroads are no different. Read what expert Jim Blaze thinks will happen going forward.
Read More »
Rail

Jim Blaze Friday, March 20, 2020
0 602

Commentary: Can the railcar fleet be simplified?

Should the railroads pare the number of types of railcars? Jim Blaze explores this topic.
Read More »
Rail

Jim Blaze Friday, March 13, 2020
0 1,292

Commentary: There are too many freight cars

Are there too many railroad freight cars? Jim Blaze writes about many reasons why this is the case.
Read More »
Rail

Jim Blaze Friday, March 6, 2020
0 425

Commentary: Has the outlook for intermodal railcar purchases stalled?

Jim Blaze writes about the outlook for intermodal rail in 2020.
Read More »
Rail

Jim Blaze Wednesday, February 26, 2020
1 813

Commentary: Why heavy axle loading freight matters

In the past 30 years railroad freight cars have been able to carry heavier loads, thanks to decisions made in the late 1980s. Read Jim…
Read More »
Rail

Jim Blaze Wednesday, February 19, 2020
1 836

Commentary: Will railroad reefer traffic ever return?

Railroads once carried much of the fresh produce across the U.S. Can they do it again? Jim Blaze explores the topic in his latest commentary.
Read More »
Rail

Jim Blaze Thursday, February 13, 2020
0 287

Commentary: Making hazmat rail freight safer

Jim Blaze writes about the transportation of hazardous materials by rail. Accidents have occurred, and the railroads need to continue to work to decrease their…
Read More »
Rail

Jim Blaze Monday, February 10, 2020
0 646

Commentary: Are fewer railroad freight cars on the horizon?

Jim Blaze explores whether the Class 1 railroads are downsizing their railcar fleets.
Read More »
Rail

Jim Blaze Wednesday, February 5, 2020
0 489

Commentary: Can railroads replace coal with chemicals-related traffic?

Jim Blaze writes about the long, slow decline of coal as the key commodity for railroads, and whether plastics might replace the lost volume.
Read More »