Railroads continue to play a significant role in North America’s economic infrastructure. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration, the U.S. rail freight network covers almost 140,000 route miles and is generally considered the largest, safest, and most cost-efficient freight system in the world. In addition, says the FRA, the almost $80 billion rail freight industry creates more than 167,000 jobs across the country.
In essence, rail freight companies charge businesses to carry cargo across their network of rails. Their rates are overseen by the Surface Transportation Board, a federal agency that regulates financial aspects of surface transportation. Major railroads in North America include Union Pacific Railroad, BNSF Railway, CSX, Norfolk Southern, Canadian Pacific Kansas City and Canadian National Railway.
Keep up with the latest news, trends and reports concerning rail freight transport here!
David Fisher’s 30 years of industry experience is expected to advance the university’s graduate program for transportation, logistics and supply chain executives.
Rail freight needs to become more truck-like as to timely inventory reporting.
The railcar manufacturer sees mid-2021 as a possible time frame for a post-coronavirus economic recovery for the rail industry.
The railcar lessor has developed a new strategy that will focus on providing rail-related services and products as part of a broader effort to boost its profitability.
UP expects longer and heavier trains in its future as it seeks to take more intermodal market share away from trucks.
The company is also eyeing opportunities to develop its real estate offerings and will bring on more assets to handle additional volumes, executives said during CSX’s third-quarter earnings call.
Intermodal traffic props up rail volumes and gains for retail sales; CSX, Union Pacific announce new appointments.
Lower fuel prices drove Union Pacific’s operating ratio lower. Meanwhile, third-quarter net profit fell 12% year-over-year.
Just like its other Class I counterparts, CSX grappled with lower volumes year-over-year in the third quarter as the broader economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The rail equipment and technology provider is one of many companies that have laid off or furloughed employees because of the lower-volume environment exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Higher rail volumes continue to be a trend in the fourth quarter, but the pace of volume growth could depend on how the COVID-19 pandemic plays out this winter.
Revenue growth in the railcar lessor’s international segment and in its portfolio management program affiliated with Rolls-Royce helped offset losses for its North American segment.
The COVID-19 pandemic continued to put pressure on CN’s volumes in the third quarter.
The railroad has 1,000 acres it can develop with partnering customers.
The Agriculture Transportation Coalition, together with TradeLanes, surveys hundreds of American shippers about the cost to their bottom lines of uncommunicated earliest return dates from ocean carriers.
Canadian Pacific’s net income fell 3% in the third quarter.
An investigation is underway into a fatality that occurred last week at CSX’s Acca Yard in Richmond, Virginia.
Executives are confident about an economic recovery but uncertainty persists over how much volumes will grow in the fourth quarter and into 2021.
Canadian Pacific Railway will pay $312 million for full ownership of a 1.6-mile tunnel linking U.S.-Canada via Detroit and Windsor
Genuflecting toward Wall Street has symbolically become part of the North American Class 1 rail company culture.
