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!
The Federal Railroad Administration and a bipartisan group of five senators aim to show their responsiveness to rail safety concerns via new initiatives and proposed regulations.
The Port of Virginia says it’s nearly done with its channel deepening project, which will enable the port to allow for two-way traffic of ultra-large container vessels.
The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a safety advisory that calls on railroads to evaluate their procedures for using and maintaining hot box detectors in light of the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern train derailment in Ohio.
Despite an increase in revenues for BNSF, higher fuel costs contributed to a softer operating income for the fourth quarter of 2022.
The Environmental Protection Agency will direct Norfolk Southern where to transport contaminated waste from the Feb. 3 train derailment amid concerns by communities in other states that it was coming to them.
Rail unions warn that revisions to a rule affecting railroad contract workers could be a step backward for safety.
Union Pacific confirmed that CEO Lance Fritz will be leaving his role. The railroad is looking for a replacement.
Rail trade groups’ and rail unions’ responses to NTSB’s preliminary report on the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern train derailment offer different views on what the next steps should be.
BNSF signs deals with the Transportation Communications Union and National Conference of Firemen & Oilers (NCFO), while NS also seals a pact with NCFO.
Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, urged the parties involved in the derailment to heed the board’s recommendations to improve rail safety.
The National Transportation Safety Board outlined some additional context about the Feb. 3 derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in Ohio, including more information about the location of hot bearing detectors and the controlled venting of tank cars carrying vinyl chloride.
Norfolk Southern and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way – Employes Division have reached an agreement for sick leave.
In this fireside chat for Global Supply Chain Week, FreightWaves’ rail and intermodal market expert Mike Baudendistel talks with Herman Haksteen, president of the Private Railcar Food and Beverage Association, about rail service issues and the rail car leasing market.
The Environmental Protection Agency has given Norfolk Southern a new order as the Ohio derailment cleanup transitions to longer-term remediation, and the U.S. Department of Transportation has given the railroads a list of what safety actions they should undertake.
Union Pacific reached sick leave agreements with the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers and the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen over the weekend.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and others have suggested the freight rail industry needs more regulation to ensure safe operations.
Four lawmakers from Illinois want the Surface Transportation Board to delay its decision on whether to approve the merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern because of their concerns about the freight rail traffic projections used in STB’s environmental review.
As the United States focuses on the disaster unfolding in Ohio after the Norfolk Southern train derailment, here is a look back at some of the worst train disasters in history. The incidents highlight the importance of safety and infrastructure.
The chair of the National Transportation Safety Board weighed in on misinformation surrounding the Feb. 3 derailment of a Norfolk Southern train.
Norfolk Southern’s CEO said the railroad will continue to support the town of East Palestine, Ohio, as the investigation into the train derailment from two weeks ago continues.
