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!
If a prolonged rail worker strike happens, expect cross-border commodities such as cars, auto parts and Mexican beer to be bogged down.
CN and Norfolk Southern announce leadership changes. Transport Canada looks to fund projects aimed at promoting climate resiliency for rail infrastructure.
President Joe Biden is compelling Congress to intervene if there is a rail strike — and hinting that both sides should accept the labor agreement as it stands.
In a letter sent Monday to legislative leaders, trade groups warn of a financial disaster should a railroad strike occur on Dec. 9.
The U.S Government Accountability Office says the Federal Railroad Administration could do more to increase the participation of railroads in a program geared toward addressing the root causes of close calls in the workplace.
Is a rail strike imminent? Here are five things that might help you understand how we got here.
The Surface Transportation Board wants to know why Union Pacific has been issuing hundreds of embargoes since 2018.
Amtrak and other stakeholders are asking the Surface Transportation Board to hold off on a November hearing on Amtrak’s request to restore Gulf Coast service because of a potential settlement.
A potential rail strike in the coming weeks has echoes of the infamous railroad strike of 1877, but with hopefully much less dire consequences. (Photo: AP/Gene J. Puskar)
Norfolk Southern has announced plans to acquire the Cincinnati Southern Railway while BNSF has opened a bridge in Idaho meant to ease bottlenecks.
One railroad union has voted to ratify its labor agreement while another has split its vote, raising the prospect of a rail strike.
Canadian government official introduces new legislation that represents the culmination of multiyear efforts to address port funding and railway safety needs.
Grain exporters have several options: paying higher transportation costs, storing grain, sending more of it to the domestic market or cutting their losses.
Wabtec says the acquisition of Super Metal will expand the rail tech provider’s presence in international markets.
The American Chemistry Council says a rail strike lasting a month or longer could significantly damage the U.S. economy.
The head of the railroads’ key regulator spoke at RailTrends and was highly critical of the industry’s job cutting of recent years.
The CEOs of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern on Tuesday talked up the benefits of their railroad consolidation at the RailTrends conference in New York.
Rail’s never-ending pursuit of taking market share from trucks is the focus of the annual RailTrends conference.
Western U.S. carrier BNSF has added four new locations to the railroad’s certified sites program.
Norfolk Southern says Paul Duncan will succeed Cindy Sanborn, who will leave her role as COO at the end of 2022. Also, Indiana Rail Road has named a new operating officer.
