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 Association of American Railroads responds to regulator’s inquiry about supply chain congestion, while GoRail advocates for regulation supporting freight rail industry growth.
AskWaves looks at the regulatory might of this small, independent federal agency.
NS plans to reopen a Pennsylvania intermodal facility in response to e-commerce rise, market demand and supply chain congestion.
The past week in social media images features a fire whirl in Northern California, train derailments in the Plains, humongous hail and more.
Kansas City Southern declined Canadian Pacific’s revised bid, opting to stick with CN. But a shareholder vote to approve the CN-KCS merger agreement could be held off if the Surface Transportation Board doesn’t issue its decision on CN’s voting trust by Tuesday.
Canadian Tire is acquiring a 25% stake in Ashcroft Terminal in a deal that will allow the retailer to move containers from the Port of Vancouver more efficiently, while securing rail capacity.
South Carolina ports started the fiscal year off with a bang, moving a record volume of containers in July.
The CEOs of five Class I railroads tell the Surface Transportation Board that the root causes of the congestion facing rail intermodal terminals are beyond the railroads’ control.
August is likely to see a new monthly record for retail container imports, with 2021 doing the same. However, ongoing supply chain dislocation clouds how quickly consumers will be able to get their hands on the goods.
CP is offering a stock-and-cash “superior proposal” worth an estimated US$31 billion.
The Surface Transportation Board will review Amtrak’s request to restore Gulf Coast service, dismissing calls by CSX and Norfolk Southern, whose networks will be affected by the service restoration, to reject the request.
A 26% gain in revenues helped boost BNSF’s net profits in the second quarter of 2021 to $1.5 billion.
The rail manufacturer has been modernizing locomotives to improve their fuel efficiency and longevity.
The pace of U.S. rail volume growth slowed in July, according to Association of American Railroad data. But still expect intermodal growth through 2021 in North America, the Intermodal Association of North America said.
Also on the podcast: The investment drought in oil setting the table for higher prices
The past week in social media images features a mudslide-damaged highway, a truck rollover during a flood, destructive wildfires and more.
A Norfolk Southern employee suffered fatal injuries Wednesday at its Enola yard, outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
NS is investigating the cause of the derailment, which stopped train traffic from Monday afternoon to early Wednesday.
Canadian Pacific and CN shattered records for hauling Canadian grain and grain products in the 2020-2021 crop year, which ran from Aug. 1, 2020, to July 31, 2021. More efficient network boosted volumes: CP CP (NYSE: CP) hauled 30.62 million metric tons (MMT), the most in its 140-year history, the railroad said Tuesday. That was […]
TRAC Intermodal President and CEO Daniel Walsh chats with FreightWaves about chassis availability and market conditions into 2022.
