Railroad

Weekly U.S. rail carloads surged to the strongest year-on-year improvement in nearly three months.

BNSF’s group vice president for industrial products has been named chief executive of shortline rail operator OmniTRAX.

CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific Kansas City (NYSE: CP) and the Lanco Group/Mi-Jack have sold the Panama Canal Railway to APM Terminals, a global terminal operator and an independent division of A.P. Moller-Maersk (XCSE: MAERSKa). The 47.6-mile railway provides ocean-to-ocean freight and passenger services along the Panama Canal and has been a 50/50 joint venture […]

Railroads in January saw their share of North American transborder trade slip as trucks posted double-digit gains.

With an international intermodal surge winding down, analyst Larry Gross pins his hopes on domestic intermodal share gains.

Class 1 railroads saw mixed results in Q4 of 2024, but consultant Oliver Wyman sees a steadier year ahead.

In the March State of Freight webinar, Craig Fuller and Zach Strickland talked about a freight market on the verge of auto tariffs.

Union Pacific is partnering with Jaguar Transport Holdings to establish a new shortline railroad in Kansas City, Missouri’s West Bottoms industrial district.

For a fourth straight week, U.S. rail traffic has recorded an increase of more than 5% over the same week a year earlier. Statistics from the Association of American Railroads for the week ending March 22 show total traffic was 496,214 carloads and intermodal units, a 5.5% increase over the same week in 2024. That […]

Canada’s largest railroads see mixed progress at the country’s busiest container gateway.

BNSF Railway said customers invested $4.2 billion in industrial projects on its network in 2024.

In the latest episode of the Bring It Home podcast, Norfolk Southern executive Stefan Loeb discussed the role of railroads in America’s reindustrialization.

Norfolk Southern has expanded its offerings of certified rail-served properties for industrial site development.

Port fees on Chinese ships are aimed at boosting U.S. shipbuilding but could have follow-on effects for intermodal traffic, too.

The National Transportation Safety Board said proper risk assessment by the state of Maryland could have averted the collapse of Baltimore’s Key Bridge that killed six road workers in 2024.

More than 8,700 members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the Teamsters Rail Conference ratified a new contract with the railroads of the National Carriers’ Conference Committee.

Rail traffic in the U.S. is staying ahead of 2024 levels, according to the Association of American Railroads.

Wabtec says it is acquiring Dellner Couplers, a Swedish manufacturer of passenger couplers and equipment, in a $960 million deal.

Rail services provider County Line Rail has acquired short line Sabine River & Northern in east Texas.

Green Eagle Railroad’s proposed 1.3-mile line would be part of a secure corridor linking Eagle Pass, Texas, and Piedras Negras, Mexico.

The Surface Transportation Board will examine a proposal by Norfolk Southern for formal control of Virginia terminal railroad Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line.

CSX is detouring well over a dozen trains daily now that the Howard Street Tunnel project is underway in Baltimore.

A joint venture led by shortline operator OmniTRAX has acquired the Santa Maria Valley Railroad in California’s Central Coast region.

CPKC has modeled scenarios involving tariffs and trade and says that even in the worst-case scenario, the railway can hit its target for double-digit earnings growth this year.

Patriot Rail is partnering with CPKC to construct a transload facility in Denton, Texas, to handle an array of commodities and products.

Weekly U.S. rail traffic posted a 5.5% gain from the year-ago period as coal and grain led commodity gainers, according to the Association of American Railroads.

CSX is using fewer trains to move more tonnage in 2025, CFO Sean Pelkey said.

Norfolk Southern said it is not out of the ordinary for the Justice Department to look into a case involving antitrust allegations by fellow Class I railroad CSX.

Deutsche Bank relaunched coverage of the transportation space on Friday with a strong bias toward companies most likely to benefit from a pickup in the industrial economy.

The Justice Department is investigating Norfolk Southern and Virginia terminal railroad Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line for alleged anticompetitive conduct against CSX.

Railroad holding company Watco is adding Great Lakes Central to its network of shortline railroads.

Commodities were narrowly ahead in weekly U.S. rail traffic, according to the Association of American Railroads.

The Belt Railway of Chicago has appointed former CN and CP executive Jerry Peck as president and general manager.

Theft of cargo cost Class I railroads more than $100 million in 2024, according to the Association of American Railroads.

CSX announced that members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers ratified a new five-year agreement.

Canadian National Railway and Iowa Northern Railway have officially joined operations.

The early-year supply chain lull swept rail freight in the latest carload data from the Association of American Railroads.

Railroads are weighing the uncertainty of President Trump’s proposed tariffs and foresee a moderate cross-border impact, executives told an investor conference.

BNSF’s saw fourth quarter revenue decline primarily due to a 6.6% drop in average revenue per carload.

A debt issuance by shortline operator Patriot Rail provides a look into its finances.

Railcar builder Trinity Industries saw fourth-quarter profit decline on lower deliveries despite improved lease rates.

Trains are rolling again on Norfolk Southern’s Heartland Corridor after flooding hit parts of West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia and Ohio.

Union Pacific will lease 1.25 miles of trackage in Kansas City, Missouri, to a new Jaguar Transport short line in March.

Carload volume on U.S. railroads for the week ending Feb. 15 finished narrowly ahead of the same period in 2024.

A new study by the Federal Railroad Administration proposes dual-mode locomotives to help railroads save money in the switch to electric power.

New Orleans Public Belt Railroad and Gulf Gateway Terminal have announced an expansion to handle liquid bulk terminal traffic.

Union Pacific announced plans on Presidents Day to honor Abraham Lincoln with a commemorative locomotive.

In North Carolina, old railcars are getting new life as temporary road bridges after damage wrought by Hurricane Helene.

Locomotive builder Wabtec’s shares declined despite fourth-quarter revenue and profit increases.

Union Pacific might be running the smoothest rail network.

U.S. rail traffic has risen for the fifth time in the first six weeks of 2025.

Matthew Lane and Herman Crosson earn the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association safety awards.

A tax credit to help pay for the renewal of the U.S. freight car fleet has been reintroduced in Congress.

Sacramento-based Sierra Northern Railway has acquired RailPower LLC in an effort to develop low- and zero-emission motive power.

A ceremony marked the opening of CPKC’s new Patrick J. Ottensmeyer International Railway Bridge crossing the Rio Grande, at the busiest rail gateway connecting the United States and Mexico.

Separate legislation to broaden the definition of high-hazard trains and reimburse rail hazmat incident first responders have been reintroduced in Congress.

The annual revision to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ employment report showed a lot fewer jobs in truck transportation than earlier thought.

The Greenbrier Cos. said Chief Executive Lorie Tekorius has been appointed to the Portland, Oregon, branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.

US weekly rail traffic rebounds after a slight downturn.

Liner operator Ocean Network Express and LX Pantos are partnering on Boxlinks for U.S. domestic intermodal logistics.

CSX has reopened part of its Clinchfield Railroad through western North Carolina that was damaged by Hurricane Helene in September 2024.

How bad can it get for cross-border?

The Port of Baltimore has deployed an electric railcar mover it says is a first for the U.S. maritime industry.

British infrastructure investor Ancala and Arkadia Rail Partners have teamed up to purchase Lehigh Valley Rail Management.

A new report from the Intermodal Association of North America found international volumes helped intermodal freight author a turnaround in 2024.

Profits and revenue fell at Canadian National amid port work stoppages and extreme cold.

In the first State of Freight webinar for the year, intermodal and politics were on the agenda.

CPKC delivers on 2024 guidance of double-digit earnings growth, despite economic uncertainties and tariff threats.

Norfolk Southern COO John Orr has the railroad running tighter and faster.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City said fourth-quarter revenues increased to $3.9 billion from $3.8 billion a year ago, as diluted earnings per share increased to $1.28 from $1.10 in the same quarter in 2023. The Calgary, Alberta-based company (NASDAQ: CP) said after markets closed that its operating ratio decreased by 210 basis points to 59.7% from […]

Operational and other improvements helped Norfolk Southern meet or exceed financial targets it set amid last year’s nasty proxy battle with activist investor Ancora Holdings.

A settlement has been reached between Norfolk Southern and East Palestine, Ohio, after a 2023 derailment left hazardous waste and more behind.

The dollar value of cross-border freight moving between the United States, Canada and Mexico in November was unchanged from the previous year.

President Donald Trump’s administration on Wednesday rescinded a freeze on federal grants and other funding that could have had far-reaching effects on the transportation sector, one day after the order was announced amid public uncertainty and criticism, media outlets reported. The reversal also follows a federal judge’s order on Tuesday that temporarily blocked the pause […]

Canadian National and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers of Canada have reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year contract, averting a strike that was slated to begin Tuesday. The union represents approximately 750 signals and communications employees across Canada. They have been working without a contract since Dec. 31, 2024. Montreal-based CN (NYSE: […]

CSX on Monday named former Surface Transportation Board Chair Ann Begeman to its board of directors. Separately, Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) appointed former Celanese Chief Executive Lori J. Ryerkerk to its board, a move made after a search process that was a part of an agreement with activist investor Ancora Holdings. “Ann brings a wealth […]

Railcar and locomotive lessor GATX reported 2024 fourth-quarter net income of $76.5 million or $2.10 per diluted share, compared to net income of $66 million or $1.81 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2023.  Chicago-based GATX (NYSE: GATX) said utilization of its Rail North America unit’s wholly owned fleet, comprising approximately 111,400 cars, […]

Canadian National Railway is bracing for a work stoppage Tuesday after members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) in Canada issued a 72-hour strike notice. The union represents about 750 signal and communications workers, who are prepared to walk out if a new agreement is not reached by a Jan. 28 deadline.  “CN […]

Declines in coal and fuel surcharge revenue hit CSX profits in the fourth quarter.

Cargo theft, rail crossings, and infrastructure improvements dominate House hearing on rail legislative issues.

CSX Corp. today reported fourth-quarter 2024 operating income of $1.11 billion that fell compared to $1.32 billion in the prior year period.  Revenue totaled $3.54 billion for the quarter, off 4% year over year as declines in fuel surcharge and coal revenue offset higher pricing, merchandise volume and volume growth in intermodal. Net income was […]

U.S. rail traffic showed a massive jump for the week ending Jan. 18, 2025, with both carload and intermodal traffic up more than 25% from the same week a year earlier. Statistics from the Association of American Railroads show overall traffic for the week was 500,160 carloads and intermodal units, a 25.9% increase. That included […]

Union Pacific reported profit 7% higher from a year ago, as rail freight volumes gained and operating margin improved.

Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) on Thursday said fourth-quarter profit increased 7% on improved grain and fertilizer shipments, and core pricing gains. Net income for the Omaha, Nebraska-based company was $1.76 billion, or $2.91 per share, in the fourth quarter, up from $1.65 billion, or $2.71 per share, in 2023.  Intermodal volumes were 6% better on strong […]

Container volumes have not slowed in January, blowing out year-over-year comps.

An autonomous railcar pilot program involving Parallel Systems’ self-propelled, battery-electric container cars will be conducted on two Genesee & Wyoming short lines in Georgia.

Republican Patrick J. Fuchs has been designated by President Trump as chairman of the Surface Transportation Board.

Decision says Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration failed by not preparing environmental report

At MARS meeting, the biggest U.S. Class 1 railroad also talks shipment security, Mexico business, and growth.

WASHINGTON — While global transportation transitions to a cleaner future fueled by alternative power sources, North American railroads have fewer good options outside of diesel fuel. “We love diesel; we like to take showers in diesel,” joked Michael Nicoletti, a partner at Innovative Rail Technologies (IRT), at “Toward Zero Emissions in Rail: Lessons Learned,” a […]

STB Chairman Robert Primus addressed the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers on Thursday.

Intermodal volumes boosted weekly U.S. rail traffic even as overall carloads slipped compared to the same week in 2024.

CN has rolled out a hybrid biofuel-ready locomotive it says could reduce fuel consumption by 50% compared with typical diesel power.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — The power of data, or more accurately, of well-used data, may not have explicitly been the topic of BNSF Railway CEO Katie Farmer’s presentation at the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers Winter Meeting. But it was a recurring theme of several subjects she touched on as part of her keynote address Wednesday […]

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has scrapped its controversial rule that would have required the use of zero-emissions locomotives in the state beginning in 2030. The board informed the Environmental Protection Agency this week that it was withdrawing its requests to enforce zero-emissions rules covering trucks and locomotives. The move comes a week before […]

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — The question of the day, on the first day of the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers Winter Meeting, is probably one being asked in one form or another at every business in the United States — or that does business with the U.S. What about tariffs? The consensus Wednesday was, not surprisingly, […]

Canadian National has gotten the go-ahead on its planned acquisition of Iowa Northern Railway.

While U.S. businesses look forward to 2025, the Association of American Railroads says policy and economic uncertainty tempers the year-ahead outlook.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a slight decline in truck transportation employment in December, wrapping up a down year in the sector.

At the Transportation Research Board annual meeting, intermodalists advise and dissent over developments in the freight sector.