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 Port of Long Beach, half of the busiest U.S. container gateway, is laying plans to double throughput to 20 million containers by 2050.
SCHAUMBURG, Ill. – If there’s a white whale that railroads have long hunted, it’s the goal of converting truck traffic to rail. It’s a centerpiece of Union Pacific’s effort to show public benefits to its merger with Norfolk Southern (NYSE: UNP, NSC), but the goal is hardly a new one. Janet Drysdale, chief commercial officer […]
The Surface Transportation Board rejected as incomplete the merger application by Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern to create the first transcontinental railroad.
Union Pacific’s chief executive fired back at rivals who oppose the merger to create the first transcontinental railroad.
U.S. rail carload freight and intermodal shipments for the first week of this year improved nearly by double-digits.
Canada’s Port Saint John and DP World completed the eastern maritime hub’s $178 million West Side Modernization Project.
The January State of Freight webinar continued with the message that the market may have made a turn that will stick around.
Rail traffic for U.S. railroads fell 4% for the week ending Jan. 3, 2026, according to statistics from the Association of American Railroads. Volume for the week was 404,293 carloads and intermodal units, with 192,665 carloads, down 2.8% from the corresponding week a year earlier, and 211,628 containers and trailers, down 5.1%. Only chemicals, 2.3%, […]
BNSF Railway and Canadian National tell U.S. regulators that Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are withholding crucial documents needed to properly evaluate their proposed transcontinental merger.
Activist investment firm Ancora Alternatives has led five separate change campaigns in the transportation industry and sees further opportunity to shake up the space.
CSX has laid off about 5% of its non-union employees and furloughed dozens of train crewmen.
Jaguar Transport Holdings and Spokane International Airport partner on a new transload facility connecting to the national rail network.
The Surface Transportation Board proposed changes to make it easier for shippers to get freight services from a railroad that doesn’t directly serve their locations.
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern urged federal regulators to reject what they claim are efforts by rival railroads to delay the merger process.
R. J. Corman Railroad Co. President Ray Goss to retire after a five-decade career in the rail industry.
Walmart’s $152 million warehouse acquisition near Phoenix highlights a surge of logistics and real estate investment transforming the Southwest freight market.
GATX Corp. and Brookfield Infrastructure Partners said they have received clearances to finalize the acquisition of Wells Fargo’s rail operating lease portfolio.
Rail traffic fell 7% for the last full week of 2025 as intermodal was weaker by 4.3% year-on-year.
Amtrak has rejected a proposed private transcontinental passenger train that would have also carried vehicles.
Pennsylvania short line North Shore Railroad has unveiled a commemorative locomotive honoring the U.S. semiquincentennial.
