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 saw a slide in container volumes arrested in September and hopes to attract more cargo with incentives.
Company eyes cross-border volume growth and efficiency improvements.
A wide-ranging roundtable discussion on the implementation of precision railroading will highlight FreightWaves Radio on SiriusXM Road Dog Trucking the weekend of Oct. 19-20. The show will bring together two independent observers of the rail industry: John Schmitter, with the firm of KEP LLC, will be joined by longtime rail economist and writer Jim Blaze […]
Japan’s freight industry is set for a downturn on the back of declining economies in the U.S., China and the Eurozone, new research reveals.
With U.S. rail volumes still slumping, the Class I railroads wondered in third-quarter earnings calls when the downward trend would end.
Rationalizing additional network assets is still a possibility in 2020.
The eastern U.S. railroad declined to share its expectations for 2020 but said it would be prepared should rail volumes rebound.
Government initiatives are encouraging the freight rail sector to address cyber threats. But what else needs to be done?
Market View commentator Jim Blaze writes about the advantages short line railroads offer to shippers.
Kristy Knichel keeps a level head while growing the business her father started.
Now Goldman thinks that ISM data won’t turn positive until Q2 2020.
Reports have been surfacing that the Alberta government could grant more crude-by-rail contracts.
What’s next at FMCSA after Ray Martinez departs? Tune in to FW Radio.
With U.S. rail volumes slumping in the third quarter, can PSR soften that blow to the rail’s bottom line?
Carloads on the railroads remained under water in the first week of the fourth quarter 2019. Intermodal weakness will be in the spotlight as third quarter earnings season approaches.
The Chinese city of Yiwu has announced a new freight train route to Belgium’s Liege, with trains expected to finish the journey in about 20 days.
Excerpt: The companies promote and assign new roles to longstanding employees.
Awarded projects could benefit freight rail indirectly.
Jim Blaze writes about the competitiveness of railroads vs. trucks and the railroads’ lack of interoperability.
The railroads say the union refuses to negotiate on train crew size as both sides prepare for a new collective bargaining agreement.
