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!
Australia is linking its interior to its coasts and its export markets by building a giant railway to the main seaports. But someone forgot to link the railway to the northern port.
In Australia this week: new truck sales this year in Australia are slumping when compared to last year; transport company PAGE buys Allalong to exploit the Sydney to Tasmania freight market; seaport says millions of truck movements can be eliminated; electric truck is donated to charity; stink-trunk gets un-sunk.
Millions in private and public funding are going toward the two western Canadian ports.
The Surface Transportation Board has proposed two rules that could ease shippers’ burdens when contesting rail rates.
Pictured above, left to right: Glenn Smith, Wayne Farms; John Schmitter, KEP; Todd Tranausky, FTR) A shipper and a consultant talking about how precision railroading’s implementation has affected them both had a distinctly middle of the road–or maybe middle of the tracks–conclusion. John Schmitter, president of KEP Llc and Glenn Smith, the director of feed […]
CSX needs to be more proactive if wants to compete with trucks, CSX’s chief said.
U.S. rail volumes are down nearly 4% year-to-date amid a 6.6% decline for coal and a 4% drop for intermodal.
The railroad was building the train when it derailed and caused a tank car to catch fire.
The Class I railroads are steadily implementing positive train control, but the railroads overall still have a ways to go before the December 2020 deadline.
Three Class I U.S. rail operations earned enough returns on investment in 2018 to support their capital projects.
Final investment decisions for new global LNG export plants are surging, a negative for future thermal coal demand.
Can carload rail become a volume and market share leader in today’s emerging high-tech freight logistics world? Or will it continue to exhibit a declining role?
The railcar manufacturer says the covered hoppers are shorter but enable faster grain discharges.
This week’s addition of intermodal volume data to our SONAR platform brings us one step closer to having price, volume, and capacity for all modes of transport including air cargo, trucking, inland waterways (barge), ocean and rail.
U.S. ports will see a rush of ships as they reopen, but Bahamas port sees severe damage.
Trinity Industries announced that Chief Executive Officer and President Timothy R. Wallace plans to retire as soon as a replacement is found.
The two railroads said customers should expect delays and possible rerouting.
The decline in U.S. coal production could cost the railroads billions in lost revenue.
Delays, diversions and weekend gates as ports get back to normal schedules.
SONAR provides real-time data on Dorian’s progress and forecast, along with likely and actual impacts to transportation and energy infrastructure.
