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!
Genesee and Wyoming sees second-quarter operating income decline amid lower freight revenues from its Australian and European operations and flat year-over-year revenue from its North American operations.
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden’s (D-Oregon) new bill would require the railroads to supply information on crude volumes to emergency responders, and it would mandate that the railroads share crude-by-rail data annually.
North Asia revenues were down 8.5 percent, but EXPD improved productivity.
Jim Blaze writes about the recent history of intermodal rail service and what may happen in the next few years.
CARB is making $40 million available in the form of vouchers to reduce emissions. Eligible equipment includes everything from rubber-tired gantry cranes, to airport cargo loaders to truck and trailer refrigeration units.
Second quarter revenue for BNSF rose 0.3 percent despite lower volumes for agricultural products, consumer products and industrial products.
“If a shipper can share some of its production forecast information to railroads, railroads can plan better to meet that capacity. Conversely, if railroads can open up and show where their empty railcars are to the shipper so that the shipper has a bit more confidence that the right number of railcars are going to show up, then the shipper can more confidently choose rail.”
A renewed focus on building western gran network capacity helped Canadian Pacific reach all-time records for grain hauls in the 2018-2019 crop year.
The U.S.-China trade war has dropped trade volumes between the two countries to date in 2019. One result – Mexico is now the #1 trade partner of the U.S.
“I think we’re at a critical juncture. Six months from now I think we’ll be able to take a closer pulse to where things are.”
Ben Thrower examines the costs – in money, lost land and lost businesses – of the high-speed rail line in California.
Blackjewel’s bankruptcy reminds the broader industrial sector of the vulnerability of U.S. coal production overall, particularly so for western U.S. coal production.
North American rail volumes are still lower year-over-year, but U.S. carloads recovered somewhat last week.
Canadian Pacific Railway (TSX:CP) (NYSE:CP) has joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA). In joining the Alliance, CP is supporting BiTA’s mission of producing blockchain standards that allow for interoperability between participants in the global supply chain. Blockchain is an open, extensible platform capable of sharing shipping events, messages and documents across all the actors […]
The Port of Savannah saw container volumes drop from year-earlier levels as the outlook for international trade remains weak. But the fourth largest U.S. port is still seeing some of the best year-to-date growth for imports. The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) said June 2019 container volumes were 361,906 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a 2.4 percent […]
The Class I railroads have reported their second quarter/first-half of 2019 results. Jim Blaze writes about what may happen during the remainder of 2019.
Hub Group believes “soft” intermodal volumes will begin to flatten out and that the 2019 peak shipping season will be similar to that of 2017.
Hub Group sees record earnings despite a “softening demand environment” and “increased truckload and intermodal competition.”
Train products manufacturer and supplier Wabtec lowered its sales guidance for 2019 but kept its projections for how much profit it expects to make from its operations.
Passenger train proposal asks for comment on freight requirements as well.
