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 Surface Transportation Board has added another executive to its industry advisory council.
Rail carloads were evenly split among winners and losers as intermodal traffic led rail freight lower in the latest week.
Norfolk Southern’s Q3 revenue fell despite efficiency, service and safety gains, as well as increased competition from BNSF and CSX.
Norfolk Southern Corp. said third quarter income fell on revenue that was slightly higher than the 2024 period.
Union Pacific’s Q3 profits rose on improved pricing, record workforce productivity and fuel consumption.
Union Pacific third quarter profit beat estimates despite costs related to its proposed merger with Norfolk Southern.
Wabtec reported stronger third quarter earnings with revenue and profit growth across freight and transit segments.
Cleveland-Cliffs will close its idle Steelton, Pa., facility permanently, leaving just two U.S. producers of steel rail for track.
Canadian National named Patrick Whitehead COO and Janet Drysdale CCO, ending a split operations model; former co-leader Derek Taylor departed.
The American Chemistry Council has serious concerns about the impact to its members’ business.
CSX third quarter were dragged down by declining coal shipments that outweighed higher intermodal traffic.
CSX reported third quarter adjusted net earnings of $818 million, or $0.44 per share, beating forecasts of $0.42 for the eastern railroad operator.
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern have set a date for shareholders to vote on their historic $85 billion merger proposal.
Rail freight trended lower in the latest weekly data from the Association of American Railroads.
While lower imports ease traffic at intermodal terminals, the ITS Logistics US Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index cautions the silver linings hide gathering clouds.
Canadian National Railway (CN) and Congebec have announced a new partnership to expand cold chain logistics across North America, unveiling plans to build a state-of-the-art temperature-controlled facility within CN’s Calgary Logistics Park. The project aims to bridge a long-standing gap between rail and cold storage, creating a more efficient and sustainable network for temperature-sensitive goods. […]
Intermodal traffic and carload freight were higher for a second consecutive week, according to the Association of American Railroads.
The owner of a popular online sneaker resale business was arrested for allegedly buying $500,000 worth of merchandise stolen from a cargo train.
New Federal Railroad Administration chief is a former Pan Am Railways president and fifth-generation railroader.
A regional railroad wants to redevelop freight and passenger services in an eastern Pennsylvania county.
The latest AAR analysis offers a cautious outlook after September rail volumes reflect the uneven pace of the U.S. economy.
Rail freight posted its third-biggest drop this year as carload and intermodal shipments declined.
Former Surface Transportation Board member Robert Primus on Wednesday sued President Trump, the rail board and its chairman, challenging his firing by Trump in August.
BNSF Railway states that Union Pacific’s deal to acquire Norfolk Southern will hurt rail competition, increase rates, reduce service, and likely lead to operational issues.
CSX named Steve Angel as CEO, succeeding former Ford executive Joe Hinrichs as leader of the eastern railroad.
With a new CEO, Ancora Holdings says CSX is now positioned to seek out a merger of its own.
Surface Transportation Board wants longer timeline to review proposed tie-up that would create first transcontinental railroad.
CSX has officially opened the Howard Street Tunnel after a clearance project that will boost container volume at the Port of Baltimore.
Intermodal containers and trailers led a down week for U.S. rail freight, according to AAR data.
History suggests a trade of job guarantees for union support of a UP-NS merger might not be all it seems.
The biggest rail union backs a transcontinental merger proposal after winning job protections from UP, NS.
No injuries were reported after a natural gas pipeline exploded in southeast Wyoming, temporarily blocking one of Union Pacific’s busiest rail routes.
CSX’s Blue Ridge Subdivision, damaged by Hurricane Helene, hosts its first revenue freight train after reconstruction.
President Donald Trump said that the proposed merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern forming the first U.S. transcontinental railroad “sounds good to me.”
Utah’s first new short line railroad in more than a century opened Wednesday west of Salt Lake City.
Chemical and automotive shipments led gainers as U.S. rail freight remained ahead of 2024 traffic.
Short line railroad operator Watco will deploy the battery-electric railcars manufactured by technology startup Intramotev.
The Ports of Los Angeles-Long Beach managed near-record cargo volumes while maintaining fluidity across marine terminals, as dwell times for truck and rail-bound containers fell in August.
A coalition of rail shippers warns regulators that the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger will hurt service and raise costs.
CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs states that railroads’ focus on profit margins over growth has led to stagnant traffic levels.
Following similar interline moves by competing railroads, merger partners Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern have introduced an array of new domestic intermodal services.
China’s move to cut U.S. soybean purchases in favor of South America could trigger widespread job losses and strain supply chains.
Union Pacific CEO in Oval Office visit urged President Trump to deploy National Guard troops in Memphis and St. Louis.
Forest products and automotive shipments led a narrow slate of winners amid overall lower U.S. rail freight in the latest week’s data.
CN and CSX advocate cooperation over mergers to shift freight from highway to rail, citing seamless service and efficiency.
President Trump has nominated longtime rail industry consultant Richard Kloster to the Surface Transportation Board.
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern argue rival interline alliances prove their proposed merger enhances railroad competition.
The Trump administration is getting conflicting advice on how to fit railroad automation into the country’s long-term transportation strategy.
Canadian National and CSX are collaborating on direct intermodal service from the West Coast of Canada to the heart of the U.S. Mid-south region.
Transportation and Warehousing jobs see a slight rise in the latest BLS revision.
The Cancún Multimodal Terminal will anchor freight operations on the Mayan Train and link to Mexico’s interoceanic trade corridor.
The Port of Long Beach has released a draft environmental report for its transformative Pier B on-dock rail expansion project.
Freight moving by rail in the U.S. turned in modest improvement in the latest weekly data.
The Surface Transportation Board has approved the acquisition of 420-mile regional Great Lakes Central Railroad by Watco.
President Trump on Tuesday fired Surface Transportation Board member Robert E. Primus, the board’s lone member to oppose the CP-KCS merger in 2023.
Weaker intermodal traffic offset narrow gains in carload freight in the latest Association of American Railroads data.
Canadian Pacific Kansas City CEO Keith Creel again said his company would pursue alliances rather than near-term consolidation.
Investor Warren Buffett said BNSF parent Berkshire Hathaway won’t bid for Norfolk Southern or CSX.
BNSF Railway and CSX said they will partner on seamless coast-to-coast rail service, just weeks after Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern proposed their own transcontinental merger.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick backed Union Pacific’s proposed $72 billion takeover of Norfolk Southern, saying it will create more efficient transcontinental rail freight transportation.
Weekly rail freight finished short of 2024 levels in the latest week, according to the Association of American Railroads.
R.J. Corman Railroad Group has named Justin Broyles as president and chief executive.
Ancora wants CSX to focus on maximizing shareholder value at a critical moment.
Truck and rail dwell and capacity remained stable at the ports of LA-Long Beach despite a record surge in container volumes.
Rail freight in the U.S. remained ahead of year-ago volumes for the sixth consecutive week, according to Association of American Railroads data.
Temperature-controlled warehouse operator Americold announced it has opened a $100-million-plus import-export hub in Kansas City, Missouri.
Despite economic headwinds, U.S. rail freight shows resilience with increased intermodal and carload volumes in July.
A new Union Pacific service is raising the stakes for intermodal traffic moving from southern California ports to Chicago.
Shipments of freight by rail continue to run ahead of year-ago levels, according to the latest data from the Association of American Railroads.
The Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis has issued its final Environmental Impact Statement for the Green Eagle Railroad, a 1.3-mile line that would be part of a new 19-mile rail route and bridge connecting Eagle Pass, Texas, and Piedras Negas, Mexico. The Green Eagle Railroad would be part of a secure corridor for […]
FTAI Infrastructure is acquiring the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway, the largest independent regional railroad in the U.S.
Freightcar America said orders for new railcars improved in the second quarter following market uncertainties earlier in the year.
While Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern have agreed to consolidate, intermodal heavyweights will have to reassess their links to the major railroads.
An association representing several thousand rail shippers is warning a merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern will push freight rates higher and lead to unreliable service.
BNSF saw earnings improve in the second quarter and first half of this year as lower costs outweighed weaker revenue per car.
The monthly employment report showed a healthy increase in truck transportation jobs, but a downward move in warehouses.
Intermodal provider Hub Group, which would be strongly affected by a UP-NS merger, backs it fully.
Goldman Sachs is reportedly advising CSX on merger options after Union Pacific said that it would acquire Norfolk Southern.
The Port of Los Angeles is poised to reap the benefits of Union Pacific’s acquisition of Norfolk Southern, its top executive says.
Schneider National said Thursday it needs more information before weighing in on the potential fallout from a Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger.
The activist investor that helped spur the historic Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern deal is building a position in CSX.
Ancora built its position in Norfolk Southern in 2023 and 2024.
Canadian National, one of two transcontinental railroads in Canada, expressed support for the proposed coast-to-coast merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern.
Intermodal, coal, and grain helped Canadian Pacific Kansas City to improved profits in the second quarter.
The proposed acquisition creates the first transcontinental freight railroad.
Eliminating interchange should make rail a more attractive option for shippers in nation’s midsection, George and Vena tell analysts
Shippers wary of higher rates, service issues with one entity controlling 52,000 miles of track.
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern announced a merger that will create the first transcontinental railroad with an enterprise value of more than $250 billion.
Norfolk Southern, which announced an historic merger with Union Pacific, said earnings rose 5% in Q2 as volume grew by 3%.
Amtrak would lose government-backed preference in legislation seeking faster freight service.
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern could announce a merger as early as next week, according to a published report.
New domestic lanes expand intermodal service from the West Coast through the Midwest to Texas.
Following news of the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern talks, the Surface Transportation Board has published a resource guide to rail mergers.
The State of Freight for July looked at what a few key SONAR indices are saying about the market.
Union Pacific saw record results in the fourth quarter as coal shipments led gains across business segments.
Union Pacific reported higher profits on improved freight volumes and a one-time tax gain.
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern on Thursday confirmed that they are in advanced discussions regarding a merger.
Carload freight and intermodal volumes ran ahead of year ago levels, according to the latest weekly rail data.
Profits at CSX fell in the second quarter as weaker merchandise traffic outweighed improvement in intermodal volumes.
CSX said weaker coal, merchandise traffic hit second quarter profit despite higher pricing and intermodal volume.
