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!
Tariff and trade uncertainty led CN to cut its outlook for the full year even as lower costs helped improve income amid declining revenues.
The single-car merchandise business is central to plans of the largest rail carrier of intermodal, coal, and grain.
Canadian rail carrier CN said cost controls helped boost operating income as tariff and other economic factors muted revenues.
Goldman Sachs is advising BNSF Railway on a possible merger, according to a published report, just days after news broke of talks between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern.
In a business as tightly coupled to its past as railroading, there is much at stake for several individuals in the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger.
Intermodal, coal, and grains are driving Class I railroad traffic higher.
Union Pacific, the largest publicly-held railroad, is in merger talks with eastern rival Norfolk Southern, according to a published report.
Union Pacific has retained investment bank Morgan Stanley to explore a potential acquisition of a Class I railroad, according to a report.
BNSF Railway and Union Pacific came to an agreement on routing of intermodal trains ahead of a meeting with regulators.
Jaguar Transport Holdings is seeking to buy two railroads in Washington state, the company said in filings.
BNSF is eyeing intra-Texas drayers with expedited intermodal services connecting Los Angeles and Houston.
CSX has eliminated 125 mostly management positions, including dozens at its headquarters in Jacksonville, Fla.
A CPKC union is polling members about a possible strike, claiming the railroad took advantage of a service crisis to make workplace job changes on the troubled Kansas City Southern network.
Schneider National announced improved transit times on its cross-border intermodal service with Canadian Pacific Kansas City.
Rail freight turned in solid gains for the holiday week ending July.
A federal appeals court has thrown out a rule that gave shippers with poor rail service access to a second railroad.
BNSF asks Surface Transportation Board for emergency order to start southern California-Salt Lake City service over Union Pacific tracks.
Intermodal helped make CPKC the fastest-growing railroad in the second quarter.
Carload rail freight edged down in the latest week but stayed ahead of year-to-date levels.
The monthly jobs report showed small changes in truck transportation employment, more of the overall trend of stability.
