Railroad

Decision says Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration failed by not preparing environmental report

At MARS meeting, the biggest U.S. Class 1 railroad also talks shipment security, Mexico business, and growth.

WASHINGTON — While global transportation transitions to a cleaner future fueled by alternative power sources, North American railroads have fewer good options outside of diesel fuel. “We love diesel; we like to take showers in diesel,” joked Michael Nicoletti, a partner at Innovative Rail Technologies (IRT), at “Toward Zero Emissions in Rail: Lessons Learned,” a […]

STB Chairman Robert Primus addressed the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers on Thursday.

Intermodal volumes boosted weekly U.S. rail traffic even as overall carloads slipped compared to the same week in 2024.

CN has rolled out a hybrid biofuel-ready locomotive it says could reduce fuel consumption by 50% compared with typical diesel power.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — The power of data, or more accurately, of well-used data, may not have explicitly been the topic of BNSF Railway CEO Katie Farmer’s presentation at the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers Winter Meeting. But it was a recurring theme of several subjects she touched on as part of her keynote address Wednesday […]

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has scrapped its controversial rule that would have required the use of zero-emissions locomotives in the state beginning in 2030. The board informed the Environmental Protection Agency this week that it was withdrawing its requests to enforce zero-emissions rules covering trucks and locomotives. The move comes a week before […]

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — The question of the day, on the first day of the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers Winter Meeting, is probably one being asked in one form or another at every business in the United States — or that does business with the U.S. What about tariffs? The consensus Wednesday was, not surprisingly, […]

Canadian National has gotten the go-ahead on its planned acquisition of Iowa Northern Railway.

While U.S. businesses look forward to 2025, the Association of American Railroads says policy and economic uncertainty tempers the year-ahead outlook.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a slight decline in truck transportation employment in December, wrapping up a down year in the sector.

At the Transportation Research Board annual meeting, intermodalists advise and dissent over developments in the freight sector.

Weekly U.S. rail traffic showed a slight uptick over 2024 in the first report from the Association of American Railroads for 2025. Overall volume for the week ending Jan. 4 was 421,410 carloads and intermodal units, a 1% increase over the first week a year ago. That included 198,500 carloads, down 4.6%, and 222,910 containers […]

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is proposing a rule requiring railroads to provide more timely information to the agency for all export cargo to crack down on high-risk illegal shipments.

Stakeholders at the Transportation Research Board annual meeting gathered to evaluate port performance, a complicated conversation within the supply chain.

At TRB, educators and rail executives urge a strategic rethinking of how the industry attracts new talent, upskills current workers.

Firecrown acquires EnterTRAINment Junction, plans massive motion museum in Chattanooga.

A panel of public and private decision-makers highlighted steps taken to fortify the global supply chain against disruptive events, but said more needs to be done.

U.S. weekly rail traffic remained ahead of year-earlier levels for the final week of 2024, the Association of American Railroads reported Friday.

U.S. weekly rail traffic remains ahead of 2023 levels for the week ending Dec. 21, 2024.

Chassis provider Trac Intermodal saw its debt rating affirmed by Moody’s, but its outlook is now negative.

Canadian union Unifor said its members ratified new four-year agreements with Canadian National Railway.

David Fink, former Pan Am Railways president, has been tabbed by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the Federal Railroad Administration.

Norfolk Southern has tabbed investment banker Michael Barr as vice president of investor relations and treasurer.

In a security upgrade, the Federal Railroad Administration has issued a final rule that limits railcars and parts made in China.

CSX in a filing listed September 2025 for completions of emergency repairs following hurricane damage to the former Clinchfield Railroad route through Tennessee and North Carolina.

Intermodal volumes are robust, even past peak retail season. What does it mean for 2025?

Intermodal continues to pace weekly U.S. rail traffic while carloads edged downward, according to the Association of American Railroads.

A newly completed CPKC rail bridge linking the U.S. and Mexico is expected to double capacity for cross-border trade.

Direct ChassisLink Inc. announced it’s adding GPS tracking to its entire fleet of 53-foot domestic chassis.

Continuing consumer demand and frontloading by importers in November helped the Port of Los Angeles to double-digit gains in container volumes.

To honor fallen veterans during the holidays, a number of companies regularly partner with Wreaths Across America to deliver wreaths for placement on headstones. Among them are BNSF Railway and J.B. Hunt Transport Services. Wreaths Across America has a mission to “Remember, Honor, and Teach,” and every year since 2007 the organization has coordinated wreath-laying […]

Teamsters Canada leaders want federal officials to stay out of contract negotiations and back rail workers’ right to strike.

CPKC and cold chain logistics specialist Americold will expand their strategic collaboration to co-development projects in Mexico.

U.S. rail traffic is back on track after November swings, with intermodal gains outpacing weaker carloads.

Resilient consumer spending and a healthy jobs market underpinned record intermodal volumes through November, a new report finds, as the U.S. economy enjoys stable footing approaching 2025.

Bureau of Labor Statistics data on truck transportation jobs showed one of the bigger gains in a long time in November.

Class I freight railroad CSX has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to continue its antitrust lawsuit against Norfolk Southern.

The Thanksgiving holiday once again made for a big change in U.S. weekly rail traffic. This time, that change was negative.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch has recused himself from the pending case involving the Uinta Basin Railway, which is set to be argued before the court next week.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City CEO Keith Creel is confident that free trade will continue in North America despite President-elect Donald J. Trump’s threat to impose 25% tariffs on goods imported from Mexico and Canada.

Radiant Logistics has acquired intermodal marketing company TCB Transportation.

Intermodal continued to outpace carloads, according to the latest data from the Association of American Railroads.

Port of LA-Long Beach short line Pacific Harbor Line has won partial federal funding toward the purchase of zero-emission locomotives.

President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to impose 25% tariffs on goods imported from Mexico and Canada could have a chilling impact on cross-border rail traffic, which has been one of the few sources of volume growth for North American Class I railroads.

Short line and regional railroads are polishing their entrepreneurial skills as they prospect for new customers and solidify links to Class 1s.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services is hopeful that Western rail service will improve, allowing it to layer higher contract pricing across record intermodal volumes.

While railroads for years have talked about growth, the head of a major short line says it’s high time they embraced enterprisewide technology that’s reshaping the transportation industry.

At a leading rail conference, two railroad CEOs seek to define what service is all about.

The U.S. Class I railroads have turned the corner on service and resiliency and are poised for volume growth for the first time in years.

The Surface Transportation Board has taken Union Pacific to task for an ongoing lack of cooperation in a new decision on the railroad’s effort to construct a 6-mile rail line in Arizona’s Maricopa and Pinal counties.

Norfolk Southern will add a new member to its board of directors — the 14th overall and 13th independent director — under a “cooperation agreement” with shareholder Ancora Holdings, NS announced Thursday.

U.S. rail traffic continued its pattern for most of 2024 in the week ending Nov. 9, with strong intermodal growth leading to an overall gain compared to 2023.

Smaller railroads have received $2.6 billion for more than 220 projects since the inception of the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement grant program.

Market demand for a range of railcar types boosted revenue and deliveries for FreightCar America in the third quarter, and the builder revised its guidance upward for fiscal 2024.

Schneider National announced it will begin an intermodal service connecting Mexico and Texas with the U.S. Southeast next month.

BNSF Railway, CSX, and Union Pacific filed lawsuits against the Federal Railroad Administration today for its failure to act on a half dozen safety waiver requests that in some cases would allow railroads to scale back visual inspections in areas where they have deployed new high-tech train and track inspection systems.

The Transportation Security Administration has proposed a rule that would require cybersecurity risk management and reporting requirements for some freight and passenger railroads, as well as rail transportation.

Propelled by a big jump in intermodal traffic, weekly U.S. rail traffic had its biggest gain in seven weeks over the period ending Nov. 2.

As the Senate shifts toward the right, rail safety could have a different future, especially as the pending rail safety legislation did not secure enough votes to continue. But experts believe there are a few items that could be considered.

In the wake of the disastrous hazardous materials derailment last year in East Palestine, Ohio, the Federal Railroad Administration has repeatedly said it’s doing everything it can to improve rail safety.

BNSF Railway’s profits, revenue and volume all increased for the third quarter, thanks to surging intermodal and agricultural shipments.

A dispute over terminal automation will halt freight moving through the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert, British Columbia, and disrupt U.S.-bound intermodal rail shipments.

The number of truck transportation jobs in the U.S., as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is only slightly off from where it was a year ago.

Trinity Industries, which builds tank cars, covered hoppers and other freight cars saw lower revenue but higher profits on better railcar lease rates and improved efficiencies.

The builder of autoracks, intermodal stack cars and other railcars turned in a strong finish to fiscal 2024 despite challenges in the North American market.

A total of 122 projects in 41 states and the District of Columbia have been named recipients in the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program.

International container volume gains more than doubled domestic traffic in the third quarter, according to the Intermodal Association of North America.

Overall volume helped maritime terminals of the Georgia Ports Authority to their second-busiest September on record.

Despite a first-half lull in domestic network demand for logistics services, the world’s largest forwarder saw overall volume growth in the third quarter.

BNSF Railway and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers have reached a tentative agreement on a five-year contract, while the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers has ratified its agreement with the railroad.

In the first episode of the new Bring It Home podcast, co-hosts Craig Fuller and JP Hampstead speak with Dunavant Enterprises CEO Bill Dunavant about the future of Memphis Tennessee as “America’s supply chain capital.”

An arbitrator has been appointed to oversee contract negotiations between Canadian Pacific Kansas City and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference.

CN and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference have scheduled mediation for early 2025 as the sides move closer to a new collective bargaining agreement.

U.S. weekly rail traffic showed a modest gain for the week ending Oct. 19, 2024.

Union Pacific Corp. in the third quarter saw double-digit gains for income and earnings on modest carload volume improvement and lower fuel prices.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s third-quarter profits and revenue increased despite the impact of the four-day work stoppage in Canada, the railway reported on Wednesday.

CPKC saw single-digit gains in freight volumes in the third quarter, but the operating ratio climbed as a brief lockout of union employees hit network operations.

CSX Transportation has reached new tentative five-year deals with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the National Conference of Firemen & Oilers. The railroad also announced ratification of an agreement with yardmasters represented by the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division.

Canadian National Railway posted third-quarter revenue slightly better than a year ago as operations appeared fully recovered from destructive wildfires and a labor dispute that briefly shut down the railroad.

Norfolk Southern has reached a tentative five-year agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the railroad announced Tuesday. The agreement, subject to ratification, means the railroad has tentative deals with approximately 67% of its union workforce.

Norfolk Southern delivered significant gains in earnings and operating ratio during 2024’s third quarter, with new CEO Mark George noting the railroad is “continuing to close the margin gap” with its peers.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) posted third-quarter earnings from rail operations of $1.6 billion, along with an operating ratio of 47.7% and diluted earnings per share of $4.85, the railroad announced Tuesday. 

An early peak shipping season, strong economy and resilient consumer spending boosted container volume to a record quarter at the Port of Los Angeles.

Port-owned New Orleans Public Belt Railroad and logistics specialist Heniff Transportation Systems have opened a new state-backed transload facility aimed at dry and liquid bulk customers.

Mexico’s Congress has passed legislation that would reverse railroad privatization laws enacted in the 1990s and give the government more control over rail operations, particularly passenger rail.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has subpoenaed CSX Corp. regarding misstatements in previously financial reports, CSX said in its latest quarterly filing with the government agency.

Portwide expansion and upgrades for ship, rail and truck have Charleston, South Carolina, officials eyeing annual capacity of 10 million TEUs for the fast-growing Southeastern maritime hub.

The Surface Transportation Board has approved acquisition by Canadian Pacific Kansas City and CSX Transportation of the Meridian & Bigbee Railroad from Genesee & Wyoming, allowing the two Class I lines to create a new direct connection at Myrtlewood, Alabama.

Weekly U.S. rail traffic rebounded into positive territory compared to 2023 for the week ending Oct. 12, after falling below previous-year levels a week earlier.

While hedge funds wring savings from other Class 1 railroads, Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena says his line can win new business with service and “operational excellence.”

CSX faces more than $200 million in reconstruction costs as a result of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and the income impacts of the storms will be felt in both the third and fourth quarters.

CSX Corp. reported third-quarter operating income of $1.35 billion with net earnings of $894 million, or 46 cents per diluted share, in financial results announced Wednesday.

OSHA has warned CSX against retaliating against employees who raise safety concerns.

Freight railroads from the Gulf Coast to Miami are still assessing damage and making repairs after Milton made landfall near St. Petersburg late Wednesday as a Category 3 hurricane.

For the first time in more than nine months, U.S. weekly rail traffic has dropped below 2023 levels.

Class I railroads have rationalized their networks to the extent that there is very little redundancy, leaving few efficient alternatives in the event of a catastrophic event like Hurricane Helene.

Norfolk Southern says its line between Asheville, North Carolina, and Newport, Tennessee — heavily damaged by Hurricane Helene — will be out of service until at least late January, while assessment of the route between Asheville and Old Fort, North Carolina, is ongoing.

Locomotives and freight cars are being moved to higher ground and railroad operations are winding down as Hurricane Milton is only a few hours from making landfall between Tampa Bay and Sarasota on Florida’s Gulf Coast.