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!
Canada’s busiest import gateway is managing port fluidity as railroads issue lockout notices, and Teamsters are warning of a planned strike as the latest contract talks fail.
The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference on Sunday served a 72-hour strike notice to Canadian Pacific Kansas City, saying the union will walk out at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, barring a last-minute labor agreement.
Construction continues on a Chicago bridge project designed to reduce delays and improve flow by untangling freight and passenger rail lines.
he Surface Transportation Board will hear from more than three dozen participants during its two-day hearing next month regarding recent trends and strategies for growth in freight railroad traffic.
Canada’s labor minister has denied CN’s request to intervene in contract talks with the union representing engineers and conductors.
Teamsters Canada says a breakthrough is possible in talks set for Friday with CN and CPKC, but the union accuses the railroads of not bargaining in good faith.
Canadian railroads CN and CPKC say they support the interests of both rail workers and the Canadian public as a possible strike approaches.
Intermodal traffic continues to drive an overall increase.
Operators of first-mile and last-mile railroads are staffing up for a legislative push ahead of fall elections.
Eastern Class 1 railroads Norfolk Southern and CSX will help reach Midwest cities with double-stack trains from the newly expanded Port of Virginia central rail yard.
The Blue Ridge Connector will improve intermodal services to the northeast Georgia logistics center.
The Canada Industrial Relations Board said today that a work stoppage on CN and CPKC would not present a threat to public health and safety, which cleared the way for a strike if the railways and union cannot reach negotiated settlements.
Rail shipper groups say the poor on-time performance of all 15 Amtrak long-distance trains – which prompted the Justice Department to file a lawsuit last week against Norfolk Southern for its handling of the Crescent – is merely a reflection of Class I railroad freight operations.
The employment report for July showed truck transportation jobs down for the fourth straight month.
Weekly U.S. rail volume showed a solid increase for the seven days ending July 27, with overall traffic up 5.3% over the same period a year earlier.
– With labor negotiations at a standstill, a Canadian rail strike is likely to occur in late August, Canadian Pacific Kansas City CEO Keith Creel said Tuesday.
Canadian Pacific Kansas City had a gangbuster second quarter as
merger-related traffic synergies kicked in faster than expected and boosted revenue and profits,
executives said on Tuesday.
The U.S. Justice Department is taking Norfolk Southern to court, alleging the railroad’s delays of Amtrak’s Crescent violate federal law.
Canadian National’s operations are returning to normal through Jasper, Alberta, where wildfires devastated part of the town and shut down rail traffic last week.
Norfolk Southern highlights ways it’s creating sustainable growth through investments in people and technology.
