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!
Canadian government official introduces new legislation that represents the culmination of multiyear efforts to address port funding and railway safety needs.
Grain exporters have several options: paying higher transportation costs, storing grain, sending more of it to the domestic market or cutting their losses.
Wabtec says the acquisition of Super Metal will expand the rail tech provider’s presence in international markets.
The American Chemistry Council says a rail strike lasting a month or longer could significantly damage the U.S. economy.
The head of the railroads’ key regulator spoke at RailTrends and was highly critical of the industry’s job cutting of recent years.
The CEOs of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern on Tuesday talked up the benefits of their railroad consolidation at the RailTrends conference in New York.
Rail’s never-ending pursuit of taking market share from trucks is the focus of the annual RailTrends conference.
Western U.S. carrier BNSF has added four new locations to the railroad’s certified sites program.
Norfolk Southern says Paul Duncan will succeed Cindy Sanborn, who will leave her role as COO at the end of 2022. Also, Indiana Rail Road has named a new operating officer.
The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers’ refusal to ratify the latest deal sends the rail union back to the bargaining table.
Regional Rail, which is backed by infrastructure investment firm 3i, has acquired freight rail assets in western Canada that serve agricultural and energy interests.
TTD, a union coalition affiliated with the AFL-CIO, is asking Congress for regulation that would hold freight railroads to maintain sufficient infrastructure investments and workforce levels.
Both the railroads and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way – Employes Division say the extension will help all parties make the best decision on how to proceed with the outstanding tentative labor agreements.
High utilization rates show a demand for rail cars, executives for FreightCar America said during a third-quarter 2022 earnings call Tuesday.
Higher revenues in Q3 weren’t enough to offset a 30% increase in operational expenses for western U.S. rail carrier BNSF.
The rail division of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers will ratify the latest tentative labor agreement between itself and the freight railroads.
Railcar manufacturers expressed five themes in recent earnings calls. Their consensus: There is still much to be upbeat about.
Agricultural shippers urge Congress to take action to prevent a rail strike while Canadian Pacific has a banner month for moving grain in October.
CN boasts record Canadian grain volumes, Watco completes a Texas terminal expansion, and the Association of American Railroads and the Intermodal Association of North America detail volume ups and downs.
FreightWaves chats with a representative of the rail division of the International Association of Machinists about the labor agreement talks with the freight railroads.
