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!
North American rail equipment manufacturers have customers and offices in the region, and they’re assessing what steps to take next as the situation unfolds.
CN and three other Class I railroads outlined to the Surface Transportation Board conditions that should be met before the board approves a merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern.
The South Atlantic Chassis Pool 3.0, will be ready in October 2023 and will have 60,000 chassis available.
Tekorius has also served as COO and CFO for the railcar manufacturer, among other roles.
Despite a 3% decrease in overall volumes, BNSF’s net income was $1.7 billion for the fourth quarter of 2021.
Georgia Ports Authority outlined projects that would take container capacity to 9.5 million TEUs by 2025.
A South Carolina company that remanufactured locomotives and provided railcar servicing and repairs filed Chapter 7.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine this week has caused uncertainty not just for the energy markets but also for global agricultural trade.
The railroad says it is taking steps to grow capacity, both on its network and in places where more volumes need to push through, such as Charleston, South Carolina.
A U.S. district court determined that objections by two unions over BNSF’s new attendance standards qualify as being a minor dispute under federal law, meaning that it would be illegal for the unions to strike over the issue.
Eight Chicago-area communities say a merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern would result in more freight traffic and an increased likelihood of blocked crossings stemming from longer trains.
The Surface Transportation Board wants more details about the concessions that BNSF and CN are seeking as Canadian Pacific acquires Kansas City Southern.
Five takeaways on the precedent-setting Surface Transportation Board proceeding that could define how U.S. freight railroads navigate requests to expand passenger rail service on freight rail networks.
FreightWaves market expert Mike Baudendistel chats with Harris Ligon, co-founder and CEO of a stealth startup, about how recent growth trends for industrial production in North America will affect rail volumes and equipment availability.
Railcar leasing could be on the upswing for a number of car types, executives for railcar lessor Trinity Industries said during the company’s fourth-quarter 2021 earnings call on Thursday.
Adjusted earnings per diluted share increases 20.4% to $1.18.
Ceres Terminals will lease, operate and modernize the TraPac Jacksonville terminal in a $60 million deal.
The rail district, a public-private partnership with Merced County, will serve agricultural producers in the region.
The company, which seeks to create autonomous battery-electric rail vehicles, will use the funding to support a 29-month advanced testing program of its technology.
The North American railroads engage in cross-border movements too. So why hasn’t the vaccine mandate erupted into protests over cross-border rail operations in the same way trucking has? This AskWaves article explores that question.
