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!
In this Q&A interview, FreightWaves chats with two CN executives about what customer benefits might arise from a seven-year partnership with Google Cloud.
Twenty-five port projects in 19 states are receiving U.S. Maritime Administration grants aimed at bolstering port infrastructure.
Canadian Pacific inks a potash contract while CN’s British Columbia operations are nearly back to normal.
From M&A to supply chain disruptions, the freight rail industry navigated an often unpredictable 2021.
U.S. utilities are facing record low coal stockpiles, and network congestion on the rails is only adding to the stress.
The pilot program in Chicago and Kansas City aims to encourage trucks to come — and go — with a shipping container.
The end of 2021 brings the confirmation of a Surface Transportation Board member and approvals of short line requests.
The railroad veteran removed himself from consideration over the weekend.
Auxo Investment Partners explains rationale for why it chose to invest in rail service providers.
New York City has released several blueprints on its freight future during the de Blasio administration.
Cylus raised $30 million in a recent funding round, bringing the company’s total funding to over $57 million.
An initiative to transport a type of heavy Canadian crude oil to the Gulf Coast via Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern has begun operations.
The three companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to pursue the demonstration project to test the feasibility of hydrogen-powered locomotives.
The eastern U.S. railroad is aggressively courting new employees as well as seeking to retain current ones to improve traffic flow and reduce delays.
Freight costs reach a record, according to November data from Cass Information Systems.
Canadian Pacific has formally completed its acquisition of Kansas City Southern, and now both companies are waiting for the Surface Transportation Board to approve the merger.
November volumes rose nearly 4% year-over-year, although on a sequential basis, volumes fell nearly 9% from October.
Two bills in the Michigan Legislature are calling for freight train crews to consist of at least two people.
The Port of Savannah handled 6.7% more containers in November compared to a year ago, according to the Georgia Ports Authority.
Canadian Pacific says it will work to get passenger rail service going between Baton Rouge and New Orleans should its merger with Kansas City Southern pull through.
