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!
The ocean carrier said Monday that BNSF is reducing import traffic at the ports of LA and Long Beach, while inbound trains from New York area ocean terminals to three Midwestern destinations are also being monitored.
Despite headwinds, KCS thinks it can still achieve double-digit revenue growth for 2021.
The $700 million fee to terminate a merger agreement with Canadian Pacific dented KCS’ second-quarter net income. But revenues were up 37% year-over-year.
The seven-day suspension of service, starting on Sunday, is aimed at helping ocean carriers, UP and other stakeholders to catch up and relieve the congestion at West Coast ports and busy inland terminals, especially Chicago.
U.S. rail traffic was flat year-over-year as the July Fourth weekend impacted volume comparisons. Also, Northwestern University released a report describing how freight rail handled supply chain challenges over the past year.
Hitachi ABB Power Systems Vice President Daniel Simounet talks about where opportunities might already exist to electrify freight rail — provided that the railroads, government and utilities are willing to collaborate together.
Amtrak wants federal regulators to expedite a request to reestablish passenger rail service between Mobile and New Orleans. But CSX and Norfolk Southern say, not so fast.
Fiscal year 2021 was not only a banner year for South Carolina Ports but also a roller coaster one as volume lows in July 2020 transitioned quickly to record number of TEUs handled.
Railcar manufacturer Greenbrier sees near-term support for new railcars, as well as longer-term support as companies focus on decarbonizing their operations.
With 39 ships at anchor, the Port of Vancouver is continuing to feel the strain as CP and CN resume service in a fire-afflicted region of British Columbia.
The reduction in train speeds between Kamloops and Boston Bar is designed to lessen the chances that sparks from a freight train could start a fire amid extreme heat and dry conditions.
President Joe Biden’s order last week calls upon the Surface Transportation Board to examine hot topics among rail shippers, including reciprocal switching. The challenge will be balancing the wants and needs of shippers and the freight railroads.
The past week in images features a funnel spawned by a wildfire, a trucker who drove his rig into a river and a train honoring the armed forces.
One alternative: The team moves to Las Vegas, though that would keep Howard Terminal in place.
Biden’s executive order calls on the Justice Department to help regulators monitor pricing practices and anticompetition in the container shipping and rail sectors.
U.S. rail carloads showed strength in 19 of 20 commodity categories in June. Second-quarter intermodal traffic climbed 22% even with network congestion and equipment shortages as the backdrop.
A disruption to CN and CP rail service caused by a wildfire is putting the Port of Vancouver under pressure as Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd warn of delays and congestion.
Vince Paperiello has been named to run the multibillion-dollar unit. The business had been run as a group effort for two years, a source says.
NS is working to repair a defect that could affect over 5,000 chassis. The repairs come amid high congestion at terminals and intermodal facilities across the U.S.
CSX hopes an expanded application containing a more in-depth market analysis will persuade the Surface Transportation Board to approve CSX’s request to acquire Pan Am.
