The railroads must work with other supply chain stakeholders and even consider sharing infrastructure in order to maintain an integral role within the broader freight transportation network, experts said at the Transportation Research Board’s annual meeting.
An active Surface Transportation Board and ongoing issues to fully restore rail network capacity are among the issues that industry stakeholders are eyeing in the new year.
Rail service, an active Surface Transportation Board and continued M&A activity were among 2022’s news highlights.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office’s report on precision scheduled railroading serves as a broad overview of how the freight rail industry has changed over the past decade.
The number of employees working for the U.S. operations of the Class I railroads rose 4.4% year over year in November. But some of the employment data submitted to the board should be provided in a more user-friendly way, an attorney representing several unions said.
The STB has rendered decisions on two rules aimed at helping the railroads and shippers resolve small rate disputes.
The Federal Railroad Administration heard starkly different opinions from some railroads and unions about whether the agency should mandate freight train crews of at least two people.
Shippers testified before the Surface Transportation Board on Tuesday about how embargoes affect their operations.
The unions and the freight railroads must repair their relationship and collaborate on improving service if the industry wants to thrive and take more market share, observers told FreightWaves.
Stakeholders are processing their responses to federal actions this week to avert a potential economy-crippling rail strike.
