A trio of shippers groups, CN, Kansas City Southern and Canadian Pacific offer their takes on whether the voting trust associated with the proposed CN-KCS merger is or isn’t in the public interest.
The rail regulatory body sent several letters to Class I railroad heads last week, asking them to provide plans on how they expect to handle workforce and equipment in light of broader supply chain disruptions and anticipated service demand post-pandemic.
The Surface Transportation Board has determined that a waiver that exempted Kansas City Southern from post-2001 merger rules governing rail mergers applies in the proposed merger between KCS and Canadian Pacific.
The Surface Transportation Board’s final rule on what information should be included in a demurrage billing statement provides transparency and accountability in a process shippers sometimes see as opaque.
The Surface Transportation Board defines what billing information should be included in demurrage invoices to rail users as a means to provide more transparency.
Two rail shipper coalition groups and four Class I railroads want the Surface Transportation Board to review Canadian Pacific’s proposed acquisition of Kansas City Southern under “new” rules that gauge whether a merger would enhance market competition.
This transaction will benefit the automotive supply and distribution network throughout North America.
Canadian Pacific wants to acquire Kansas City Southern. Here are five thoughts from Wall Street transportation analysts about the transaction.
Transportation Technology Center Inc. is undergoing a management change that would enable the group to expand work to multiple sites, while the Surface Transportation Board appoints two short line railroad representatives to the Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council. Also, a Manitoba transload facility at the U.S.-Canadian border seeks customers.
Communications between the railroads about fuel surcharges can be included in legal proceedings pertaining to alleged price fixing that occurred in the early 2000s, a federal judge ruled Friday.
During a panel discussion, Home Depot and others talk about how to grow freight rail.
Rail shippers discuss what issues they would like to see addressed in 2021. Among them: further action by the Surface Transportation Board and Congress on ensuring rail competition and adequate rail service.
Tight container market, COVID-19 pandemic concerns and sufficient network capacity are among top concerns of some grain shippers.
Freight trains can carry a multitude of cargo, with car variations to serve each type.
Grain members of Surface Transportation Board advisory committee say the railroads have been supplying sufficient amounts of power and crews to meet service needs.
The independent federal rail agency is looking at the market factors determining exemption from board oversight. The board also separately declared five Class I railroads as being revenue adequate in 2019.
A bountiful harvest, anticipated surge in export volumes as well as wild card factors could test U.S. rail network capacity post-PSR.
The Class I railroads update agencies on service issues; shippers use the opportunity to ask for data collection on first-mile and last-mile movements.
Federal agencies in a “friend of the court” filing say discussions among Class I railroads can be admissible as evidence in dozens of lawsuits involving alleged price fixing.
Shippers’ lawsuits on alleged price fixing on fuel surcharges see continued activity. A hearing is scheduled in August.
FreightWaves Market Expert Mike Baudendistel writes about the issues impacting rail intermodal in 2020, and the ongoing battle between the railroads and the trucking industry.
Railroads once carried much of the fresh produce across the U.S. Can they do it again? Jim Blaze explores the topic in his latest commentary.
Jim Blaze explores whether the Class 1 railroads are downsizing their railcar fleets.
Jim Blaze writes about the potential of short-haul intermodal traffic on the North American Class 1 railroads.
Jim Blaze writes about the financial issues inherent in an Alaska-to-Alberta rail route.
Market Expert Michael Baudendistel writes about rail intermodal volume is lower for the long-term, or can it be more competitive with trucking.
Shippers need to take heed of the Congressional push to allow Amtrak to sue freight railroads over on-time performance.
Jim Blaze writes about the North American railroads KPIs, and what the railroads need to do to increase railcar use, revenue and shipper loyalty.
Market expert Michael Baudendistel writes about whether there is a rail recession, or are railroads paring operations and employees to fatten their bottom lines.
Ben Thrower writes about the positive and negative aspects of precision scheduled railroading in this commentary article.
Jim Blaze writes about Conrail Shared Assets and its accomplishments on behalf of CSX and Norfolk Southern.
Market View commentator Jim Blaze writes about the advantages short line railroads offer to shippers.
To meet future rail demand, stakeholders must confront communication dysfunction.
Market Voice Jim Blaze writes about rail intermodal and what is happening to this area of the railroad sector.
A federal appeals court denies a request by rail shippers to form a class lawsuit, and U.S. Senators press the Surface Transportation Board to take action.
Grain shippers say Congress should take a “fresh look” at railroad policy.
Jim Blaze writes about the pros and cons of shippers owning or leasing their own freight railcars to move their products.
Market expert Jim Blaze writes about the movement of coal by rail. He explores the history of rail-coal; more importantly, he writes about what the future may hold for coal in the U.S. and how that will impact the railroads.
Market expert Jim Blaze dissects the recent Surface Transportation Board hearings on demurrage and accessorial charges. Read his observations on the relationships between the railroads and their shipper customers…
Precision scheduled railroading (PSR) could benefit customers and shippers, but its deployment pace and how shippers respond to changes will be key to its success, panelists said today at the North East Association of Rail Shippers conference in Baltimore, Maryland.
The Grain Transport Report, a weekly publication by the Agricultural Marketing Service (a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture) released information showing that total export inspections for grain (corn, wheat and soybeans) declined 22 percent from the previous week.
Senate confirmation of Patrick Fuchs and Martin Oberman could be catalyst for STB Chairman Ann Begeman to take action on pending shipper proposals.
