With the second half of the year just weeks away, Class I rail executives are eyeing at least some recovery in rail volumes as shelter-in-place restrictions ease.
Jim Blaze explores the pontential for a merger or mergers among the Class 1 railroads.
Although rail traffic is still down significantly over 2019, that wide difference in volumes could be slowly starting to narrow.
Railroad volumes continue to drop. What might they do to increase volumes? Where are the volume increases going to come from?
Despite U.S. rail traffic remaining sharply lower on a year-over-year basis, rail volumes for commodities such as grain and motor vehicles and parts helped to push volumes higher on a week-to-week basis.
The Class I railroads are hoping that the restart of U.S. automotive production will be one of the first significant steps towards growing rail volumes. Automakers are resuming production as weekly U.S. carloads tumble 30% year-over-year, the widest decline since 1988.
The Class I railroads’ expectations that the second quarter could be rough volume-wise are ringing true.
Moody’s says rail volumes could slip 15% or more in 2020. Meanwhile, IANA confirms declines in international intermodal volumes in the first quarter.
The COVID-19 pandemic sent U.S. rail volumes tumbling last month. But now, stakeholders are looking at the shape and scope of an eventual recovery.
Like all industries, the coronavirus has impacted railroads. What should they be doing to gain market share and better serve their customers?
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the structural decline in U.S. coal consumption, are pulling rail volumes downward.
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic the Class I railroads were mothballing freight cars – and locomotives. Jim Blaze examines the issues surrounding the surplus of locomotives.
U.S. rail traffic slumps amid pandemic woes, and challenges are likely to persist into the second quarter.
The pandemic’s economic toll has hit all sectors of transportation, including rail. Read how railroads can manage costs during this global crisis.
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic is shrinking U.S. rail volumes as the housing construction and retail sectors struggle to stay afloat.
Other factors beyond the coronavirus pandemic are weighing on U.S. rail volumes for grain.
North American rail volumes last week were approaching levels normally seen during Christmas and New Year’s, according to the Association of American Railroads.
Transporting grain is a major source of revenue for the railroads. How will the coronavirus impact the grain market and the railroads?
Jim Blaze looks at the declining need for railroad tank cars. Why is this happening and what’s next?
Motor vehicles carloads fall nearly 67% as the coronavirus pandemic keeps buyers away from showrooms.
