Market alliances that seek to convert truck traffic east and west of the Mississippi River could be a way for Canadian Pacific to grow its network, executives said during the second-quarter 2021 earnings call Wednesday.

Supply chain congestion is more about issues with throughput among various stakeholders and less about Norfolk Southern’s ability to handle volumes, executives said during NS’ second-quarter 2021 earnings call Wednesday.

CP’s second-quarter 2021 revenue totaled $1.64 billion in U.S. dollars.

A 24% increase in operating revenue contributed to record second-quarter net income of $819 million for Norfolk Southern.

Both Union Pacific and BNSF have taken to rerouting trains because large wildfires have temporarily closed portions of their networks in Northern California.

Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., doesn’t want federal regulators to approve a voting trust that Canadian railway CN would establish as part of the process to acquire Kansas City Southern.

Employment levels in June for the U.S. operations of the Class I railroads held steady from May, although U.S. rail volumes grew by one-fifth over the same period.

JAXPORT saw a 15% increase in container volume and a 20% growth in vehicle volumes for the first three quarters of its 2021 fiscal year, the Florida port said Monday.

APM Terminals on the U.S. Gulf Coast wants potential importing customers to know it has access to the Midwest via five Class I railroads.

Two groups announced this month their separate efforts to increase supply chain visibility. One technology tool focuses on locating railcars and another aims to forecast volumes at the Port of Los Angeles.

STB Chairman Marty Oberman has sent letters to all the Class I railroads asking them how the railroads are applying storage fees at key container terminals while the supply chain is congested.

Supply chain disruptions for international intermodal are likely to last through the end of the year, Union Pacific President and CEO Lance Fritz said during the second-quarter earnings call on Thursday.

CSX wants to come up with long-lasting strategies to hire talent so that it can ensure that it can grow capacity in the future, said CSX President and CEO Jim Foote during the company’s second-quarter 2021 earnings call on Wednesday.

Union Pacific’s second-quarter 2021 net income grew 59% from a year ago to $1.8 billion amid a 30% gain in operating revenue.

The sale of property rights of CSX-owned line segments in Virginia more than doubled CSX’s net earnings for the second quarter of 2021 compared with a year ago. Net profit was $1.17 billion in the second quarter.

Customers’ push to manage inventories will support rail volumes in the second half of the year, even though potential headwinds in the form of wildfires, supply chain congestion and COVID-19 loom.

Higher revenues propelled CN’s adjusted net income for the second quarter to grow by 16.5% to CA$1.06 billion.

Fiscal year 2021 was a record year at the Port of Virginia, with an increase in loaded imports and volume growth for empty export boxes.

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.

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.

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.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is awarding $905 million to 24 infrastructure projects. Among those are a handful of projects that involve making freight rail movements more efficient.

The railroad is seeking businesses looking to develop industrial facilities on two sites in Texas and Montana.

TRAC Intermodal details in a case study how it partnered with ZIM Integrated Shipping Services to develop a dedicated chassis pool at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Federal funding and private investments lend support to the supply chain infrastructure surrounding the Port of Savannah.

Canadian Pacific and CN note the end of the public comment period for CN’s proposed voting trust, which would be used to acquire Kansas City Southern. But in order for regulators to review the voting trust application, the Surface Transportation Board may need to clarify further the parameters for gauging whether a rail merger is in the public interest, some stakeholders say.

May’s container movements at the Jacksonville port beat the previous record set in October 2019.

Monday is the last day that stakeholders can express their views to the Surface Transportation Board over CN’s proposed voting trust that will be used to acquire KCS. Canadian Pacific says it has the support of North Dakota congressional leaders, while CN touts support from Gulf Coast and southern Plains leaders.

Employment levels at the U.S. operations of Class I railroads were flat to higher from April to May. But year-over-year totals show a nearly 3% decline. Meanwhile, the Class I railroads say they’re actively hiring and training in 2021.

Canadian Pacific and CN each say they have the backing of Upper Midwest grain shippers as both seek to merge with Kansas City Southern.

CSX will be using Wabtec’s technology aimed at reducing emissions and improving fuel efficiency for locomotives.

FreightWaves discusses why and how the Water Institute of the Gulf is developing a digital platform monitoring shoaling on the Mississippi River.

The project to expand the Howard Street Tunnel has received federal environmental approvals, bringing the $466 million project closer to fruition. The expansion will enable the tunnel to accommodate double-stacked container trains, which could benefit the nearby Port of Baltimore.

CN and Canadian Pacific are rounding up support for their respective plans to acquire Kansas City Southern. Regulators are accepting public comments on CN’s voting trust through next Monday. CN would use the voting trust as part of the process to acquire KCS.

About CA$95 million of the CA$3 billion 2021 capital investment budget will go toward projects in Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba and New Brunswick.

Enstructure seeks to expand East Coast and inland terminal presence; Texas short line operator TNW and advocacy group OneRail Coalition announce executive changes.

Ocean carriers and Class I railroads both agree that chassis shortages are contributing to volume congestion. But solutions to relieve the congestion rely on multiple supply chain stakeholders, say the railroads.

CN continues to insist that it has widespread support for its plans to acquire Kansas City Southern. That support includes the voting trust proposal that CN would use as part of the merger process.

A G&W subsidiary has acquired a facility formerly known as the Port of Ivory. The subsidiary will conduct bulk transfer operations at the site for agricultural products and chemicals.

Port Tampa Bay will become one of three Gulf Coast ports accepting containerized cargo from fruit importer Dole.

Wabtec and General Motors have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop and commercialize GM’s advanced battery technology and its fuel cell technology for Wabtec’s locomotives.

South Carolina Ports is touting two new export facilities projects that will have access to the Port of Charleston: a production facility and distribution center for winemaker Gallo and an agricultural transload facility run by Northwest Grains.

The Surface Transportation Board is accepting public comments on CN’s and Kansas City Southern’s voting trust proposal. KCS asserts its financial strength while Canadian Pacific circulates a union’s negative feedback on the CN-KCS merger.

Reducing dwell times for equipment and at the terminals is one way the Class I railroads are seeking to relieve systemwide supply chain congestion, according to executives at recent investor conferences.

Chief Innovation Officer Brain Hancock is retiring from Kansas City Southern, while Jason Morris will succeed Scott Weaver as vice president of labor relations.

Adding or extending sidings, particularly on three key routes, will reduce delays and improve network fluidity, UP said.

Former Surface Transportation Board Vice Chairman William Clyburn Jr. recommends that STB approve the voting trust proposed by CN and Kansas City Southern.

The American Chemistry Council wants the Surface Transportation Board to look into whether operational changes and cost cutting exacerbated the rail service issues that chemicals shippers have been having in the first half of this year.

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.

CSX has appointed Kevin Boone as executive vice president of sales and marketing and has named Sean Pelkey as interim CFO. Mark Wallace, who was EVP of sales and marketing, will remain as an EVP as he undergoes cancer treatment.

FreightWaves recently chatted with Brian E. Gorton, Conrail’s new president and chief operating officer, to discuss his vision for Conrail and what opportunities lie ahead for the Northeast terminal railroad jointly owned by CSX and Norfolk Southern.

U.S. rail volumes climbed nearly 30% in May from last year’s pandemic-induced troughs. Intermodal traffic has boosted rail volumes this year and could continue to do so in spite of capacity constraints at U.S. ports.

Consulting firm FTR expects railcar orders and deliveries to grow as North American railcar utilization increases amid growing volumes and owners seek to scrap less-utilized cars.

President Joe Biden’s budget for the Federal Railroad Administration supports funding to rehabilitate Amtrak, expand passenger rail service and provide continued support to grant programs.

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 American Chemistry Council, which represents chemicals shippers, wants the Surface Transportation Board to scrutinize proposed Class I rail mergers to ensure that shippers don’t encounter reduced offerings.

he U.S. Department of Agriculture is forecasting lower export volumes for corn, wheat and soybeans for the 2021-2022 crop year. The agency also expects record overall U.S. farm exports for fiscal year 2021. Also, U.S. rail volumes on a weekly basis were flat to lower from the prior week.

Federal prosecutors in Illinois have indicted six former railroad employees for allegedly fraudulently obtaining federal disability benefits.

CSX needs more data in its market analysis, the Surface Transportation Board said. CSX plans to resubmit its application.

To sweeten the voting trust application before regulators, CN and Kansas City Southern are offering to divest 70 miles of a KCS line in an area of Louisiana where both railroads have competing lines in order to create an “end-to-end” network.

April employment levels at the U.S. operations of the Class I railroads were up 0.42% from March but down 7% year-over-year.

This AskWaves article explains what Class I, Class II and Class III railroads are and why they exist.

News briefs outline U.S. rail volumes, expanded service offerings by TNW Corporation and The Andersons, OmniTRAX rail-ready sites in northeast Ohio and milestones at the Transportation Technology Center complex in Pueblo, Colorado.

Kansas City Southern has opted for CN’s merger offer. It is terminating an existing merger agreement it has with Canadian Pacific.

Kevin Hill, FreightWaves’ executive publisher, chats with Michael Newcity, chief innovation officer and president of ArcBest Technologies, during FreightWaves LIVE @HOME.

Four rail labor groups have banded together to warn regulators about potential post-merger efforts to trim labor costs, while investment banking firm Cowen says regulators’ denial of CN’s voting trust signals that CN will have to make a strong case for its proposed merger.

Canadian Pacific wants Kansas City Southern to reject CN’s competing merger offer. The railway also said it won’t engage in a bidding war.

Schneider Logistics SVP and General Manager Erin Van Zeeland chats with TriumphPay VP of Sales and Marketing Haley Evans about the top challenges facing logistics companies and what they can do to overcome them.

Improving market conditions should support BNSF’s financials in 2021, said S&P on why it modified its ratings for the privately held railroad.

Rising rail traffic and lower numbers of railcars in storage should benefit FreightCar America, as should anticipated market demand to replace an aging railcar fleet, executives said during Monday’s first-quarter earnings call.

The technology upgrades at 12 points of entry along the borders of Canada and Mexico will enable U.S. Customs and Border Protection to inspect rail cargo more quickly and securely, according to CBP.

Following the Surface Transportation Board’s decision on Monday regarding CN’s proposed merger with Kansas City Southern, both CN and Canadian Pacific remained confident that each is the better suitor for KCS.

Executives with wireless network provider Ondas Networks describe how private telecommunications networks benefit the Class I railroads as well as other transportation modes.

Wabtec’s battery-electric locomotive can reduce a train’s fuel consumption by 11%, a three-month study involving the company, BNSF and the San Joaquin Pollution Control District found.

Democratic leaders with the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure want the General Accountability Office to examine the effects that precision scheduled railroading has had on freight and passenger rail operations, rail safety and the labor workforce.

The Surface Transportation Board has decided that it would review a proposed merger between CN and Kansas City Southern under newer, stricter merger rules. The board also denied for now CN’s request to form a voting trust, saying CN’s application is incomplete.

U.S. rail traffic slipped last week from the prior week, although they’re still up by double-digit percentage points year-over-year, according to data from the Association of American Railroads.

FreightWaves looks at five themes that ran throughout the earnings discussions of the Class I railroads.

CN revised its bid to acquire KCS; CP said it will not seek to counterbid.

Pioneer Lines, Kansas City Southern and Conrail have appointed new leaders.

The U.S. Department of Transportation wants the Surface Transportation Board to take up Amtrak’s request asking to establish passenger service between Mobile and New Orleans.

Rivals Canadian Pacific and CN separately submit more statements of support to the Surface Transportation Board in a bid to show which Canadian railway is best suited to merge with Kansas City Southern.

Freight car and rail parts manufacturer National Steel Car is extending a suspension of operations at its facility Hamilton, Ontario, amid a local order and COVID-19 cases at the facility.

The Surface Transportation Board has approved the voting trust that Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern plan to make as part of the merger process between the two companies.

A market recovery is underway for railcar lessors and equipment manufacturers, but the market also has a ways to go before it bounces back completely, according to industry observations.

Steel and chemicals were among the commodities that showed volume strength in April, according to the Association of American Railroads. North American intermodal volumes grew 10.5% in the first quarter, said the Intermodal Association of North America.

Anticipated growth for intermodal will help to support Hub Group’s investments for that sector in 2021.

Billionaire and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, the largest shareholder of Canadian railway CN, is giving 14.1 million shares of the company to soon-to-be ex-wife Melinda Gates.

Union Pacific to open an intermodal terminal in Southern California, Port of South Louisiana completes rail yard, plus two appointments: Michael McCarthy to become SMBC Rail Services president and CEO, and Karen Carriere joins Transportation Technology Center Inc. as executive director of technical services.

Amtrak must follow new on-time performance metrics starting July 1. Democratic congressional leaders and the Surface Transportation Board are looking at different ways to help Amtrak reach that goal. Amtrak and the freight railroads share track in certain U.S. regions.