OmniTRAX is looking for interested parties seeking to develop commercial facilities along its West Virginia rail lines.

The Class I railroads’ expectations that the second quarter could be rough volume-wise are ringing true.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has determined that existing federal laws preempt a state law that restricted the rail transport of crude oils exceeding a certain vapor pressure limit.

The manufacturer is still producing new railcars but expects market conditions to be rough for a while.

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 future of freight transportation and logistics will emphasize real-time digital solutions, diversity in the workplace and effective collaboration between stakeholders, according to speakers presenting on the final day of FreightWaves’ semiannual event.

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.

The coronavirus pandemic didn’t slow grain movement.

The pandemic is exacerbating existing problems with vendors and software installation, according to a federal report.

Some shipping groups say the Board’s recent actions on demurrage and accessorial charges will help bring about more productive rail rate disputes.

The railcar lessor is looking for further add-ons to its fleet as competitors face pressure from the COVID-19 pandemic and the volatile crude oil market.

Multimillion-dollar backlog will help the rail equipment and locomotive manufacturer stay afloat, executives said.

The COVID-19 pandemic dented volume growth in the first quarter for the privately owned railroad.

The agencies’ report, which uses findings from Sandia National Laboratories, says a crude oil’s vapor pressure shouldn’t factor into deciding whether certain types of crude oil can be transported via rail.

The board hopes the decisions will clarify the controversial practice for stakeholders.

The drop in North American rail traffic could push railcar leasing rates lower.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the structural decline in U.S. coal consumption, are pulling rail volumes downward.

The cuts to train starts are part of the railroad’s wider objective to implement precision scheduled railroading.

Like other railroads, Norfolk Southern is feeling the effect of lower rail volumes because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The effect that the coronavirus pandemic is having on rail volumes could get worse in the coming weeks before things get better, according to executives.

The railway managed to boost its first-quarter net income despite the February rail blockades and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The western U.S. railroad can deploy additional cost reduction measures, but how much cost savings it can realize from those measures will depend on how much rail volumes fall in the second quarter.

Despite lower revenues, the western U.S. railroad saw its first-quarter net income increase as the company trimmed quarterly expenses by 10%.

o hedge against rail volume uncertainty in the second quarter, CSX aims to control costs.

CSX’s (NASDAQ: CSX) first-quarter net profit fell 7.7% amid lower revenues and a record operating ratio. First-quarter 2020 net income was $770 million, or $1 a share, compared with $834 […]

U.S. rail traffic slumps amid pandemic woes, and challenges are likely to persist into the second quarter.

Precision scheduled railroading and its workforce will help CP get through anticipated challenges in the second quarter, company executives said.

The railway’s first-quarter net income slipped on higher income tax expenses. But total revenue rose nearly 16% in the first quarter of 2020 while operating expenses were roughly flat-to-higher.

Investigators with the Transportation Safety Board are urging Transport Canada to consider revising track maintenance regulations since broken rail is appearing as a possible cause for two recent crude train derailments.

Employee counts at U.S. Class I railroads continue to be lower in 2020 than 2019, although total headcount rose slightly from February.

The grant application period is open for groups seeking federal funding for capital projects related to passenger and freight rail.

The railroad will be keeping tabs on operational costs as a way to hedge against the economic uncertainty brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cross-border movements of chemicals and petroleum products, as well as intermodal shipments, helped propel revenue higher.

The company says its “disposal’ of 300 locomotives and its plans to sell 400 more are due to precision scheduled railroading.

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.

The groups want the Federal Railroad Administration to ensure that railroads’ requests to waive certain regulations stem from a true labor shortage.

In terms of financial results for the Class I railroads in 2020, it could get worse before it gets better, according to several Wall Street analysts.

North American rail volumes last week were approaching levels normally seen during Christmas and New Year’s, according to the Association of American Railroads.

A report from Boston Consulting Group suggests that the Class I railroads must look beyond precision scheduled railroading and operating ratios if the industry wants to be a competitive transportation mode.

A bipartisan group of Congressional lawmakers are asking rail transit agencies to order safety and health guidelines that would prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The partnership will produce remote tools that will enable railcar owners and operators to know where their cars are and what is their mileage and cargo capacity.

The new orders require “higher-risk key trains” to slow down their speed in the wintertime.

In an interview with FreightWaves, TRAC Intermodal President and CEO Jennifer Polli describes how her company is handling its business operations against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Eastern U.S. railroad joins CSX and Union Pacific in warning the Securities and Exchange Commission that it could see potential operational and financial impacts because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state’s governor Jay Inslee signed into law a bill that says a freight train crew must have at least two crew members.

Motor vehicles carloads fall nearly 67% as the coronavirus pandemic keeps buyers away from showrooms.

The railroads say the coronavirus pandemic could influence their financial results in 2020, but how deep that impact will be will depend on how long the pandemic lasts.

The railcar manufacturer shut down the Shoals facility for seven days after an employee contracted the coronavirus.

The Canadian railways will have the network capacity to accommodate any sudden surges in demand once the coronavirus pandemic subsides, their executives said.

Freight rail trade and labor groups applaud the U.S. federal government for passing the $2 trillion stimulus package aimed at stabilizing the American economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The rail industry will try to keep business as usual for as long as possible, according to recent notices to customers.

The pandemic may put pressure on U.S. rail volumes, particularly for commodities that support consumer goods, says an Association of American Railroads executive.

The eastern U.S. railroad promotes Vanessa Allen Sutherland to EVP and chief legal officer.

The requests to waive the Federal Railroad Administration’s regulations on random alcohol and drug testing and on certain rail operations are due to social distancing recommendations and an anticipated reduction in staff because of COVID-19.

A final rule that goes into effect in June calls for freight rail carriers involved in higher-risk operations to provide employee training to safeguard against terrorism-related incidents.

Two unions’ petition to the Federal Railroad Administration contends that some Class I railroads have been slow to respond to calls for better workplace sanitation amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Total headcount falls to its lowest level amid continued declines in U.S. rail volumes.

The Class I railroads would need to ensure that Amtrak can meet FRA’s on-time performance metrics for the routes they share with Amtrak.

Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific each have employees who have contracted the virus, and they and those around them are in self-quarantine.

The three Class I railroads have set or will set targets as part of their involvement in a global initiative.

Intermodal volumes slump as the coronavirus cuts North American import and export volume.

The bills call actions such as setting federal penalties for blocked crossings and allowing funding for the construction of more rail-grade crossings.

Economic uncertainties, including the prospect of a coronavirus-induced recession, could spur the railroad to update its 2020 guidance.

The midstream logistics provider and the on-site rail services company say their alliance will provide cost efficiencies at the first and last miles.

Canceled vessel sailings are resulting in too many intermodal containers at the ports and limited container availability inland.

The modifications include extra precautions that follow CDC guidance.

The $248.5 million in grant funding goes to support local and state projects.

Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific say they have contingency plans should the coronavirus threaten to disrupt operations.

The Canadian oil and natural gas producer cited falling crude prices as a reason for temporarily stopping crude shipments via rail.

The drop in weekly intermodal volumes in North America could be a reflection of the impact of coronavirus on the supply chain.

Industry group estimates farmers will face rail blockade-related costs of over C$300 million.

The railroad installed its first-ever train inspection portal southeast of its largest hump yard in Georgia last December.

USD Partners and Gibson Energy will begin construction of a unit in April that will produce a nonhazardous heavy crude product.

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen wants freight and passenger railroads to temporarily alter their sick leave policies and provide stronger sanitizing materials.

The autonomous track inspection technology is mounted on a locomotive, allowing NS to inspect rail track in real time.

The Eastern U.S. railroad moves its leaders to new positions as the railroad continues to roll out its operating model based on precision scheduled railroading.

Excluding coal carloads, U.S. carloads in February fell only 0.8% from last year, according to the Association of American Railroads.

With the possibility of rail blockades fading, the railway is seeking to ramp up its eastern operations again after it had shut them down for roughly two weeks because of protests.

William J. Flynn was formerly CEO of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, and his leadership experience spans the air cargo, freight railroad and maritime industries.

The tentative agreement could help bring an end to protests on the country’s freight transportation network.

The rail industry could see merger activity in the next five to 10 years should the regulatory and economic environment make them necessary.

The rule, effective on April 3, addresses concerns of shippers, particularly those involved in paper products, steel scrap and agricultural goods.

Positive train control has been fully implemented on the Class I rail network, with 48% of the network able to communicate with tenant railroads.

2019’s $1.2 billion in investments spans consumer, agricultural, industrial products industries

U.S. rail traffic maintains its slump for another week

Law enforcement may have broken up protesters’ rail blockade near Belleville, Ontario, but it’s uncertain when freight rail operations will return to normal. Stakeholders along Canada’s supply chain are also still jittery over the potential for additional blockades.

Uncertainty is still an underlying theme facing North American freight railroads.

Authorities have cleared a key route between Toronto and Montreal after protesters blocked the rail route for over two weeks.

Lower operating expenses helped buoy BNSF’s quarterly and annual profits despite declines in rail volumes and revenue.

Slumping rail volumes and the Class I railroads’ operational efficiency efforts contribute to the headcount decline.

The rail equipment manufacturer and lessor is reducing deliveries of new railcars at the start of 2020, but it’s eyeing an improving market later this year.

Year-to-date U.S. rail traffic is over 6% lower than the same period in 2019.

Private equity firm Stonepeak hopes the acquisition of TRAC Intermodal, a marine chassis pool manager and equipment provider, will beef up Stonepeak’s infrastructure and transportation market portfolio.

The rail equipment manufacturer and lessor managed to increase quarterly revenues despite a slump in North American railcar demand.

Canadian National lays off employees, industry groups warn of significant supply chain disruptions and government and First Nations leaders continue to discuss the multi-day protests that have blocked portions of Canada’s rail network.

The Eastern U.S. rail company cites declining coal volumes and fewer utilized locomotives as contributing factors for the closure.

The rail equipment and locomotive manufacturer eyes freight opportunities abroad amid a sluggish North American freight rail market.

The rail equipment and locomotive manufacturer benefits from its merger with GE Transportation.

Rail disruptions cause operational issues at the ports of Vancouver and Halifax.