Canadian National Railway

The railway cited the labor strike and weak freight demand in lower fourth-quarter profits.

Organizations may lobby Parliament to declare rail service an essential service so that access remains available during events such as labor strikes.

Jim Blaze profiles TTX, a company that is essential to the railroad industry.

The railway will work with NorFalco Sales, a division of Glencore Canada, to handle sulfuric acid volumes at facilities in Ontario and Quebec.

Drop in imports and exports in November occurred as Canadian National network’s capacity declined by 90% amid an eight-day rail worker strike.

Lower rail volumes, an active Surface Transportation Board and a strike were among the key events that the U.S. and Canadian freight rail industry experienced this year.

Market Expert Michael Baudendistel writes about rail intermodal volume is lower for the long-term, or can it be more competitive with trucking.

Teck Resources opts not to renew 10-year deal for the transport of metallurgical coal.

CNl estimates eight-day disruption will trim C$0.15 per share from profits as CEO assures that recovery plan is “delivering results.”

Canadian SONAR data show that trucks helped fill the void as rail capacity left the market – and then got a nice bump as it returned.

CN CEO said railway is focusing on safety as it resumes normal operations after eight-day strike that rippled across Canada’s rail supply chain.

Jim Blaze writes about the power and influence of mentors on a person’s career and life.

Normal rail service to resume on Nov. 27, ending a week-long strike that has shaken Canada’s supply chain.

Federal Minister of Agriculture suggests government would consider back-to-work legislation or binding arbitration for striking Teamsters members as disruption brings 37% in drop in Canadian National revenue ton-miles and worsening supply-chain conditions across the country.

The bill introduced by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) would allow Amtrak to sue freight railroads for not giving Amtrak preference on freight rail-owned track.

Rail executives discussed short-term strategies for growing rail volumes amid expectations that volumes won’t pick up until well into 2020.

Transport Minister Marc Garneau insists that a deal between Candian National and Teamsters offers the best way to get trains moving again as walkout by 3,200 workers hits Canada’s supply chain and threatens the economy.

The strike, coupled with and trade uncertainty, could hit businesses hard, groups say.

The railway is confident that the momentum to deploy technology initiatives will continue.

Federal minister urges Canadian National and Teamsters to reach agreement as walkout by 3,200 conductors, transpersons and yard workers continues.

The railway cited challenging economic headwinds and could release up to 1,600 employees.

Railway rebounds after slow start in August and September.

Freight railroads need push to ensure Amtrak’s trains are on time, Durbin says.

The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference could go on strike as early as Nov. 19 should talks deteriorate with Canadian National.

Despite lowering its operating ratio, the railroad tempers its 2019 outlook.

Reports have been surfacing that the Alberta government could grant more crude-by-rail contracts.

The railroads say the union refuses to negotiate on train crew size as both sides prepare for a new collective bargaining agreement.

Heading into earnings season, the railroads clearly have a revenue headwind as carloads declined again in the latest week.

The railway grappled with not only the potential for cold temperatures but also macro uncertainty in crafting plan.

Executives at North America’s major railroads are making the case that intermodal service will be more reliable and consistent after a year of major service changes. This comes as weakness […]

Millions in private and public funding are going toward the two western Canadian ports.

Grain shippers wonder if the Canadian railways will keep up with demand in the 2019-20 crop year.

Slumping coal demand, trade wars and a competitive truck market are weighing on rail volumes for the remainder of the year.

The line serves communities in western New York and eastern Canada near the St. Lawrence River.

Market Voice Jim Blaze writes about rail intermodal and what is happening to this area of the railroad sector.

CSX and Canadian National’s partnership to create new intermodal service between Montreal and Toronto and the greater New York City area is a strategy to expand each other’s geographical reach and compete with the long-haul trucking market.

The record occurred despite extreme weather conditions that stymied rail shipments in February and March, as well as restrictions on Canadian canola exports to China, the railway said.

There is some uncertainty for commodities such as grain, lumber, coal and crude, but Canadian National (NYSE: CNI) leaders are “cautiously optimistic” about volumes and how the company might perform in the second half of the year.

Canadian National (NYSE: CNI) reported increases in net profit and revenue in the second quarter of 2019, with its acquisition of trucking and transportation provider TransX providing both higher revenue and costs.

While operational efficiencies get the credit for a freight railroad’s improved operating ratio, other factors, such as changes in fuel prices and increases in freight rates, play significant roles according to a research paper by a law firm representing shippers in Canada.

Rail volumes were off again for the week ending June 29, 2019 with U.S. railroads reporting a 5.5 percent decline.

The transition to e-commerce and anticipated advances in automated trucking are forcing the freight railroads to adapt to supply chains that require railroads to be more responsive and nimble. One way that the railroads are seeking to address this challenge is by hiring executives outside of the railroading community, in the hopes that placing a non-rail executive in a leadership role will help the railroad weather systemic changes within the supply chain.

“It’s just a confusing time for all of us in transportation and anybody in manufacturing or business in general to have a really good sense of why we’re seeing this kind of softness,” said CSX chief executive officer Jim Foote.

Canadian National’s (NYSE: CNI) strategy to build up its eastern network could include even more partnerships with trucking and intermodal partners, the company’s chief executive officer said at an investor conference.

Only 17 percent of the relationships between the U.S. passenger and freight railroads required to utilize positive train control technology have interoperability, meaning that the host railroad can communicate with a non-host train through the technology, according to data released by the Federal Railroad Administration.

Government agency Transport Canada has released a proposed regulation requiring the use of video and voice recorders in locomotive cabs of freight trains operating in Canada.

“The board has the authority to define reasonable practices. If you were in our shoes, what would you do?” said Surface Transportation Board vice chairman Patrick Fuchs to a panel representing BNSF, Canadian National and Canadian Pacific.

Canadian rail volumes rose again year-to-date for the week ended May 11, while U.S. rail volumes continued downward amid U.S. tariff uncertainty and a fuzzy economic picture.

FreightWaves market expert Jim Blaze looks at a regulatory spat between Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway over the concept of “open access.” Learn why that is important to all railroads – and shippers!

A Canadian National (NYSE: CNI) subsidiary has acquired the intermodal assets of Alberta-based H&R Transport, a company that specializes in the over-the-road, temperature-controlled service. The acquisition will expand CN’s presence […]