freight railroads

Regulators may consider more oversight as a way to improve rail volumes.

What are stakeholders in the freight rail space keeping an eye on in 2024? Here’s a starter list.

The Federal Railroad Administration submitted its proposed rulemaking on train crew staffing to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget for review.

Intermodal rail might still face pressure from a loose truck market in 2024, but intermodal rail providers could see volumes grow longer term if they keep service humming, according to Breakthrough’s chief economist.

The U.S. freight rail industry got schooled in 2023 on issues including the three R’s: rail safety, reciprocal switching and relationships.

The Federal Railroad Administration is providing over $8 billion in grants that will support two high-speed rail projects as well as capital improvements on existing rail corridors that carry both passenger rail and freight rail traffic.

Will Congress pass any rail safety bills before 2023 ends? One consultant thinks the answer is probably no.

Dozens of industry stakeholders, from individual Class I railroads to multiple shipper groups to the trade unions, offered their input on what’s wrong and what’s right about the Surface Transportation Board’s proposed rulemaking on reciprocal switching.

The National Transportation Safety Board wants freight and passenger railroads to incorporate new technologies that boost the effectiveness of existing positive train control technologies.

The Federal Railroad Administration has awarded $16.4 billion to 25 passenger rail projects, many of which are in the busy Northeast corridor. Freight rail may also benefit from the projects.

Rail electrification and locomotives powered by green hydrogen are two goals that the rail industry and federal and state leaders should adopt, according to the Sierra Club’s revised statement on how to encourage clean transportation for the railroads.

Higher labor expenses, reduced volumes and regulatory uncertainty were among the third quarter’s headwinds for railroads, according to Susquehanna transportation analyst Bascome Majors.

Wisconsin Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin and West Virginia Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito want the Surface Transportation Board to “move swiftly” on reciprocal switching.

This AskWaves article looks at how a U.S. federal government shutdown would affect freight rail operations and proposed rail safety and economic rulemakings.

Australia-headquartered Martinus is making its first North American acquisition — Missouri-based Bottom Line Co., a railroad contractor specializing in rail infrastructure maintenance.

Research and development initiatives in the freight rail industry should turn their focus on integrating systems that are typically siloed in railroad operations, sources tell FreightWaves.

The heads of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers want swift action on the rail safety bill that passed the Senate Commerce Committee last month.

The new regulations calling for zero-emissions configurations by as early as 2030 are too lofty in part because technologies are not yet commercially viable.

Calls to remove Surface Transportation Board Chairman Marty Oberman are misguided in light of regulatory efforts that Oberman and the current board have undertaken, labor groups tell President Joe Biden.

The Association of American Railroads has outlined eight ways that the freight rail industry and the federal government can work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Two regulations proposed by the Federal Railroad Administration call for freight railroads to create programs to certify train dispatchers and signal employees.

The Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO wants Congress to pass a rail safety bill that addresses train crew sizes, train lengths and inspection times.

A hearing held by the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on freight rail supply chain challenges focused on a range of topics.

The Senate Commerce Committee passed the Railway Safety Act, sending the bill to the Senate floor for a vote. But will it have smooth sailing?

FreightWaves discussed with Railroad Workers United organizer Ron Kaminkow what craft union employees need from the railroads to improve morale.

The California Air Resources Board has passed a regulation that compels freight and locomotive operators in California to adopt technologies to reduce locomotive emissions and phase out diesel locomotives.

Two congressional representatives from Ohio have introduced a rail safety bill that they say would build off of NTSB’s findings into the cause of the Feb. 3 derailment of a Norfolk Southern train.

Norfolk Southern notified federal officials about loose wheels, and the Association of American Railroads put out an advisory to halt the use of rail cars that might have this issue.

The Federal Railroad Administration collects a lot of data related to rail safety. What does that research show when it comes to the performance of the Class I railroads?

Freight railroads face fierce competition

Nineteen states plus the District of Columbia are supporting Ohio’s request for the Supreme Court to take up the issue of whether states have the regulatory authority to regulate railroad traffic, particularly when it comes to blocked crossings.

The Federal Railroad Administration heard starkly different opinions from some railroads and unions about whether the agency should mandate freight train crews of at least two people.

The unions and the freight railroads must repair their relationship and collaborate on improving service if the industry wants to thrive and take more market share, observers told FreightWaves.

Stakeholders are processing their responses to federal actions this week to avert a potential economy-crippling rail strike.

A rail strike could lift spot truckload prices and support a market that’s been soft, sources said. But should a strike continue, expect congestion and higher costs.

If a prolonged rail worker strike happens, expect cross-border commodities such as cars, auto parts and Mexican beer to be bogged down.

President Joe Biden is compelling Congress to intervene if there is a rail strike — and hinting that both sides should accept the labor agreement as it stands.

In a letter sent Monday to legislative leaders, trade groups warn of a financial disaster should a railroad strike occur on Dec. 9.

Is a rail strike imminent? Here are five things that might help you understand how we got here.

One railroad union has voted to ratify its labor agreement while another has split its vote, raising the prospect of a rail strike.

The American Chemistry Council says a rail strike lasting a month or longer could significantly damage the U.S. economy.

TTD, a union coalition affiliated with the AFL-CIO, is asking Congress for regulation that would hold freight railroads to maintain sufficient infrastructure investments and workforce levels.

Both the railroads and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way – Employes Division say the extension will help all parties make the best decision on how to proceed with the outstanding tentative labor agreements.

The rail division of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers will ratify the latest tentative labor agreement between itself and the freight railroads.

FreightWaves chats with a representative of the rail division of the International Association of Machinists about the labor agreement talks with the freight railroads.

Federal board wants four Class I railroads to continue submitting rail service data that shows how service is improving.

Concerns that not all of the unions will agree to ratify their labor agreements have caused rail shippers and other transportation industry stakeholders to push President Joe Biden to act.

BRS follows the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division, which earlier this month rejected the tentative labor agreement.

Railroad Workers United recently adopted a resolution calling for public ownership of U.S. rail infrastructure. FreightWaves chats with an RWU member on why the group wants the change.

The National Carriers’ Conference Committee signaled that freight railroads will reject the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division’s counteroffer on a new labor deal.

Freight and passenger rail carriers must develop actionable items to prevent a cyberattack from crippling the rail network, according to a new TSA security directive.

The National Conference of Firemen & Oilers voted by a nearly 59% margin to approve its labor agreement with the freight railroads.

A labor agreement with U.S. freight railroads passed the latest ratification test with members of the mechanical and engineering division of SMART-TD voting to accept the contract.

Labor negotiations and rail service issues dominated an otherwise quiet third quarter.

American Train Dispatchers Association members have approved the new labor contract with freight railroads by a 64% majority vote.

Modern freight railroads

AskWaves looks at what carbon calculators are and why potential and existing customers of freight rail might benefit from them.

Thanks to a federal grant, the Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University will be working with four other colleges to develop climate-resiliency strategies and tools for U.S. freight and passenger railroads.

Two more unions, whose membership totals about 6,000 freight rail employees, have tentatively agreed to a new labor contract that calls for substantial wage increases.

Peak harvest season begins in the U.S. soon, and grain shippers are hoping rail service will be able to meet market demand.

Two of the larger unions, BLET and SMART-TD, were unable to reach a tentative labor agreement last week. But both “remain committed” to reaching one.

Three railroad unions plan to send their members a tentative labor agreement for ratification. However, there are still nine unions that have yet to strike a deal.

Railroad union representatives have been reticent publicly about how they plan to proceed with contract talks following last week’s recommendations from an independent board.

The American Chemistry Council says freight rail service still leaves much to be desired, despite the railroads’ efforts to improve.

The presidential emergency board is charged with examining the sticking points in the stalled contract negotiations between U.S. freight railroads and their unions.

President Joe Biden on Friday signed an executive order calling for a three-person board to investigate the issues behind the contract discord between the railroads and unions.

Comparing Amtrak and Freight Railroads

AskWaves looks at the many varied functions that the 56-year-old Federal Railroad Administration performs for passenger and freight rail.

Amid soaring inflation and supply chain crunches, the United States’ key rail regulator has been mired in political antics.

The National Mediation Board has ended mediation between the freight railroads and unions over a new labor agreement and is offering arbitration, both sides say.

The Federal Railroad Administration said Thursday that 46 projects across the U.S. have received more than $368 million in grants for rail-related infrastructure improvements.

AskWaves defines what the common carrier obligation is and why the concept has garnered attention lately.

Class I railroads’ offer of advance payments is rebuffed by one union as contract talks continue.

Congress should fund the Surface Transportation Board, agreed panelists at a U.S. House hearing on the board’s funding reauthorization. But they disagree on what STB’s role should be in regulating the freight railroads.

The company, which seeks to create autonomous battery-electric rail vehicles, will use the funding to support a 29-month advanced testing program of its technology.

Infrastructure and capacity expansion projects, regulatory uncertainties and progress toward supply chain visibility and sustainability are the themes that rail and intermodal stakeholders have set their sights on in 2022.

Several rail shippers had asked the Surface Transportation Board to temporarily suspend a proceeding on a voluntary arbitration program for small rate disputes, but the board denied that request.

Freight Railroads Keep American Moving

Air Canada is adding cargo capacity equivalent in weight to 860 adult moose in and out of Vancouver.

The Surface Transportation Board is advancing two rulemakings on small rate disputes concurrently to determine how best to address such disputes. The railroads prefer one rulemaking while shippers prefer another.

Freight railroads are committed to delivering the best possible service product for customers and consumers

The Association of American Railroads applauds the 24/7 approach to container operations, which the association says is similar to the way freight railroads function.

You can’t blame carriers for refusing to stick by a handshake agreement to sell service at pre-negotiated rates or at a discount.

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.

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

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.

The costs to electrify freight rail in the U.S., albeit expensive, extend beyond strictly capital costs to questions about electric grid reliability and how best to address decarbonization.

Witnesses at a U.S. House hearing on Wednesday stressed the need for a multimodal approach in federal support of the railroads, citing freight rail’s connection with both rural, inland towns and coastal ports.

From volume volatility to a busy board, here are five themes that dominated the rail industry this year.

Using artificial intelligence to cull insights from freight transportation’s massive amounts of data can not only encourage safe environments, It also has the potential to improve productivity and efficiency, as well as provide supply chain visibility that benefits all stakeholders, says a tech executive.

What won and what lost in the third quarter for the rails?

Overall, there will be lower rail volume levels continuing into the first quarter of 2021.

The bond credit ratings firm updates its outlook for the freight rail industry from negative to stable amid rising rail volumes.

A politician’s perceived influence over transportation policy may factor into who gets financial support.

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $1 billion in BUILD grants. A handful of those grants went to projects improving freight rail traffic flows.

About 25% of the total railcar fleet is in storage of one kind or another. Jim Blaze writes about best practices of rail storage.

The waivers were given to passenger and freight railroads because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

15.6 million masks from FEMA going out to trucking, maritime, rail sectors.