When responding to requests for proposals in the contract bidding process, rail and intermodal service providers should tout not only their competitive pricing but why shippers should diversify their modal options.
Trade uncertainties, softness in the manufacturing sector contributed to lower rail volumes in January.
Jim Blaze writes about the long, slow decline of coal as the key commodity for railroads, and whether plastics might replace the lost volume.
The railroad is reducing its capital expenditures budget for this year, but it will allocate more funding toward replacing and upgrading network infrastructure.
Members overwhelmingly ratified the agreement with Canadian National. The collective agreement will last through July 2022.
FreightWaves SONAR has new information for subscribers.
The drop comes as the Class I railroads look to the second half of 2020 for volume growth.
Union Pacific opens lanes, while Norfolk Southern talks lane opportunities to take market share from trucks.
Recent trade developments should help rail volumes improve, particularly in the second half of 2020, executives said.
Railroad giant Norfolk Southern Corp.’s fourth-quarter profit declined 5% as the company hauled 9% less freight, officials said. Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) reported its operating and financial results for the fourth quarter of 2019 before the market opened Wednesday. Norfolk Southern (NS) reported total revenues of $2.7 billion in the fourth quarter, down 7% year-over-year, […]
Year-to-date U.S. rail traffic is 7.8% lower compared with the same period in 2019.
Employment levels at the U.S. operations of the Class I railroads hit their lowest point in years, according to data from the Surface Transportation Board.
Railroad expert Jim Blaze writes about coal, a key commodity hauled by rail. The amount of coal being hauled by rail is declining. Why? And what does the future hold?
Service improvements will help grow rail volumes and revenue, the company said during its fourth-quarter earnings call Friday.
Jim Blaze explores the decline of railroad freight volume and what may happen going forward.
Net profit for Kansas City Southern (NYSE: KSU) slipped in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to the prior year, but revenues were 5% higher amid increases for chemicals and petroleum and industrial and consumer products. Fourth-quarter net income was $127.2 million, or $1.30 diluted earnings per share, compared with $161.1 million, or $1.59 diluted […]
Net earnings fell 8.5% in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared with the same period a year ago.
Darren Prokop explains why Positive Train Control – a positive safety measure for “Lower 48” railroads – doesn’t make sense for the Alaska Railroad.
U.S. carloads and intermodal units are down year to date from the same period in 2019.
Improving rail volumes and service are among the crucial issues to look out for as the railroads reveal their 2020 guidance in the coming days.
Jim Blaze profiles TTX, a company that is essential to the railroad industry.
The rail equipment manufacturer and lessor has tapped a Caterpillar executive and Trinity board member to head the company.
Technology will have a key role, but how will shippers and labor benefit from the railroads’ high-tech initiatives, panel asks.
The Denver-based short line operator promotes from within for the new roles.
The bill would prohibit the transport of crude oil via rail if the Reid vapor pressure of the crude oil exceeds 9.5 pounds per square inch.
Railway Age reports industry veteran will lead the RSI Equipment Leasing Committee.
Association of American Railroads reports volumes continue to run lower than a year ago.
Jim Blaze writes about the key messages he extrapolated about railroading in 2019.
Wabtec says the $29 million acquisition of RELCO will expand its freight services offerings.
Railcar manufacturer says deliveries fell off from a record sequential quarter.
During the third quarter of 2019, the number of train robberies in Mexico rose 13% compared with the previous quarter, according to data compiled by Mexico’s Railway Transport Regulatory Agency (ARTF). Agricultural grains, auto parts and consumer goods, such as beverages and toys, were the most stolen freight, the security report by ARTF found. Between […]
New hopper cars and a high-efficiency train model at some elevators help boost volumes.
U.S. rail volumes fell 5% in 2019 amid trade worries, a sluggish industrial economy and a significant drop in coal carloads.
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.
The U.S. operations of the Class I railroads continue to shed employees.
The volume drop has created ripple effects, including some lower railcar leasing rates.
The Federal Railroad Administration hopes to collect data on blocked rail crossings from the public and law enforcement.
Jim Blaze writes about the potential of short-haul intermodal traffic on the North American Class 1 railroads.
Kansas City Southern and Canadian Pacific deliver goodwill to local communities along portions of their rail networks.
Private equity firms are likely to continue M&As in freight rail industry next year and beyond, observers say.
Jim Blaze writes about the financial issues inherent in an Alaska-to-Alberta rail route.
The continued dip in rail volumes comes as North American freight rail groups press for trade pact.
Market Expert Michael Baudendistel writes about rail intermodal volume is lower for the long-term, or can it be more competitive with trucking.
Railroad market voice Jim Blaze writes about technological advances that are making railroads’ capital expenditures on infrastructure more efficient.
The funding includes $14.4 million to support CSX’s double-stacking efforts near the Port of Philadelphia.
The European Green Deal is looking to shift 75% of EU freight traffic from road to rail and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2050.
Stakeholders address the Surface Transportation Board, which is mulling over whether it should change the way it defines revenue adequacy.
Economic uncertainty weighs on rail volumes.
How the board calculates cost of capital is outdated. How much of an overhaul is needed?
The company sees the new facility as a way to expand and reach its manufacturing goals.
Jim Blaze writes about the decline in rail freight; is it a recent event, or has it been taking place over a longer period?
U.S. rail volumes are down, but don’t call it a freight recession, according to Association of American Railroads executive.
Teck Resources opts not to renew 10-year deal for the transport of metallurgical coal.
The rail regulatory agency says the changes would help make the rate review process more accessible and transparent.
Railway Age reports NS wants to double-stack its trains as they move through Pittsburgh, but residents in the north side of the city are stacking up arguments and fighting back.
The changes come as the railroad deploys precision scheduled railroading.
West Coast freight volumes have been robust in 2019, but empty rail containers signal that the balance is shifting east heading into 2020.
Shippers need to take heed of the Congressional push to allow Amtrak to sue freight railroads over on-time performance.
The notice of proposed rulemaking pertains to training for Class II and Class III rail employees.
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.
Headcount within U.S. Class I rail operations tumbles amid declining rail volumes and the deployment of precision railroading.
Rail executives discussed short-term strategies for growing rail volumes amid expectations that volumes won’t pick up until well into 2020.
The railway seeks to extend its reach to non rail-served markets.
U.S. rail volumes continue to slip as rail executives see muted peak season.
The strike, coupled with and trade uncertainty, could hit businesses hard, groups say.
The Federal Railroad Administration is proposing all states address highway-rail grade crossing safety.
Jim Blaze writes about the Alameda Corridor in Los Angeles, that takes some of the freight from the harbor to distribution centers. Is it still economically viable?
The railway cited challenging economic headwinds and could release up to 1,600 employees.
U.S. rail volumes have been trending lower all year.
Jim Blaze writes about the North American railroads KPIs, and what the railroads need to do to increase railcar use, revenue and shipper loyalty.
Hunter Harrison’s timing was perfect for someone breaking into the rail transport industry, bestselling author Howard Green, who penned “Railroader: The Unfiltered Genius and Controversy of Four-Time CEO Hunter Harrison,” said during the keynote fireside chat Wednesday at FreightWaves LIVE Chicago. Harrison served as the CEO of Illinois Central Railroad, Canadian National Railway, Canadian Pacific […]
The regulatory agency for rail receives a flurry of feedback on rail rate reasonableness and demurrage and accessorial charges.
TrinityRail has two new railcars: the Hourglass™ and the TrinFlo™.
The Class I railroads furlough workers in times of lower volumes but unions think the cuts have been too deep as a result of precision scheduled railroading.
BNSF placed in service approximately 2.5 miles of second main track near Westmond, Idaho, closing the gap between two larger sections of double-track main line on one of the busiest segments of BNSF’s Northern Corridor.
Third-quarter revenue fell for the shortline operator.
Market expert Michael Baudendistel writes about whether there is a rail recession, or are railroads paring operations and employees to fatten their bottom lines.
U.S. rail volumes fell 8.1% amid trade uncertainty and “sluggish” growth abroad.
Railway rebounds after slow start in August and September.
U.S. rail trade associations say changes will help employees responding to unplanned events.
Shipping liquified natural gas by rail is a controversial topic. Read what Jim Blaze thinks about the idea in his latest commentary.
Connecting the Alaska Railroad with rail service in Canada and the U.S. is a bold, expensive plan. But it would generate tremendous benefits. Read more here.
The credit ratings firm sees coal and intermodal volumes under continued pressure next year.
Train crew size, healthcare are among the key issues, on top of grappling with systemic changes to the industry
Ben Thrower writes about the positive and negative aspects of precision scheduled railroading in this commentary article.
Year-to-date U.S. rail traffic continues to trend lower.
The rail equipment and technology manufacturer sees international opportunities as an area for business to grow.
The number of employees working for the U.S. operations of the Class I railroads slumps to its lowest level in years.
Jim Blaze writes about Conrail Shared Assets and its accomplishments on behalf of CSX and Norfolk Southern.
The rail equipment manufacturer said it delivered record railcar deliveries in the quarter.
Rail volumes fell yet again and the industry is casting its doubts about the fourth quarter.
Despite lowering its operating ratio, the railroad tempers its 2019 outlook.
Jim Blaze explains the new CSX trip compliance reporting… perhaps the first step for railroads to compete more effectively with the trucking industry.
With U.S. rail volumes still slumping, the Class I railroads wondered in third-quarter earnings calls when the downward trend would end.
The eastern U.S. railroad declined to share its expectations for 2020 but said it would be prepared should rail volumes rebound.
Government initiatives are encouraging the freight rail sector to address cyber threats. But what else needs to be done?
Market View commentator Jim Blaze writes about the advantages short line railroads offer to shippers.
Freight shipments and expenditures declined on a year-over-year basis again in September according to the latest Cass Freight Index Report. The firm now believes that the index is “signaling an economic contraction.”
Reports have been surfacing that the Alberta government could grant more crude-by-rail contracts.
Excerpt: The companies promote and assign new roles to longstanding employees.
