GIBBSTOWN, N.J. — The U.S. Department of Transportation has turned down a request for a permit to transport liquefied natural gas by rail from Pennsylvania to a terminal on the Delaware River, NJ.com reports. DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration on Monday turned down the special permit sought by Energy Transport Solutions, a subsidiary […]
Train Topic: Rail Industry
North Carolina bill targets broad range of rail issues
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina has joined the list of states introducing new railroad safety legislation in the wake of the East Palestine derailment and toxic chemical release, with a bill addressing train lengths, crew size, wayside detectors, and blocked crossings, among other features. The Railroad Safety Omnibus Act, HB639, was introduced earlier this month […]
Weekly U.S. rail traffic remains down
WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic remains down against 2022 figures according to Association of American Railroad Statistics, with traffic for the week ending April 22 showing a 3.5% decline compared to the same week a year ago. U.S. railroads handled 483,457 carloads and intermodal units for the week, including 240,584 carloads, up 5.1%, and 239,874 […]
New CPKC Chicago-Mexico intermodal service to debut May 11
CALGARY, Alberta — CPKC’s first new service — a pair of intermodal trains linking Chicago and Mexico — will launch on May 11, carrying containers from new customers Schneider and Knight-Swift. Daily hotshots 180 and 181 will link Chicago with Laredo, Texas; Monterrey, Mexico; and Mexico City. With third-day service to Laredo, fourth-day to Monterrey, […]
Senators challenge Northeast Corridor tilt of Amtrak board nominees: Analysis
WASHINGTON — A simmering impasse over confirmation of nominees for Amtrak’s board of directors has reached a boil, with both Republican and Democratic senators objecting to the makeup of the group advanced by President Joe Biden. At issue is that only one of the six nominees — Normal, Ill., Mayor Chris Koos — represents an […]
Norfolk Southern earnings take hit from East Palestine, Ohio, derailment
ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern’s first quarter earnings tumbled due to expenses related to the disastrous Feb. 3 derailment and subsequent hazardous materials release in East Palestine, Ohio. The railroad’s operating income declined 34%, to $711 million, due in part to an initial $387 million charge associated with the derailment, the railroad reported today. NS CEO […]
STB schedules hearing in coal mine’s complaint against BNSF Railway
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board will hold a hearing next month to consider a Powder River Basin coal producer’s request for an emergency service order that would require BNSF Railway to handle more volume from the Spring Creek Mine in Montana. The board will hold oral arguments on May 10 where Navajo Transitional Energy […]
Forbes names Amtrak as a top employer for diversity
WASHINGTON — Amtrak has been named one of America’s Best Employers for Diversity in 2023 according to Forbes, which released its list ranking the top 500 companies on Tuesday. The rail passenger operator placed 341st, eighth among transportation and logistics firms. New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority was the only other rail-related organization to make the […]
ENSCO to acquire inspection technology firm KLD Labs
SPRINGFIELD, Va. — ENSCO Inc. will expand its railway inspection business with acquisition of KLD Labs Inc., a provider of automated wayside inspection technology and laser profiling products. ENSCO announced Tuesday it had entered into an equity purchase agreement to acquire KLD, which offers track inspection and assessment, fleet inspection and assessment, and asset management […]
CN CEO Tracy Robinson urges data-driven approach to safety regulations
MONTREAL — Canadian National CEO Tracy Robinson was singing from the same hymnal as other railroad leaders when she discussed safety during CN’s earnings call on Monday. All of the CEOs have stressed the importance of safety during their earnings calls this month in the wake of the disastrous Feb. 3 derailment of a Norfolk […]
Genesee & Wyoming names Hellmann as executive chairman, Miller as CEO
DARIEN, Conn. — Genesee & Wyoming is set for changes at the top of its management structure. The company announced today that Jack Hellmann, G&W CEO for 16 years, has been named executive chairman of G&W’s North America and UK/Europe board of directors, effective Sept. 1. He will also become vice chair of Brookfield Infrastructure, […]
CPKC adds second major intermodal customer for new Chicago-Mexico service
CALGARY, Alberta — Knight-Swift will shift its U.S.-Mexico intermodal traffic from Union Pacific to CPKC’s new single-line route beginning in May. CPKC and Knight-Swift announced their multi-year agreement today, just four days after Schneider said it would move its U.S.-Mexico intermodal business from UP to CPKC in May under a similar agreement. “This agreement creates […]