Norfolk Southern increases length of grain shuttle trains

NS9732Selma

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has increased the length of its grain shuttle trains to 105 cars from 85, a move that allows the railroad to handle 23% more grain in each train. “We’re unlocking capacity to handle more business for both our current and prospective customers,” Chief Marketing Officer Ed Elkins said in a statement. […]

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Analysts expect NS and activist investors to reach agreement in proxy fight

Norfolk Southern’s decision to hire a chief operating officer with Precision Scheduled Railroading expertise increases the likelihood that the embattled railroad will reach a settlement with activist investor Ancora Holdings, Wall Street analysts say. NS on Wednesday announced that Canadian Pacific Kansas City executive John Orr would become its chief operating officer, effective immediately. Orr […]

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Cincinnati Southern sale completed

Map of rail line from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Chattanooga, Tenn.

CINCINNATI — The city of Cincinnati’s sale of the Cincinnati Southern Railway to Norfolk Southern has been completed. Paul Muething, president of the Cincinnati Southern board of trustees, said in a statement available on the railway website that the board received the $1.6 billion payment from NS, plus $20 million in deferred transaction fees, on […]

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Gulf Coast impasse at Mobile remains unresolved: Analysis

Sign for Sunset Limited at Mobile, Ala., station

WASHINGTON — Parties in the settlement intended to lead to the start of Gulf Coast passenger service said in a status report to the Surface Transportation Board that negotiations between Amtrak and the city of Mobile for a lease of downtown city land “are continuing to move forward.” The report filed Friday by Amtrak, Norfolk […]

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Norfolk Southern adds communications, compliance officers

Norfolk Southern logo

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has named Betsy Talton-Buck as vice president and chief communications officer, and Angie Kolar as vice president and chief compliance officer. The appointments, announced Friday, March 15, are effective on Tuesday, April 9. Both positions report to Nabanita Nag, executive vice president, corporate affairs and chief legal officer. Talton-Buck was previously […]

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Ancora responds to STB’s request for a meeting about NS proxy fight

Train of containers on high bridge

WASHINGTON — Ancora Holdings, which is leading an activist investor group that’s fighting a proxy battle to oust Norfolk Southern’s management, has responded to Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin J. Oberman’s request for a meeting about its plans for the railroad. “We suggest a discussion with yourself and the continuing Board Members once we have […]

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New York to fund more than $110 million in rail, port improvements

black and blue locomotives hauling freight

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York will fund some $111.1 million for 38 rail and port infrastructure improvement projects — the largest amount ever awarded under the state’s Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program — Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday. The projects address safety and resilience, support efforts to move freight traffic from truck to rail, […]

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