OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific’s international intermodal traffic between the congested ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and inland terminals is approaching normal levels despite the ongoing backlog of ships waiting to dock at North America’s busiest port complex. “We are essentially normal in our international supply chain on Union Pacific from ports to intermodal […]
Thanksgiving in Toronto was about to begin. Shortly before noon, two teenagers swung down from the Pacific’s cab. Just as they hit the station platform, two peeps came from the cab communication whistle. The fireman turned around, waving a good-bye, and Canadian Pacific train 326 was in motion — 11 minutes away from its final […]
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation is proposing to suspend a rule allowing movement of liquefied natural gas by rail while it considers potential modifications to the rule. In a notice of proposed rulemaking published Monday in the Federal Register, the DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration says it would suspend the rule […]
WASHINGTON — The infrastructure bill passed by Congress will advance more than a dozen priorities of the National Transportation Safety Board, according to NTSB’s chair. “This is a very big win for transportation safety,” NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said in a Monday press release. “From protecting vulnerable road users to equipping vehicles with advanced drunk […]
WASHINGTON – The $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill awaiting President Joe Biden’s signature includes significant spending for rail-related projects through 2026, from grants to shore up short line track to a study of Class I railroads’ use of long trains. Amtrak will receive the lion’s share of the rail funding, some $66 billion that would address […]
FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway has become the third Class I railroad to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for workers, citing the Biden Administration’s executive order requiring vaccinations for federal contractors. “While we maintain the decision to be vaccinated for COVID-19 is a personal one — and have encouraged employees to make the decision that is […]
FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway’s third-quarter profits increased on the strength of higher intermodal, industrial products, and coal volume. The railroad’s operating income grew 12%, to $2.6 billion, as revenue increased 12%, to $5.5 billion, BNSF’s parent company, Berkshire Hathaway, reported on Saturday morning. The railroad’s operating ratio improved 0.2 points to 59.5% as […]
WASHINGTON — Major rail groups have applauded Friday’s passage of a major infrastructure bill by the U.S. House of Representatives which will include major funding for freight and passenger projects. The bill now goes to President Joe Biden for his signature. The $1.2 trillion bill includes $550 billion in entirely new investments, the Washington Post […]
LAC-MÉGANTIC, Quebec — Negotiations for purchase of the land needed to build a rail bypass around Lac-Mégantic and the surrounding area have begun, Transport Canada reports. The submission of the first offers is part of an ongoing process of rerouting the Canadian Pacific main line away from the community devastated by the 2013 derailment and […]
NOBLE, Okla. — An Oklahoma family has filed suit against BNSF Railway, saying the railway is at fault for the death of a family member, who died of a heart attack when emergency vehicles were unable to respond because a stopped train blocked the only entrance to their street. KFOR-TV reports Larry Gene Byrd died […]
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Industrial manufacturing is on the rise and the demand for U.S. steel is driving steel prices and railcar loadings above pre-pandemic levels, but don’t expect U.S. steelmakers to open idled operations. According to the Association of American Railroads’ weekly railcar traffic report, shipments of metallic ores and metals were up to 22,369 […]
The proposed merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern – the first combination of Class I systems in two decades, and likely the last – should win favor in Washington. After all, their comprehensive merger application checks all of the Surface Transportation Board’s boxes. More rail competition? Canadian Pacific Kansas City has that in […]
