Top regulator urges railroads to focus on growth

man in suit speaking

CHICAGO — Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin J. Oberman stepped up his criticism of Class I railroads on Wednesday, saying the industry’s drive for ever-increasing profits resulted in a loss of market share to trucks over the past 15 years and is restraining growth today. Rail rates fell by 27% between 1985 and 2004, as […]

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Canadian Pacific CEO says talks with KCS are progressing

Man in suit

CHICAGO — Canadian Pacific’s merger negotiations with Kansas City Southern are progressing in the wake of last week’s regulatory decision that dealt a blow to the proposed Canadian National-KCS combination. “I believe, and I have high hopes, that we will come to a place when we finish these negotiations that we will be deemed superior,” […]

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CN announces vaccination requirement for Canadian employees

Canadian National logo

MONTREAL — Canadian National has announced it will require COVID-19 vaccinations for all employees in Canada by Nov. 1. In a press release, the railroad says the policy will apply to employees, new hires, those at CN’s wholly owned subsidiaries, and “contractors, consultants, agents and suppliers, and anyone who accesses CN’s Canadian properties. Requests for medical […]

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News photo: BNSF makes progress on second Sandpoint bridge

Train crossing bridge next to another bridge under construction

Much progress has been made on BNSF’s second bridge across Lake Pend Oreille outside Sandpoint, Idaho. Rolling through on the existing 4,769-foot bridge (completed by Northern Pacific in 1904) on Sept. 5th is train H-BARPAS, a Barstow, Calif., to Pasco, Wash., manifest that detoured via Denver due to wildfire damage on BNSF’s route in northern […]

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UP restores additional service in New Orleans

Union Pacific logo with Building America slogan

NEW ORLEANS — Union Pacific reports additional service has been restored in the New Orleans area as of Tuesday, including the reopening of its Avondale, La., intermodal facility. Also restored are interchange with CSX and the New Orleans Public Belt; interchange with the New Orleans & Gulf Coast, a 32-mile short line spun off from […]

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Wait for federal approval delays Long Beach rail project

Aerial photo of port area with some land highlighted in yellow

LONG BEACH, Calif. — A major rail expansion project at the Port of Long Beach has fallen at least a year behind schedule, an official says, as the port waits for the U.S. Maritime Administration to approve an environmental report. The Long Beach Post reports the $870 million Pier B On-Dock Support Project is awaiting […]

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Chesapeake Western

Green and gray diesel locomotive coupled to boxcars with men in white hats in the cab

Chesapeake Western Chesapeake Western DS-4-4-660 No. 662 switches at Harrisonburg, Va., on September 15, 1958. It was one of three such 1946 Baldwins on the 54-mile road. J.W. Swanberg photo […]

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Third German rail strike ends

Deutsche Bahn logo

BERLIN — Germany’s third and longest rail strike in a month ended Tuesday morning, with national rail operator Deutsche Bahn saying it would work quickly to restore full operations. Broadcaster DW reports about 19,700 train drivers had taken part in the walkout that began Sept. 1 and was the second-longest ever for the rail network. […]

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