A CSX intermodal train negotiates the diamonds at Blue Island, Ill., in September 2019. Increased truck competition for intermodal traffic is one of many factors that has led Moody’s to downgrade its rating of the rail industry. TRAINS: David Lassen NEW YORK — Moody’s Investors Service last week described the outlook for North American railroads […]
Association of American Railroads WASHINGTON – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending November 2, 2019, as well as volumes for October 2019. U.S. railroads originated 1,224,477 carloads in October 2019, down 8.4 percent, or 112,703 carloads, from October 2018. U.S. railroads also originated 1,331,944 containers and […]
An empty BNSF coal train passes through La Grange, Ill, on Oct. 27, 2019. BNSF saw declines in coal volume and revenue in the third quarter, as well as volume declines in all other service areas, but still posted an increase in profits. TRAINS: David Lassen FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway reported higher third-quarter […]
The downward trend in rail employment continued in October. Surface Transportation Board The total number of rail jobs continues to show a dramatic decline in 2019 compared to the two previous years. Surface Transportation Board WASHINGTON — American railroads shed jobs faster than any other industry in October. The data point, contained in the Bureau […]
WASHINGTON — Six Class I railroads filed a Section 6 notice on Friday, kicking off what is expected to be a tense round of negotiations with labor unions representing more than 125,000 railroads across the country. In a press release announcing the notice, officials with the National Railway Labor Conference and the National Carriers’ Conference […]
Association of American Railroads WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Oct. 26. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 513,147 carloads and intermodal units, down 8.8% compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending Oct. 26 were 243,321 […]
ALBERTVILLE, Ala. – Progress Rail, a Caterpillar company, has signed an agreement to acquire Vossloh North America’s (ETR: VOS) Cleveland Track Material (CTM) business. The proposed acquisition aligns with Progress Rail’s goal of profitable growth. With facilities located in Cleveland, Ohio; Reading, Pa.; and Memphis, Tenn., CTM has served as a supplier of special trackwork […]
The traditional fall peak in intermodal traffic, which typically hits full stride in October, has not materialized this year. And on Class I earnings calls this month, not one executive said their railroad expected the usual seasonal surge in intermodal volume. “Normally, October is the busiest month for intermodal. And last week was lower than […]
WEST GLACIER, Mont. — A coalition of wildlife groups are threatening to sue BNSF Railway over the death of eight federally protected grizzly bears in the mountains of northwest Montana in 2019, the most killed in a single year. The groups allege that the railroad is not doing enough to protect the animals from being […]
Association of American Railroads WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads recently reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Oct. 19. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 507,381 carloads and intermodal units, down 8.6% compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending Oct. 19 were 245,002 […]
A Canadian Pacific train passes through Deerfield, Ill., in November 2018. CP reported record financial results but slightly lowered its volume expectations as part of its quarterly earnings report. TRAINS: David Lassen CALGARY, Alberta – Canadian Pacific reported record third-quarter financial results on Wednesday, as traffic was up slightly and the railway set records for key […]
A CN unit oil train travels Wisconsin’s Byron Hill in July 2019. CN has lowered its earning estimate and is reducing its locomotive fleet as it moves less industrial traffic, including energy shipments. MONTREAL — Canadian National’s revenue and profits grew in the third quarter but the railway on Tuesday lowered its outlook for the […]
