BNSF Railway distributed power pushes an eastbound empty coal train at Hathaway, Mont., in June 2014. Tom Danneman Q In two recent issues, Trains stated that distributed power helps maintain trainline air for brakes. How can this be without giving up lead unit control of the brakes? – Jay Noyes, Lowell, Ind. A In distributed […]
A southbound Kansas City Southern merchandise train with a distributed power unit on the tail end passes the joint customs inspection station in Laredo, Texas, as it crosses the International Railway Bridge over the Rio Grande in November 2017. Bill Stephens BOSTON — Kansas City Southern and Union Pacific have worked together to improve the […]
A BNSF oil train heads west through the Columbia Gorge in Washington. Washington state and North Dakota are sparring over a Washington law that would block the transport of Bakken oil by rail. Lance Lassen OLYMPIA, Wash. — The legislative debate over a Washington law limiting crude oil shipments by rail from North Dakota’s Bakken […]
WASHINGTON — CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern say their higher demurrage charges will encourage shippers to load and unload freight cars more quickly, which will reduce the number of cars online, make their networks more fluid, and ultimately improve service. But a mom-and-pop lumber yard in southern New Jersey says the charges are diverting freight […]
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Bowing to opposition from the communities of Glenview and Lake Forest, the Illinois Department of Transportation will no longer support plans for two sidings that are part of a plan to increase Amtrak Hiawatha service between Chicago and Milwaukee. Patch.com reports that acting IDOT Secretary Omer Osman said in a letter, released […]
A Norfolk Southern train works at Brush Yard in Decatur, Ill., in November 2016. Shippers are saying operational changes brought by Precision Scheduled Railroading are leading to extensive charges for not loading or unloading cars quickly enough, even when railroad service is an issue. Steve Smedley WASHINGTON – Shippers are not exactly jumping for joy […]
Canadian Pacific’s twin Spiral Tunnels near Field, B.C., opened in 1909, reducing the grade to a maximum of 2.2 percent, compared with 4.4 percent before their opening. Canadian Pacific CALGARY, Alberta – Canadian Pacific President and CEO Keith Creel says the railroad is considering building a new siding on the Lagan Subdivision where trains can […]
HAMEL, Minn. – Loram Maintenance of Way. Inc has acquired Finland-based Roadscanners’ Oy Rail Division business. The purchase, which took place on May 2, includes its Rail Doctor software and related intellectual property rights. Roadscanners specializes in developing tools and services for road and rail infrastructure asset management. Mika Silvast, managing director of Loram Finland, has […]
FORT WORTH, Texas – BNSF Railway’s pre-tax earnings climbed 10% in the first quarter as higher revenue per carload and intermodal unit more than offset a 5% decline in traffic volume, the railroad reported on Saturday. BNSF, a unit of Berkshire Hathaway, said that operating income was up 2%, to $1.7 billion, as revenue increased 2%, […]
A light power move of Canadian Pacific and Norfolk Southern locomotives departs Bensenville Yard and passes through the Franklin Park, Ill., Metra station as a transfer cut with CSX locomotives arrives off the Indiana Harbor Belt. CP and Canadian National are in a dispute over their interchange location in the Chicago area. TRAINS: David Lassen […]
WASHINGTON — Railroads are likely to get an earful of opposition to their increased use of demurrage and accessorial charges at a federal regulatory hearing that has been expanded to a second day. Three dozen shippers, logistics firms, and trade groups representing a wide range of railroad customers are scheduled to appear at the Surface […]
OMAHA, Neb. – Union Pacific is simplifying its intermodal terminal network to improve service in Chicago, which will result in idling the Global III terminal in Rochelle, Ill., along with the Canal Street Container Depot. UP currently operates six intermodal facilities in and around the Railroad Capital. “Many of our ramps handle a mix of […]
