The number of incidents at grade crossings nationwide increased by nearly 3.6 percent in 2017, but new vehicle technology may be vital in reducing such incidents moving forward. An analysis of federal numbers reveals a majority of incidents happened at crossings equipped with either gates or flashing lights. While the data shows no single cause […]
Train Topic: Railroad Operations
WRI to welcome Batory as keynote speaker in New Orleans NEWSWIRE
Ron Batory, Federal Railroad Administrator U.S. Department of Transportation NEW ORLEANS — Wheel Rail Interaction conference attendees will hear from one of railroading’s heavy hitters in June. Organizers for the annual rail engineering conference confirm that Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Ron Batory will be the keynote speaker on June 20. “We’re excited that Mr. Batory […]
AAR: Oil, wood, grains, minerals, and metal ore carloads increase double-digits in 2019’s first week NEWSWIRE
Association of American Railroads Association of American Railroads WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads on Wednesday reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Jan. 5. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 436,103 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.8 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the […]
News Analysis: Precision Scheduled Railroading dominates conversation at NRC Conference NEWSWIRE
Retiring BNSF Railway Executive Chairman Matt Rose David Lassen MARCO ISLAND, Fla. – It is becoming more clear that Precision Scheduled Railroading is the subject that devours all other rail topics in its path. Anyone who doubts that need only have spent four days at the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association Conference at the […]
Norfolk Southern quickly regains its operational mojo NEWSWIRE
NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Southern’s new operating plan is gaining traction. The railroad is moving faster than it has in nearly two years as average train speeds have climbed 28 percent during the past eight weeks. Last week’s 22.8-mph average train speed was the highest NS has posted since the spring of 2017 and was […]
Union Pacific now expects record operating ratio for 2018 NEWSWIRE
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific will report a record-low operating ratio for 2018 thanks to an unexpected combination of lower costs and strong traffic volume in December, the railroad said in a regulatory filing on Wednesday. On Nov. 29, UP warned that it did not expect an improvement in its full-year operating ratio due to […]
Notable moments from the first three days of the NRC Conference NEWSWIRE
MARCO ISLAND, Fla. – Catching up on some notable moments from the first three days of the National Railroad Contractor and Maintenance Association Conference: PRECISION SCHEDULED RAILROADING AND CAPITAL PROJECTS: Tuesday’s panel discussion on Precision Scheduled Railroading, featuring three current or former Canadian National executives and Howard Green, author of the biography of former CEO […]
BNSF focuses on regulatory challenges with NRC presentation
MARCO ISLAND, Florida – BNSF Railway’s capital plans for 2019 include a cluster of major bridge projects in Washington state, and pairs of bridges near Quenemo, Kan., and on the Hannibal subdivision in Missouri. Not included is a bridge over the Missouri River at Bismarck, N.D., and therein lies a tale that serves an an […]
CN provides first look at capital plans, new inspection technology
MARCO ISLAND, Fla. – Canadian National’s “very ambitious capital program” for 2019 include up to 105 miles of new double track, said Jim McLeod, the railroad’s chief engineer for structures, design, and construction, in a Tuesday presentation at the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association Conference. Up to 75 miles of the new double track […]
Union Pacific taps former Canadian National exec to lead operations NEWSWIRE
Jim Vena, Union Pacific chief operating officer Canadian National OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific has named former Canadian National executive Jim Vena as its chief operating officer, effectively putting a protege of E. Hunter Harrison in charge of its transition to Precision Scheduled Railroading. Vena, 60, served as CN’s chief operating officer from February 2013 […]
A sea of sameness for Class I railroad traffic growth in 2018 NEWSWIRE
How did your favorite railroad fare in traffic growth last year? Probably about the same as every other railroad. Five of the big six Class I systems ran neck-and-neck and ended 2018 with 4-percent traffic growth, according to a review of the railroads’ Association of American Railroads weekly carload reports for the final week of […]
Rose sees regulatory risk in Precision Scheduled Railroading NEWSWIRE
Matt Rose MARCO ISLAND, Fla. – Matt Rose thinks the railroad industry is placing itself at regulatory risk with its embrace of Precision Scheduled Railroading. “We have this common-carrier obligation to provide freight service to all customers in all markets,” said Rose, BNSF Railway’s executive chairman, during a Monday morning “fireside chat” at the annual […]
