Let the railroad service blame game begin: Analysis

Crew_Labor_Lassen

Executives from the big four U.S. railroads — BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific — will take turns in the hot seat next week during two days of Surface Transportation Board hearings on widespread service problems. Federal regulators, fed up with ongoing shipper complaints, will want to know how and when the […]

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STB sets speaking schedule for hearing on rail service issues

Surface Transportation Board logo

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has released its schedule for speakers to take part in next week’s hearing regarding urgent issues in freight rail service, to be held at the STB’s hearing room April 26-27. The proceedings will begin at 9:30 a.m. EDT both days. A total of 11 “panels” of speakers are scheduled, […]

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Union Pacific earnings improve despite congestion and crew shortages

Locomotives lead freight train under golden sky from setting sun

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific reported higher first quarter volume, revenue, and profits despite congestion related to crew shortages and rising freight car inventory. “Improving our service product has our full and undivided attention,” CEO Lance Fritz told investors and analysts on the railroad’s Thursday morning earnings call. UP’s on-time performance deteriorated during the quarter. […]

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New model train exhibit at Scottsdale’s Museum of the West

Model Santa Fe diesel locomotive on tracks

Scottsdale’s Museum of the West in Arizona announces a new exhibition featuring the story of how the transcontinental railroad transformed and built the American West. “The Railroad Opening Up the West” is now open to the public. Western Spirit contracted with members of the train clubs of Scottsdale’s McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park to undertake the design, fabrication, […]

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Reading & Northern buys Nesquehoning, Pa., factory complex

Buildings seen from across railroad tracks

PORT CLINTON, Pa. — The Reading & Northern Railroad has acquired an industrial complex located near the center of its 400-mile system that has previously been occupied by a fire truck manufacturer. The nine-building, 10-acre complex is in Nesquehoning Borough in Carbon County, adjacent to the town of Jim Thorpe and about 30 miles from […]

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RDC’s Posner looks at Ukraine refugee operation, rail aspects of war

Repair work underway on rail bridges

CHICAGO — Ukrainian refugee trains being operated by RDC Deutschland, the German subsidiary of Pittsburgh-based Railroad Development Corp., have stopped running as of April 19. In a presentation that day to Northwestern University’s Sandhouse Rail Group, RDC Chairmain Henry Posner III recounted experiences in operating those trains, as well as observations based on past visits […]

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Outgoing CN CEO Ruest received major bonus in 2021

JJ Ruest

MONTREAL — Canadian National executives including now-departed CEO JJ Ruest received significant bonuses last year for the first time since 2018, the Globe and Mail reports. Ruest, who stepped down in January, received a $2.32 million bonus in 2021 as part of overall compensation totaling $13.55 million. A year earlier, his bonus had been $313,334. […]

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