Justice Department raises competitive concerns over CSX-Pan Am merger

Map showing Pan Am Railways, Pan Am Southern, and northernmost portion of CSX Transportation

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board should force CSX Transportation to sell its stake in Pan Am Southern as part of its proposed acquisition of New England regional Pan Am Railways, the Justice Department said Thursday. The Pan Am Southern is the joint venture between Pan Am Railways and Norfolk Southern, which provides NS with […]

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CSX train derails in Indiana (updated)

Derailed cars, including tank car lifted above roadway

FOUNTAINTOWN, Ind. — Fourteen cars of a CSX train derailed this morning in an unincorporated area near Greenfield, Ind., blocking a state highway and knocking down some local power lines. CSX says in a statement that the derailment occurred about 8:11 a.m., and involved six empty cars and eight loaded cars. No hazardous materials were […]

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Analysis: STB affirms Amtrak’s right to pursue New Orleans-Mobile service

Crowd at train platform including woman holding sign, "Bay St. Louis loves Amtrak"

WASHINGTON—Calling the issue “ripe for adjudication,” the Surface Transportation Board has agreed with Amtrak’s request for expedited hearings to determine what, if any, infrastructure improvements must occur before it can begin operating between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala. Amtrak had sought to start two daily round trips along the Norfolk Southern-CSX Transportation route in January […]

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New England passenger authority backs CSX acquisition of Pan Am Railways

Passenger train passing through trees

WASHINGTON – The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, which sponsors Amtrak’s Downeaster service between Brunswick, Maine, and Boston, says it backs CSX Transportation’s proposed acquisition of Pan Am Railways. Amtrak’s Downeaster uses Pan Am trackage from the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border to Portland, Maine, and on to the passenger service terminus at Brunswick. The passenger […]

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North American Rail Shippers meeting now will hear from five Class I CEOs

North American Rail Shippers logo

CHICAGO – The North American Rail Shippers association annual meeting, scheduled for Sept. 7-9 at the Sheraton Grand Chicago, now will feature presentations from five Class I railroad chief executives and the president of Genesee & Wyoming’s North American operations. CSX Transportation CEO Jim Foote has been added to the agenda, along with G&W’s Michael Miller. […]

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BNSF Railway details international intermodal congestion issues

Aerial view of intermodal facility

WASHINGTON — On a typical day, BNSF Railway has about 30 international stack trains staged along its main lines, waiting for space to open up at intermodal terminals in Chicago, Memphis, and Alliance, Texas. The terminals are clogged due to an unprecedented combination of record volume and shippers and receivers being slow to pick up […]

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As volume rises, CSX feels pinch from crew attrition, tight job market

Man throwing switch as train with blue and yellow locomotive waits

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Last month, CSX Transportation CEO Jim Foote lamented the shortage of people who want to work in train and engine service. “No way did I or anybody else in the last six months realize how difficult it was going to be to try and get people to come to work these days. […]

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STB accepts CSX Transportation’s Pan Am merger application

Front of a train

WASHINGTON – The Surface Transportation Board has accepted CSX Transportation’s beefed up Pan Am Railways merger application and established a schedule for reviewing the deal that would expand CSX’s presence in New England. If the board approves the deal, Pan Am would become a fallen flag on May 1, 2022. Comments on the merger are due […]

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News photos: Indiana city saves, relocates interlocking tower

Brick building being moved down street

UNION CITY, Ind. — The former CSX interlocking tower in Union City was successfully moved Tuesday from its long-time location to a city park one block away. The tower, closed since 1968, will be turned into public restrooms and a visitor’s center at Union City’s Artisan Crossing, a gathering space for community and artistic events. […]

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CSX coal train derails in Richmond, Va.

Derailed coal hoppers, some on their side

RICHMOND, Va. — Thirteen cars of a CSX Transportation coal train derailed in Richmond on Friday afternoon, reportedly sending some of the coal into the nearby James River. WRIC-TV reported the derailment occurred about 1:30 p.m. There were no injuries. Initial reports said the waterway was not affected, but drone footage on Saturday showed coal […]

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CSX intermodal train derails in Indiana (corrected)

CSX logo

AUBURN, Ind. — An estimated 15 cars of a CSX Transportation intermodal train derailed Wednesday morning in Auburn. No injuries were reported. The Kendallville Star reports the accident occurred on the south side of Auburn, a community of 12,000 about 20 miles north of Fort Wayne. Firefighters from Jackson Township and Auburn responded to the […]

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CSX volume and earnings recover, but finding new train crews remains a challenge

Intermodal train with blue and yellow locomotives

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation won’t be able to get its merchandise service back to pre-pandemic levels until it can hire enough train and engine crews to handle strong volume growth. That likely won’t happen before the end of the year because the railroad is struggling to hire conductors in an extremely tight labor market, executives […]

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