Get ready for the first U.S. railroad strike in three decades: Analysis

A U.S. railroad strike now seems inevitable. The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen overwhelmingly rejected their tentative contract agreement with the railroads this week, following in the footsteps of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees, who turned down their deal earlier this month. This makes it almost certain that the rank-and-file members of the two […]

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Trade associations ask White House to help avert U.S. railroad strike

UP_RiverForest_Lassen

WASHINGTON — An array of shipper groups has asked the Biden administration to head off a potential railroad strike. Trade associations representing manufacturers, farmers, food and beverage producers, and retailers sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Thursday urging the White House to work with railroads and unions to ensure that tentative contract agreements […]

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Canadian Pacific reports strong traffic and earnings growth

CALGARY, Alberta – Canadian Pacific reported double-digit growth in revenue and earnings in the third quarter, as overall volume grew 10% and intermodal and potash traffic set new records. “Throughout the year, we have said 2022 would be a tale of two halves and that is exactly how it is unfolding,” CEO Keith Creel said […]

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White House reacts to signalmen’s union rejection of new contract

Trains Washington Watch logo

WASHINGTON — Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday that the Biden Administration “is in regular contact” with the two sides in the ongoing dispute and negotiations between railroads and their unions, but that she did not have anything to share about President Joe Biden’s “involvement specifically with the parties.” During a press briefing at the […]

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Two rail issues included on Watchlist from Transportation Safety Board of Canada

Image from video with on-screen statement that "better physical fail-safe defenses and technologies are needed" to address signal issues

GATINEAU, Quebec — Two rail-specific issues — failure by crew members to follow railway signal indications, and unplanned or uncontrolled equipment movements — are on the 2022 Watchlist of leading safety issues released Wednesday, Oct. 26, by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. Three other issues on the eight-item list — fatigue, safety management, and […]

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Alpenglow Rail acquires terminal in Alberta

Aerial view of yard tracks with tank cars

DENVER — Alpenglow Rail Services Corp and partner Connor, Clark & Lunn Infrastructure have acquired Alberta Midland Railway Terminal Ltd., the companies announced this week. The terminal, approximately 30 kilometers (18.6) miles east of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, in the Greater Edmonton region, becomes Alpenglow’s third rail terminal in Canada to go with three in the […]

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Signalmen’s union rejects contract agreement with U.S. Class I railroads

Chicago Railfanning at Lisle: Orange locomotives moving train in heavy snow.

FRONT ROYAL, Va. — Members of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen have voted against ratification of the tentative agreement union leaders had reached with the U.S. Class I railroads on Sept. 15. Nearly 61% of the rank and file voted no, while 39% voted yes for the proposed contract. The two sides now will head […]

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Norfolk Southern reports record quarterly results as operations improve

Intermodal train with black locomotives

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern on Wednesday reported record third-quarter financial results despite handling lower volume. “The Norfolk Southern team delivered strong financial results in the third quarter, achieving quarterly records for revenue, net income, and earnings per share,” CEO Alan Shaw said on the railroad’s earnings call with investors and analysts. NS’s operations also improved […]

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Developer announces plan for new rail-served container facility at Port of Baltimore

Aerial view of buildings next to water

BALTIMORE — Tradepoint Atlantic, developer of the former Sparrows Point steel mill at the Port of Baltimore, has announced plans for a 165-acre container terminal with on-dock rail as the next major step of redevelopment of the 3,300-acre site. The project, a partnership with Terminal Investment Limited, should lead to hundreds of new jobs during […]

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CN sets earnings record, upgrades outlook for year as operations improve

Train with red locomotive approaching curve

MONTREAL — Canadian National posted record third-quarter financial results on Tuesday and boosted its outlook for the full year due to a combination of operational improvements, strong pricing gains, and traffic growth. CEO Tracy Robinson, who joined the railway on Feb. 28 and prioritized getting back to operational basics, said she was proud of the […]

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Officials are out in force for CREATE’s latest groundbreaking

Eight people with shovels digging into box of dirt

CHICAGO — To weigh the significance of Tuesday’s groundbreaking for part of CREATE’s latest infrastructure project, consider the adage that “success has many fathers, but defeat is an orphan.” Then consider the 13 speakers and many other representatives from federal, state, county, and local government that were part of the ceremony for the Forest Hill […]

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Kansas City Southern to hold Laredo bridge groundbreaking ceremony

Illustration of trains meeting on parallel bridges

LAREDO, Texas — Kansas City Southern will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday for the second span the railway is building over the Rio Grande at Laredo. The current International Railway Bridge linking Laredo with Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, is the busiest railroad freight gateway in North America. The U.S. ceremony will take place just south […]

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