CSX debuts new railroad real estate site search tool

CSX logo

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation has launched a new online site selection tool to assist companies in their search for rail-served properties and communities competing for economic development projects. The tool is the latest enhancement of the CSX Select Site program, which has helped dozens of manufacturers find appropriate sites for projects expected to generate […]

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Senate committee sets hearing on nominees for Amtrak board, NTSB

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WASHINGTON — The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will hold a hearing next week on three nominees for Amtrak’s board of directors, as well as a member of the National Transportation Safety Board. The hearing will be Wednesday, June 21, at 10 a.m. ET, the committee chair, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), announced. It will […]

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BNSF Railway sets date for taking control of Montana Rail Link

A blue Montana Rail Link train works alongside a river with mountains in the background.

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway aims to take over Montana Rail Link operations on Jan. 1, 2024. Federal regulators in March approved the early termination of Montana Rail Link’s lease of the former Northern Pacific main line between Jones Junction, Mont., and Sandpoint, Idaho. Although the Surface Transportation Board’s green light meant that BNSF […]

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Intermodal startup envisions autonomous double-stack trains and terminals

HOUSTON — The race to develop autonomous freight railroad systems has another entrant: Autonomous Intermodal LLC on Wednesday announced that it’s working on a new intermodal system that would automate trains and terminals. The backbone of AIM’s system is an integral 4,000-foot double-stack train and 9,000-horsepower locomotive. Each 4,000-foot double-stack platform can be combined into […]

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Anacostia names Ferryman as chief operating officer

Man in blue suit

CHICAGO — Anacostia Rail Holdings has named David W. Ferryman to the newly created position of chief operating officer, effective today (June 15). Ferryman will be based in Chicago and report to CEO Peter Gilbertson. “We are very excited to have Dave join our team,” Gilbertson said in a press release. “He has held a […]

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Union, West Coast ports announce new labor deal

Two trains work with container lifts for ships in distance

SAN FRANCISCO — The Pacific Maritime Association and International Longshore and Warehouse Union have reached a tentative labor agreement covering 29 West Coast ports, ending more than a year of negotiations in a dispute that had seen work stoppages at major ports of entry. The settlement has major implications for the rail industry given the […]

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Canadian government approves land expropriation for Lac-Mégantic bypass

Map of Lac-Megantic Bypass

LAC-MÉGANTIC, Quebec — Transport Canada’s request to expropriate land for the planned rail bypass around Lac-Mégantic has been approved, the Canadian government announced Wednesday, setting the stage for the government to take possession of the land on Aug. 1. “We understand how this may be difficult for some,” Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said in a […]

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Transportation Safety Board of Canada remains concerned about uncontrolled rail movements

Transportation Safety Board of Canada logo

GATINEAU, Quebec — Matters regarding unplanned or uncontrolled movements of trains or equipment are the primary unresolved matter in the rail industry for the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, which this week issued its annual assessment of responses to the board’s outstanding safety recommendations. Across air, marine, and rail transportation, the TSB issued 62 recommendations […]

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Sluggish intermodal traffic continues to define rail volume

Weekly table showing U.S. rall carload traffic by commodity type plus intermodal totals

WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic continued its recent pattern in the week ending June 10,  with carload volume showing a slight increase while intermodal traffic remained down significantly compared to the same week a year ago. Statistics from the Association of American Railroads show total weekly traffic of 471,141 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease […]

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