WASHINGTON — Canadian Pacific wants federal regulators to toss out Canadian National’s request to gain control of Kansas City Southern’s line linking Springfield, Ill., and Kansas City, Mo., as a condition of the CP-KCS merger. CN’s proposal for divestiture of the line is “without merit,” CP argued in a Jan. 28 filing with the Surface […]
Type of Train: Freight
Alabama Port Authority announces new inland intermodal facility, CSX intermodal service from Mobile
MOBILE, Ala. — The Alabama Port Authority will build an intermodal container transfer facility in Montgomery, Ala., to be served by CSX Transportation, after the authority’s board of directors approved a $2.042 million purchase of 272 acres for the new inland terminal to serve traffic from the Port of Mobile. The first phase of the […]
STB denies request for extension of schedule for reciprocal switching proposal
WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has denied the Association of American Railroads’ request to extend the schedule for consideration of its proposed reciprocal switching regulations, meaning a hearing on the subject remains set for March 15. The AAR had asked for a 75-day continuance of the schedule, or, as an alternative, moving the deadline […]
Union says BNSF move toward new attendance policy violates Railway Labor Act
FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway’s plans to institute a new attendance policy while a new labor agreement is under negotiation is contrary to the terms of the Railway Labor Act, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen argues in a new court filing. The Thursday filing with the U.S. District Court in Fort Worth […]
Meet the new boss: Canadian National CEO Tracy Robinson – analysis
Canadian National shocked the railroad world this week with the selection of Tracy Robinson, a Canadian energy executive and former Canadian Pacific official, as its next CEO. The surprise came mostly from the fact that she is not a marquee name in railroad circles and has been out of the industry for eight years. But […]
Norfolk Southern adds hybrid cranes at Chicago, Atlanta intermodal terminals
ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has installed five hybrid overhead gantry cranes at intermodal terminals in Chicago and Atlanta, part of an ongoing effort to replace existing cranes with hybrid or electric-powered units across its network over the next decade. The 60-foot-tall cranes are diesel-electric hybrids, which use battery power in normal use and battery and […]
Canadian Pacific opposes Class I requests for KCS merger concessions
CALGARY, Alberta – Other Class I railroads should not be able to use the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger process as a way to improve their competitive positions, CP CEO Keith Creel says. BNSF Railway, Canadian National, and Norfolk Southern have sought concessions related to the merger, which is currently under review at the U.S. […]
Severe weather, small grain crop, and merger costs weigh on CP earnings
CALGARY, Alberta — Canadian Pacific’s fourth-quarter earnings declined due to a combination of harsh weather, a smaller Canadian grain crop, and costs related to the Kansas City Southern merger. CEO Keith Creel said on the company’s earnings call Thursday afternoon that while railroading is an outdoor sport, the extreme conditions in November and December tested the […]
Overseas demand for metallurgical coal likely to bolster U.S. coal carloadings in 2022: Analysis
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Steelmakers around the world continue to have a strong appetite for America’s metallurgical coal, with railroads in a position to benefit in 2022. The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s short-term outlook expects demand for coal used in steelmaking to increase 16% in 2022. Brazil and India have historically been the largest buyers of […]
Patriot Rail names Sexhus as president, chief operating officer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Sam Sexhus, a veteran of more than 25 years in Class I railroading, has been named as president and chief operating officer of short line company Patriot Rail. “Patriot Rail is experiencing tremendous growth, and Sam Sexhus’ leadership will enable the company to further solidify our shortline railroad footprint in the U.S.,” […]
Weekly U.S. rail traffic continues to lag
WASHINGTON — Rail traffic continues to lag behind 2021 levels in the early stages of 2022, according to weekly statistics from the Association of American Railroads. For the week ending Jan. 22, 2022, overall U.S. rail volume was 477,462 carloads and intermodal units, a 9.8% drop from the same week in 2021. Through three weeks […]
Western Maryland’s Baltimore marine terminal
Three Liberty ships, including the Cardinal Gibbons (closest to camera), are loaded at the Western Maryland’s Port Covington piers in Baltimore during World War II. WM photo […]