WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has released details on its previously announced hearing on proposed reciprocal switching regulations, to be held March 15-16. The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. each day at the board’s headquarters in Washington, and will be streamed online on the board website. The board will announce no later than […]
Type of Train: Freight
CSX, NS documents offer harsh rebuttal to Amtrak filing in Gulf Coast case
WASHINGTON — In filings that maintain if not elevate the level of acrimony between the two sides, CSX and Norfolk Southern have attacked almost every aspect of Amtrak’s response to their initial argument in the dispute over Gulf Coast passenger service that is before the Surface Transportation Board. The main document filed by the two […]
Two Mississippi ports receive federal funds for rail projects
WASHINGTON — Two ports in Mississippi have received more than $8 million in U.S. Department of Transportation grants for rail projects, the state’s congressional delegation has announced. Port Bienville, near Bay St. Louis in Hancock County, and the City of Aberdeen Port in Monroe County, have received funding under the Port Infrastructure Development Program, U.S. […]
BNSF train derails in northeast Missouri
BARING, Mo. — About 40 cars of a BNSF Railway train derailed on Sunday morning near Baring, shutting down service on the railroads Marceline Subdivision. No injuries were reported and no hazardous materials were reported to be involved. The train was carrying mixed freight, WGEM-TV reports. A BNSF service advisory to customers says the derailment […]
News Wire Top 10, No. 5: Amtrak spars with CSX, NS over Gulf Coast service
MOBILE, Ala. — Amtrak’s intention to begin two daily round trips between New Orleans and Mobile in 2022 has led to a Surface Transportation Board proceeding likely to determine the rights and obligations of host railroads in granting access over routes that currently don’t have passenger service. The case before the STB grows out of […]
GIO Rail prepares to start service on CN Cayuga Subdivision
ST. THOMAS, Ontario — One week after the GIO Railway Corp. ran the final train on one Ontario short line, it debuted on another route. On Christmas Eve, Canadian National’s Cayuga Subdivision saw its first train since April 30, 2020, when Ontario Southland discontinued operation on the 30-mile line between St. Thomas and Courtland, Ontario. […]
‘Pop-up’ inland port in Atlanta eases Savannah congestion, but spurs neighborhood concern
ATLANTA — A CSX rail yard in Atlanta has become one of four “pop-up” inland ports to ease congestion at the Port of Savannah, Ga., but some nearby residents have mixed feelings. They’re concerned about a resulting increase in truck traffic, but also have felt the supply-chain issues the temporary facility is meant to address. […]
CP, potash firm Canpotex sign new seven-year deal
CALGARY — Canadian Pacific and potash export firm Canpotex have announced a new seven-year contract between the two firms, a successor to a current 10-year agreement that expires in 2022. The new agreement runs through 2028. “We are pleased to have entered into this agreement and incredibly proud to continue our successful relationship with Canpotex,” […]
CB&Q local freight
A Chicago, Burlington & Quincy switcher sets out a pair of empty stock cars for loading at a Wyoming stock pen in 1955. William A. Akin photo […]
News Wire Top 10, No. 7: Railroad crew shortages
At the onset of the pandemic in 2020, Class I railroads furloughed train crews as volume sank at its fastest rate ever. When volume rebounded, crew members were not called back to work at the same rate as traffic returned because railroads were moving their tonnage on fewer but longer trains. Then three things happened […]
News Wire Top 10, No. 8: Climate challenges
Few years pass without railroads facing disruptions from natural disasters. This year was no different, with events including flooding that caused a Union Pacific derailment in Utah in July, Hurricane Ida hitting rail operations from New Orleans to New England in August; and devastating tornadoes in December, including one that derailed a CSX train. But […]
News Wire Top 10: No. 9 (tie), the STB and Wall Street
Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin J. Oberman ended 2021 the way he began it: By criticizing Wall Street’s influence on the publicly traded Class I railroads. Oberman addressed several shipper and rail industry conferences during the year and sharpened his message each time he spoke. Wall Street’s demands for lower operating ratios have prompted railroads […]