Introduction to Clearing Yard in Chicago Clearing Yard in Chicago often operates at 1.8 mph, slower than the speed at which an average adult walks. Compound that brutally slow pace with the idea that this same portion of railroad connects six of the seven Class I carriers, and you soon get the feeling somebody has […]
Type of Train: Freight
Norfolk Southern’s Shaw to succeed Squires as CEO (updated)
ATLANTA – Norfolk Southern today named Alan Shaw as its chief executive officer, effective May 1, when current CEO Jim Squires will retire. Shaw, the railroad’s chief marketing officer, was promoted to president effective today. The NS management team now reports to Shaw, who has been with the railroad for 27 years and has served […]
U.S. rail traffic slump continues in November
WASHINGTON — A slump in rail traffic continued in November, with lagging intermodal traffic leading to a 4.5% drop in overall volume, compared to the same month in 2020. The latest statistics from the Association of American railroads show that U.S. railroads originated 1,028,039 containers and trailers in November, a 9.6% decrease from November 2020. […]
RSI Logistics, R.J. Corman announce transload partnership
OKEMOS, Mich. — RSI Logistics Inc. and R.J. Corman Railroad Co. have announced a partnership involving marketing and operation of R.J. Corman Transload Connect sites. RSI Logistics will promote the Transload Connect facilities as part of a marketing alliance, and will be the third-party operator at several locations in the eastern and midwestern U.S. The […]
Norfolk Southern working to alleviate crew shortages and improve service
NASHVILLE — Norfolk Southern is doing all it can to solve its crew shortage problem and restore service to normal levels, executives said today. NS has been hit hard by the double whammy of higher-than-expected attrition among its current train and engine crews and difficulty hiring conductor trainees in an extremely tight job market. The […]
Union Pacific lowers 2021 expectations as intermodal volume slumps
NASHVILLE — Union Pacific has trimmed its volume, productivity, and operating-ratio expectations for the year amid sluggish operations and a sharp decline in international intermodal traffic due to global supply chain problems. UP now says it will see a 4% volume gain this year, down from the previous forecast of 5% growth; productivity gains will total […]
Province seeks to amend constitution as a result of tax fight with Canadian Pacific (updated)
REGINA, Saskatchewan — A long-running battle between Canadian Pacific and the province of Saskatchewan is leading to an effort to amend the provincial constitution to remove a disputed tax loophole for the railroad. The Canadian Press reports CP is suing the province for $341 million in taxes it has paid, arguing it is exempt from […]
STB adopts streamlined emergency temporary trackage rights rule
WASHINGTON – Federal regulators have adopted a final rule that will streamline the process railroads follow when applying for emergency temporary trackage rights. The new Surface Transportation Board rule, adopted in a decision today, eliminates a required 30-day notice period. Instead, the trackage-rights exemption would become effective within five days. The rule will make it easier […]
CN main line in British Columbia shut down again
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Canadian National has shut down service on its route to Vancouver as additional rain, flooding, and landslides continue to plague a hard-hit area in British Columbia’s interior. The CBC reports CN moved seven trains over the weekend before it elected to “proactively close its network” as rain was causing increased debris, […]
CP-KCS deal receives approval in Mexico
Mexican regulators have given their approval to the planned merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern. The railroads announced on Nov. 26 that they had received the required approval from the Mexican Federal Economic Competition Commission and the Mexican Federal Telecommunications Institute. “This important milestone marks the next step on our path to creating […]
Two hurt in Norfolk Southern derailment in Georgia (updated)
HIRAM, Ga. — Two crew members suffered minor injuries Saturday night as three locomotives and at least seven cars of a Norfolk Southern train derailed late Saturday night. The lead locomotive and seven cars overturned, while the other two locomotives remained upright. WSB-TV reports the railroad said in a statement that the crew members “have […]
Groundbreaking set for Baltimore tunnel project
BALTIMORE — CSX CEO Jim Foote and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan head the list of those those scheduled to take part today (Monday, Nov. 29) in a groundbreaking ceremony for the start of work on the long-sought Howard Street Tunnel project in Baltimore. The 1 p.m. ceremony will be at the former Mount Royal Station […]