OTTAWA, Ontario — Transport Canada has launched an effort seeking public comment on improving the safety culture in the rail industry. The federal agency has developed a Safety Culture Policy Statement defining the term “safety culture,” outlining its role as regulator, and identifying elements that can shape a safety culture, both positively (such as two-way […]
Train Topic: Railroad Operations
Weekly rail traffic again moves well ahead of 2020 figures
WASHINGTON — A week after U.S. rail volume took a rare dip toward 2020 levels, the latest statistics from the Association of American Railroads once again show a comfortable increase in 2021 traffic over the comparable week a year earlier. For the week ending July 17, overall rail traffic totaled 513,255 carloads and intermodal units, […]
CSX volume and earnings recover, but finding new train crews remains a challenge
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation won’t be able to get its merchandise service back to pre-pandemic levels until it can hire enough train and engine crews to handle strong volume growth. That likely won’t happen before the end of the year because the railroad is struggling to hire conductors in an extremely tight labor market, executives […]
Influential congressman opposes CSX acquisition of Pan Am Railways
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, has told federal regulators that he opposes CSX Transportation’s proposed acquisition of New England regional Pan Am Railways. “Considering the repercussions that would result from CSX Transportation’s purchase of Pan Am Railways and its impact on my district, along with my […]
News photo: Rocky Mountainteer test run in Colorado
ARVADA, Colo. — Two leased Union Pacific locomotives lead a Rocky Mountaineer trainset through Arvada on Tuesday as the train made the fourth of eight test trips for familiarizing crews and onboard employees before the launch of the company’s new “Rockies to Red Rocks” service between Denver and Moab, Utah. The locomotives have been leased […]
CSX says service to chemical and fertilizer shippers is improving
WASHINGTON — CSX Transportation has told federal regulators that it has improved service for chemical and fertilizer shippers, who had complained about widespread delays and congestion in a June letter to the Surface Transportation Board. The American Chemistry Council, the trade group representing chemical producers, had asked the board to put CSX under additional oversight […]
Norfolk Southern adds capacity at Landers intermodal terminal in Chicago
NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk Southern has expanded capacity at its Landers international intermodal terminal in Chicago amid record volume. “In the wake of recent record demand, NS is making multiple changes and upgrades at Landers to increase capacity and prepare for future growth and improve the driver experience,” NS said in a customer service advisory […]
Norfolk Southern to close Cresson, Pa., engine house
CRESSON, Pa. — Norfolk Southern will close its engine house in Cresson, Pa., eliminating seven jobs, the Altoona Mirror reports. The closure will come at the end of July. A Norfolk Southern spokesman told the newspaper in an email that the move “is part of our long-term business plans to evolve our operations to best […]
Transportation Safety Board investigating Calgary fire involving Canadian National train
CALGARY, Alberta — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating a grass fire that was reportedly ignited by a Canadian National train in Calgary’s Erin Woods neighborhood on Saturday. The Calgary Herald reports the Calgary Fire Department responded to a report of a grass fire along the CN tracks about 1:40 a.m., using some […]
Canadian National earnings rebound amid broad traffic growth
MONTREAL — Canadian National’s second-quarter earnings bounced back from the pandemic amid growth in virtually every traffic segment, the railway said on Tuesday. “Our results reflect broad-based trends and forward momentum across all of our business, and also the enduring power of our vast and diversified CN network,” CEO JJ Ruest told investors and analysts on […]
J.B. Hunt says intermodal demand exceeds capacity
LOWELL, Ark. — Demand for domestic intermodal service exceeds J.B. Hunt’s capacity because of slow customer turn times and the reduced velocity of the railroad network. “Demand for our intermodal capacity remains robust. In fact, demand continues to significantly outpace our available capacity, which remains constrained by rail performance and restrictions in addition to customer detention […]
BNSF restricts flow of containers from LA and Long Beach to Chicago
FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway is limiting the flow of international containers from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to its Logistics Park Chicago intermodal terminal for two weeks to work off a backlog of boxes that have built up in the Windy City. “BNSF is metering traffic from the West Coast […]