J.B. Hunt containers head east on a BNSF intermodal train at Brookfield, Ill., in November 2019. A J.B. Hunt executive says the company is experiencing its best rail service ever. TRAINS: David Lassen Railroads’ intermodal service is the best it’s ever been, J.B. Hunt executives said during the company’s first-quarter earnings call on Tuesday. Darren […]
Type of Train: Freight
US rail traffic falls off a cliff NEWSWIRE
Association of American Railroads WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending April 11, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 412,503 carloads and intermodal units, down 21.9% compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending April 11 were […]
UP, Iowa Northern begin international intermodal service to Iowa (corrected) NEWSWIRE
An Iowa Northern intermodal train arrives in Manly, Iowa, on Monday for handoff to the Union Pacific, transporting agricultural products for export as part of a new service between Los Angeles and Iowa. Iowa Northern: Brad Sabin Iowa Northern has begun regular service for its new intermodal service — a partnership with Union Pacific, Denver-based […]
News Wire Digest Third Section for Friday, April 10 NEWSWIRE
A BNSF Railway oil train passes through Lisle, Ill. Railroads are resisting requests to use tank cars to store crude oil during the oil price downturn. TRAINS: David Lassen Still more Friday morning rail news: — Railroads are resisting efforts from oil companies to store crude oil in tank cars during the current drop in […]
National shippers conference cancels 2020 meeting NEWSWIRE
CHICAGO — The North American Rail Shippers Association today announced the cancellation of its 2020 Annual Meeting planned on May 12-14, 2020 in Kansas City, Mo. Every year, the NARS organization looks forward to connecting with the rail shipping community at the NARS Annual Meeting and sharing insight from industry leaders. Given the growing concerns […]
News Wire Digest Second Section for Wednesday, April 8 NEWSWIRE
More Wednesday morning rail news: — The Alaska Railroad reported a $21.6 million profit in 2019, a 17% improvement over the previous year, thanks to improved freight business. The Anchorage Daily News reports the railroad generated $203.9 million in total revenue, an increase of 7.5%. Freight traffic increased by 9%, leading to $85.3 million in […]
Canada issues new rules on hazardous material trains, track safety
Canada’s Minister of Transport, Marc Garneau, has announced new orders restricting speeds of trains transporting hazardous materials, and updating rules regarding track safety and inspections. The first of the three ministerial orders issued Friday replaces temporary rules issued on Feb. 6 in response to a Canadian Pacific derailment and fire [see “Canadian government orders speed […]
News Wire Digest Second Section for Saturday, April 4 NEWSWIRE
Set up to be transported like a trailer, a donated Black Mesa & Lake Powell hopper car prepares to leave the Navajo Generating Station in Page, Ariz., for its trip to the Arizona Railroad Heritage Park and Museum. Arizona State Railroad Museum Foundation More Saturday morning rail news: — Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee has […]
Bloomberg: Companies looking to tank cars for excess crude oil storage NEWSWIRE
Bloomberg is reporting that oil companies may be looking for tank cars to store an excess of crude oil in the U.S. Companies are running out of convenient places to store crude oil while prices hover just over $22 a barrel in national markets and domestic supplies remain high amid a demand slowdown during the coronavirus pandemic. […]
CN scales back operations as volume falls, will idle section of former BC Rail NEWSWIRE
MONTREAL – Canadian National continues to scale back its operations as traffic declines amid the coronavirus pandemic. The railroad furloughed several hundred people in the past week, on top of the 1,400 who were furloughed in the past couple of weeks, CEO JJ Ruest said on an investor webcast Thursday. CN’s traffic was down 13% […]
As new vehicles clog auto terminals, Class I railroads restrict multilevel traffic NEWSWIRE
Class I railroads have begun closing some automotive ramps to inbound multilevel traffic due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, with BNSF Railway taking the unusual step of placing embargoes on all 23 of its auto distribution centers. “As a result of the quickly developing conditions related to COVID-19, some car dealers and distribution […]
Tidewater transience
Two Geeps (center left) bring a train into Chesapeake & Ohio’s sprawling coal storage yard at Newport News, Va. Cars are stored here until needed at the nearby port facilities where they are mixed with various other grades of coal while loading into oceangoing vessels. Chesapeake & Ohio, John B. Corns collection […]