AAR CEO: ‘Day in and day out, railroads are working around the clock…’ NEWSWIRE

AAR President and CEO Ian Jefferies recently published a new op-ed on Fox Business’ website praising railroads and their workers during this unprecedented coronavirus challenge. “Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the flow of groceries, pharmaceuticals and other essential goods is a stark reminder that transportation networks that bring those necessities to people are as vital as […]

Read More…

AAR: US train traffic continues double-digit dive NEWSWIRE

U.S. Rail Traffic1 Week 13, 2020 – Ended March 28, 2020 This Week Year-To-Date Cars vs 2019 Cumulative Avg/wk2 vs 2019 Total Carloads 219,844 -9.1% 2,993,051 230,235 -6.3% Chemicals 32,706 -3.2% 427,594 32,892 3.1% Coal 60,983 0.1% 833,542 64,119 -16.7% Farm Products excl. Grain, and Food 16,027 2.2% 206,011 15,847 2.1% Forest Products 9,694 -3.6% 126,608 9,739 -2.9% Grain 22,212 -1.6% 260,986 20,076 -6.0% Metallic Ores and Metals 20,875 -10.4% 268,111 20,624 -1.3% Motor Vehicles and Parts 5,423 -69.5% 196,624 15,125 -6.8% Nonmetallic Minerals 31,159 -9.7% 378,773 29,136 -6.6% Petroleum and Petroleum Products 11,220 -11.4% 168,493 12,961 3.6% Other 9,545 -9.7% 126,309 9,716 5.4% Total Intermodal Units 229,923 -14.2% 3,178,285 244,483 -8.6% Total Traffic 449,767 -11.8% 6,171,336 474,718 -7.5% 1 Excludes U.S. operations of Canadian Pacific, CN and GMXT. 2 Average per week figures may not sum to totals as a result of independent rounding.

WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads today reported U.S. rail traffic this week for the week ending March 28, 2020, as well as volumes for March 2020. U.S. railroads originated 899,673 carloads in March 2020, down 6%, or 57,148 carloads, from March 2019. U.S. railroads also originated 935,380 containers and trailers in March 2020, […]

Read More…

Details emerge on Washington state’s two-person crew law NEWSWIRE

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Gov. Jay Inslee has signed into law legislation mandating a minimum of two crew members on passenger and most freight trains operating in the state. The governor did veto a provision declaring the act effective immediately. “Given the complexity of this legislation, the Utilities and Transportation Commission [which has rail-safety oversight duties […]

Read More…

Canada issues new rules on hazardous material trains, track safety

Tank_Cars_Lassen

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 […]

Read More…

US rail traffic plummets more than 11 percent for the last full week of March 2020; coal posts slight increase NEWSWIRE

U.S. Rail Traffic1 Week 13, 2020 – Ended March 28, 2020 This Week Year-To-Date Cars vs 2019 Cumulative Avg/wk2 vs 2019 Total Carloads 219,844 -9.1% 2,993,051 230,235 -6.3% Chemicals 32,706 -3.2% 427,594 32,892 3.1% Coal 60,983 0.1% 833,542 64,119 -16.7% Farm Products excl. Grain, and Food 16,027 2.2% 206,011 15,847 2.1% Forest Products 9,694 -3.6% 126,608 9,739 -2.9% Grain 22,212 -1.6% 260,986 20,076 -6.0% Metallic Ores and Metals 20,875 -10.4% 268,111 20,624 -1.3% Motor Vehicles and Parts 5,423 -69.5% 196,624 15,125 -6.8% Nonmetallic Minerals 31,159 -9.7% 378,773 29,136 -6.6% Petroleum and Petroleum Products 11,220 -11.4% 168,493 12,961 3.6% Other 9,545 -9.7% 126,309 9,716 5.4% Total Intermodal Units 229,923 -14.2% 3,178,285 244,483 -8.6% Total Traffic 449,767 -11.8% 6,171,336 474,718 -7.5% 1 Excludes U.S. operations of Canadian Pacific, CN and GMXT. 2 Average per week figures may not sum to totals as a result of independent rounding.

Association of American Railroads WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending March 28, 2020, as well as volumes for March 2020. U.S. railroads originated 899,673 carloads in March 2020, down 6%, or 57,148 carloads, from March 2019. U.S. railroads also originated 935,380 containers and trailers in […]

Read More…

News Wire Digest Second Section for Saturday, March 28 NEWSWIRE

FRA

Some significant rail news for Saturday morning: — The $2 trillion coronavirus relief package passed by the House of Representatives and signed by President Trump on Friday includes expansion of railroad unemployment benefits, in addition to the previously reported financial aid for Amtrak and transit agencies [see “Trains News Wire Digest for Thursday, March 26”]. […]

Read More…