Weekly U.S. rail traffic down slightly from 2021

Weekly table showing U.S. carload traffic by commodity type, plus intermodal totals

WASHINGTON — Weekly U.S. rail traffic remains below 2021 levels, albeit only by a slight margin for the week ending Aug. 13, according to the latest statistics from the Association of American Railroads. For the week, U.S. Class I railroads moved 502,775 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.3% from the same week in 2021. That […]

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Amtrak plans hiring events in push to fill job vacancies

Men working on passenger car in shop

WASHINGTON — Amtrak will host more than 50 hiring events in its coming fiscal year, to fill more than 4,000 available positions nationwide across a broad range of disciplines. Many of the events and positions will be concentrated in Los Angeles; Seattle; New Orleans; New York; Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Oakland; Philadelphia; Miami; and Wilmington, Del. […]

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Presidential board recommendations a ‘useful basis’ for labor agreement, AAR says (2nd update)

Man in orange vest climbing onto black locomotive

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Presidential Emergency Board recommendations for ending the current railroad labor dispute “provide a useful basis to reach a resolution” although they “markedly exceed the rail carriers’ proposal,” Association of American Railroads CEO Ian Jefferies says in a statement issued this morning (Wednesday, Aug. 17). The group representing railroads in the long-running negotiations, […]

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Indiana Northeastern upgrades, repaints ex-Reading GP30

Front view of black locomotive with yellow stripes on nose

HUDSON, Ind. — Mechanical staff of the Indiana Northeaster Railroad is in the process of completing upgrades and repainting of ex-Reading Lines locomotive No. 2185, one of the two GP30s on the 105-mile system which operates in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Travis Bloom, chief mechanical officer for the railroad, leads a staff of four mechanical […]

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Missouri judge holds hearing on potential stay of Southwest Chief lawsuits

Aerial view of accident site with debris of truck hit by train

KEYTESVILLE, Mo. — A Missouri judge is considering a request to stay litigation over the fatal June 27 derailment of Amtrak’s Southwest Chief while the National Transportation Safety Board investigation is ongoing, as requested by defendants. KMBC-TV reports Chariton County Circuit Court Judge Terry Tschannen heard arguments Tuesday from attorneys for Amtrak, BNSF Railway, and […]

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Presidential Emergency Board issues rail contract recommendations meant to avert strike

Man climbing on front steps of orange locomotive

WASHINGTON — The Presidential Emergency Board charged with making recommendations to resolve the longstanding contract differences between the U.S. Class I railroads and their unionized workforce today submitted its report to the White House, railroads, and organized labor. The board recommended a 22% wage increase, along with $5,000 in service recognition bonus payments, over the […]

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Union Pacific operations recovery continues as crew ranks rise

Yellow locomotives leading train of double-stacked containers over bridge

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific’s operations are recovering as more conductors graduate from training classes and are deployed in revenue service, executives said at an investor conference today. UP’s traffic is up 2% in the quarter to date, but would be higher if not for ongoing service problems related to crew shortages, particularly on the […]

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CP-KCS deal receives government clearance for foreign investment

Logos for Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern

CALGARY — The proposed Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger has received regulatory clearance from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, CP has announced. The interagency committee reviews business moves and some real estate transactions involving foreign companies or individuals to determine the potential national security impact of those transactions. More information about […]

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