NORFOLK, Va. — Reflecting continued intermodal strength — as well cost savings resulting from the continued implementation of Precision Scheduled Railroading principles — Norfolk Southern showed increases in both volume and earnings during 2021’s first quarter, as well as a new record operating-ratio figure. Quarterly revenue of $2.6 billion represented a 1% increase over the […]
Railroad: Norfolk Southern
Digest: CP argues for different standards to judge voting trust proposals for KCS
CP says its voting-trust proposal for KCS should be subject to different standards than CN proposal In its latest argument against Canadian National’s competing bid for Kansas City Southern, Canadian Pacific says CN is wrong to argue that the CN and CP proposals for placing KCS in a voting trust should be judged by the […]
Railroads take steps to ease intermodal congestion
Pockets of congestion and overall high volumes are slowing most railroads’ intermodal networks, prompting BNSF Railway, Union Pacific, and Norfolk Southern to take steps to manage capacity. BNSF, the largest intermodal carrier, announced several changes designed to ease congestion at key terminals beginning next week. BNSF will implement day-of-week in-gate windows at its Hobart terminal […]
NS Trash Train consigned to the dumpster of history
ROANOKE, Va. — For more than a quarter century, at approximately 5:30 p.m., a Norfolk Southern crew would report in Roanoke and start train V60, commonly known as the “Star City Stinker” or “Trash Train.” No more. The Monday-through-Friday operation would start just east of Roanoke’s famed East End Shops and travel 30 miles west […]
Digest: Federal legislators reintroduce bill supporting fare-free public transit
Massachusetts legislators introduce bill to provide $5 billion annually for fare-free transit U.S. Sen Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass) have reintroduced legislation supporting state and local efforts to create fare-free public transportation. The Freedom to Move Act, originally introduced in 2020, would award $5 billion annually for a five-year period for competitive […]
Landmark former PRR tower facing demolition
MG Tower, a landmark on the former Pennsylvania Railroad Pittsburgh Line through the Allegheny Mountains, is reportedly facing demolition by current owner Norfolk Southern 27 years after its closure. The tower was built to help the Pennsylvania deal with the increased demand to transport war materials, troops, civilian passenger trains, and regular freight shipments. In […]
Analysis: Amtrak’s Gulf Coast STB filing to test right of access
WASHINGTON — Amtrak’s 826-page petition to the Surface Transportation Board, filed last week, is the latest salvo in efforts to establish passenger trains on routes of railroads not currently hosting service. The STB’s eventual decision could have a significant impact on what investment is required for service expansion. The filing argues Amtrak has made good […]
Amtrak asks STB to require CSX, NS to allow Gulf Coast service (updated)
WASHINGTON — Amtrak is taking its effort to start service along the Gulf Coast to the Surface Transportation Board. The passenger railroad is asking the regulatory body to require CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern to permit operation of two daily round trips between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala. In its filing, Amtrak is asking for […]
Digest: Savannah port sees first traffic at new container terminal
Savannah port sees first traffic at new container terminal; rail capacity project advances The Port of Savannah, Ga., has welcomed the first container ship to call on its Ocean Terminal, partially converted from roll-on/roll-off cargo to handle container traffic. The Savannah Morning News reports the conversion adds 210,000 twenty-foot-equaivalent units, or TEUs — the standard […]
Digest: LA Union Station to be one of two sites for Academy Awards
LA Union Station to host part of Oscars ceremony Los Angeles Union Station will be one of the two venues for this year’s Academy Awards ceremony, Variety reports. The station, built in 1939, is a frequent setting for films, but has never been part of the Oscars. It will be used this year, along with […]
Digest: Delays add $300 million to cost of Gateway project
Delays in start of Gateway project push cost to $11.6 billion Ongoing delays in beginning the Gateway tunnel project on the Northeast Corridor have pushed the estimated cost of tunnels under the Hudson river to $11.6 billion, a $300 million increase over the previous estimate. NJ.com reports Frank Sacr, interim executive director of the Gateway […]
Norfolk Southern ends Atlanta project at former brick factory site
ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has terminated plans for a transload facility at the site of the former Chattahoochee Brick Co. in Atlanta, which Atlanta officials sought to stop because of the dark history of the site. The plant used prison labor in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and it is believed laborers who […]