Norfolk Southern cutting 7% of management and staff positions

Norfolk Southern logo

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern told employees today that it will eliminate 7% of its management and staff positions as a cost-cutting move. The railroad is set to publicly announce the cutbacks during its fourth-quarter earnings call on Friday morning. NS is offering voluntary severance packages to eligible employees, according to people familiar with the matter. […]

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Union Pacific: Uncertainty clouds freight outlook for the year

Freight train with two yellow locomotives with small town in distance

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific expects muted traffic volume this year due to a combination of a slow economy, lower demand for coal, and the loss of an international intermodal contract to BNSF Railway. UP executives discussed their outlook for the year while releasing fourth-quarter financial results this morning. “The Union Pacific team is executing […]

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Short line to be launched at Port of West Virginia

Logo of short line Empire River Rail

FOLLANSBEE, W.Va — Empire Diversified Energy, a holding company involved in sustainable energy and logistics, will establish a short line railroad to serve the Port of West Virginia, the company announced Wednesday. Empire River Rail intends to be a clean-energy system and is part of the effort to make the port in Follansbee, on the […]

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BNSF announces $3.9 billion capital spending plan for 2024

Double-stack container train passing maintenance equipment

FORT WORTH — BNSF Railway will spend $3.92 billion on capital projects this year, the railroad announced today. “This year’s capital plan reflects our continued commitment to growth, by ensuring we have the capacity and equipment needed to support our customers,” CEO Katie Farmer said in a statement. “We continue to invest in our network […]

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CSX fourth-quarter profits decline despite volume growth

Locomotive with mix of freight cars

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX expects to gain merchandise, intermodal, and export coal volume this year partly due to improved service, executives said today while announcing fourth-quarter financial results. “Throughout 2023, our railroad demonstrated reliable, industry-leading network performance, and the ONE CSX team delivered consistent results through a dynamic economic environment by focusing on excellent customer […]

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U.S. rail traffic declines for week ending Jan. 20

Association of American Railroads logo

WASHINGTON — Total U.S. weekly rail traffic was down 13.2% last week compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads reported today. Total carloads for the week ending Jan. 20 were down 22.4% compared with the same week in 2023, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was down 4.5% compared to 2023. […]

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STB streamlines emergency service regulations

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board today adopted a final rule to amend its emergency service regulations in order to provide immediate relief for shippers in certain situations. The rule, adopted unanimously, clarifies that the board may act on its own initiative to direct emergency rail service. It also establishes an accelerated process for review […]

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Super C on Cajon Pass

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Santa Fe train 100, the Los Angeles–Chicago Super C, climbs the west side of Cajon Pass with four Flexi-Van containers and four trailers trailing an SD45 and F45 on January 26, 1970. Joe McMillan photo […]

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CN revenue and profits decline in fourth quarter, but railway expects growth this year

Intermodal train with one red and black locomotive on curve

MONTREAL – Canadian National expects traffic to bounce back this year due to a combination of an improving economy and the railway’s own growth projects, executives said today while announcing fourth-quarter results that included lower volume, revenue, and profits. “Through 2023, our team of dedicated railroaders leveraged our scheduled operating model to deliver exceptional service […]

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Bison Transport to provide cross-border intermodal service via CPKC

WINNIPEG, Manitoba – Bison Transport has reached an agreement with Canadian Pacific Kansas City to provide cross-border intermodal service linking Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. “Our relationship with CPKC positions Bison to be the leading multimodal freight solutions provider that can service Canada, the United States, and Mexico,” Rob Penner, Bison Transport President and CEO, […]

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