Intermodal surge hits capacity ceiling

Container train in farm fields

The lone railroad traffic bright spot last year was intermodal volume, which went on a tear in the second half of 2020 due to rising e-commerce parcel shipments, a surge in imports, and retailers rushing to restock depleted inventories. But as intermodal traffic surged and remained at fall peak levels into this year, the volume […]

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Digest: NTSB issues preliminary report into Illinois short line death

NTSB logo

More Thursday morning rail news: NTSB issues preliminary report on fatal Decatur & Eastern Illinois accident The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary report into the death of a Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad employee in November [see “Digest: Illinois short line conductor killed in accident,” Trains News Wire, Nov. 12, 2020], setting […]

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U.S. grain sales to China spur record rail traffic

Train in shadows with bridge in distance

While intermodal’s role in boosting North America rail volume has been in the spotlight, grain traffic has also been impressive. Canadian National and Canadian Pacific have set a series of records for Canadian grain tonnage [see “CP, CN continue string of records for grain movement,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 4, 2021], but global trade in U.S. grain, particularly […]

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Washington project rebuilding GN caboose from the frame up

Gray wooden caboose under restoration

TENINO, Wash. — Over the last year, the residents of the small western Washington town of Tenino have become accustomed to the sounds of saws and hammers coming from 1920s-era Great Northern caboose X549. The caboose restoration is a joint venture between the town of Tenino and the Tenino Historical Depot. The caboose was purchased […]

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Digest: Vancouver rail system reaches deal with union, averts strike

SkyTrain Canada Line logo

Wednesday morning rail news: Vancouver rail line averts strike with labor agreement The Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Line of the SkyTrain rail transit system has averted a strike after workers reached a tentative contract agreement with operator Protrans BC. Global News reports the BC Government & Service Employees Union said the agreement came after more than 40 […]

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Digest: LA Metro CEO Washington to step down

LA Metro CEO Phillip Washington

Wednesday afternoon rail news: LA Metro CEO Phillip Washington to step down in May CEO Phillip A. Washington will step down in May after six years leading the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, LA Metro board chair Eric Garcetti announced. Washington recently informed the board he would not seek a new contract or extend […]

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Digest: Amtrak, NJ Transit remain on modified schedules after storm

Amtrak logo

More Wednesday morning rail news: Rail service continues to dig out from Northeast storm Rail systems continue to recover from Monday’s major snowstorm in the Northeast. Amtrak will continue modified Acela, Northeast Regional, and Keystone Service today on the Northeast Corridor;. see Amtrak.com, the Amtrak app, and the Amtrak Alerts and NEC Alerts Twitter feeds for more information. Most NJ […]

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U.S. railroads end January with 5.3% increase in traffic

Table of railroad statistics

WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic in January showed a 5.3% increase over the same month in 2020, while traffic in the week’s final month was up 2.1%, according to the latest figures from the Association of American Railroads. “We are encouraged by rail volumes in January,” AAR Senior Vice President John T.Gray said in a […]

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