In a wide-ranging exclusive interview with Trains Editor Jim Wrinn on Friday, Ward said the CSX board of directors asked him to stay on three more years.
“I plan to work to 68,” said Ward, 65, who took the top job at the eastern carrier in 2003 and has weathered huge surges in traffic that strained capacity, a hostile takeover attempt, and now the rapid decline in coal traffic that has sent shock waves through the industry.
Ward says coal traffic has gone from 1 in 3 carloads to 1 in 6 carloads at CSX, a carrier whose primary components include the coal-based franchises of the Baltimore & Ohio, Chesapeake & Ohio, and Louisville & Nashville. In response to lower coal volumes, the company has taken drastic steps to adjust its network, including closing significant portions of the former Clinchfield and L&N as well as C&O coal branches in West Virginia. The railroad also installed a long merchandise train strategy and laid off employees, most recently announcing additional mechanical department cuts on Friday.
CSX’s succession plans called for Oscar Munoz to replace Ward in the top job, but in 2015 Munoz unexpectedly left to run United Airlines. Soon after taking that job, Munoz suffered a serious heart attack and has been recuperating after a heart transplant. With Ward at the throttle through 2019, the railroad has time to develop the talent pool for its top leadership during a period of significant upheaval.
Trains will publish a full Q&A with Ward in which he talks more about transitioning CSX’s franchise away from coal to intermodal and merchandise, positive train control, railroad mergers, and other issues. That interview will appear in the May issue of Trains, available in early April.
Yes I am retired from CSX, 37 years seniority.
Dan, I didn't accuse you of whining ! As you are stating, " sometimes " is the key word and I just don't see where Michael Ward is a significant reason for that overall change that you feel we aren't getting !
When you say that you're " retired from the place ", are you referring to CSXT ?
Not whining, no matter what you say. You probably were saying the same thing during the Snow administration…and yes, sometimes CHANGE is whats needed to get things moving forward again…not seeing that now, not at all.
I'm a stockholder too by the way…and retired from the place.
Klippel, it means the status quo will remain in place. Same old, same old cuts to prosperity. Same people in the halls of so called power with very little new going on.
The only high point in the last few years was Oscar Munoz and he fled post haste.
GET SOME NEW PEOPLE, SOME NEW IDEAS, SHAKE THE PLACE UP…oh well Hunter is going after NS so I doubt thats going to happen. THAT was what I was hoping for but alas, not to be.
Mr. Gless, It doesn't mean any such thing, and CSX seems to be doing just fine under the circumstances !
BIG WHINERS are a big part of the problem ! We need MORE WINNERS, who know how to get things done ! Change, just for the sake of supposedly breaking the status- quo, is not necessarily the best way to go !
Dan, Take a deep breath and relax, everything is going to be alright !!!!
Mr. Gless, Why is that depressing news, or are you just constantly depressed, or were you planning on getting the job for yourself ? You have my deepest sympathy !!!
Since 2003 Michael Ward has guided CSX since John Snow left to be Secretary of the Treasury during the Bush administration.
Thats depressing news. Depressing indeed.