Railroads

U.S. rail traffic year-to-date continues to trend downward compared with the same period a year ago, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR). U.S. rail volumes totaled 3.38 million carloads and intermodal units for the first seven weeks of the year, a 6.2.% decline from the same...

U.S. rail volumes kicked off the new year by continuing a monthslong slump, with traffic down 5.1% compared with the same period a year ago. U.S. rail volumes totaled 414,014 carloads and intermodal units for the first week of the year that ended on Jan. 4, according to the Association of American...

This week we step inside the world of an  industry that's been  rolling for nearly  200 years. Ian Jefferies of the Association of American Railroads talks about rail's role  in the economy, an industry in transition, Precision Railroading, Positive Train Control, drones, data, and automation. ...

Collectively known as precision scheduled railroading, the efficiency drives have made intermodal more "operationally friendly, but not necessarily . . .  more customer friendly," Larry Gross, principal of Gross Transportation Consulting, said at the Intermodal Association of North America's annual...

Railroad company CSX Corporation (NASDAQ: CSX) reported Tuesday with second-quarter results that were notable for a miss on the EPS and revenue lines. Here's how some of the Street's top analysts reacted. The Analysts RBC Capital Markets' Walter Spracklin maintained...

FreightWaves features commentary from Market Voices – contributors with unique knowledge of numerous transportation/logistics/supply chain sectors, as well as other critical expertise. Virgin Trains USA, the only privately owned railroad in the United States, received approval to expand in Florida...

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is awarding more than $326 million in grants to help states and localities repair, maintain and build rail infrastructure supporting freight rail and intercity passenger rail. Grant money from the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements...

U.S. intermodal volumes fell 5.9 percent in May, while carloads fell 2.1 percent amid economic uneasiness and uncertainties surrounding U.S. trade between Mexico and China. U.S. railroads originated 1.3 million containers and trailers in May, down 5.9 percent from May 2018, according to the...

The Port of Savannah aims to boost its market share of freight moving into the U.S. Midwest, saying it offers a cheaper way into the Gateway of the West than the West Coast gateways. To that end, the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) said on May 31 that it is forming a partnership with the St. Louis...

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has stopped the rulemaking process to create a mandate for two-person freight train crews. The FRA said on May 23 that it was withdrawing its notice of proposed rulemaking for train crew staffing. The agency said that the railroads have maintained a strong...

Manufacturers of the raw materials that go into the end products that American consumers rely on for daily living warned regulators that they may have no choice but to raise prices as a result of what they consider to be systematic overcharging by the railroads. The first day of what was scheduled...

Nevada joins Colorado in requiring freight trains to have at least two crew members on board. Governor Steve Sisolak (D) signed A.B. 337 into law on May 15. The legislation mandates that a Class I or Class II rail operator have at least two crew members for a freight train running in the state....

April rail volumes fell year-over-year but rose slightly from March 2019, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) said on May 1. Meanwhile, the AAR predicted that improving economic conditions could lead to rail volumes stabilizing or growing in the second half of the year, although some...

A staff report by the Surface Transportation Board (STB) recommending how board members should modify existing rate review methodologies got a mixed reaction from the Association of American Railroads (AAR), a trade group representing the Class I railroads, Amtrak and other carriers. The STB...

As state legislatures react to the growing volumes of crude oil being transported by rail in the Pacific Northwest, their responses will continue to bump up against the freight railroads' federally mandated obligation to move goods, including hazardous materials. Washington state's Senate...