UP CEO: Oregon switching deal will lead to better service and carload growth

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific’s decision to shift its local switching operations in Eugene, Ore., to Genesee & Wyoming short line Central Oregon & Pacific could be a model for improving carload service and turbocharging growth elsewhere on UP’s system, CEO Jim Vena says. The deal, announced last month, combines a Class I’s strength of […]

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Rapido HO mechanical refrigerator car

Color photo of HO scale freight car painted silver and black on white background.

A National Steel Car Corp. Ltd. (NSC) 3,294-cubic-foot capacity mechanical refrigerator car is now available from Rapido Trains. The model, offered in Canadian Pacific’s script and Multimark paint schemes, features injection-molded plastic construction, metal wheels mounted on plastic axles, and body-mounted metal couplers. Prototype history In the late 1960s, NSC built a group of mechanical […]

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BNSF announces $3.8 billion capital plan for 2025

Freight train with orange locomotives leaves yard as commuter train approaches

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway plans to spend $3.8 billion on capital projects in 2025, with the vast majority for network maintenance, the company announced today (Jan. 23, 2025). “Our 2025 capital plan reflects BNSF’s ongoing commitment to investing in our network to support our customers’ growth and operating a safe, efficient and reliable […]

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CSX profits sink on lower coal and fuel revenue, plus hurricane-related costs

A220carloadedcoaltrainwithmidtraindistributedpowerrollsintoStAlbansWVaonJan272018

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX revenue and profits declined in the fourth quarter as growth in merchandise and intermodal traffic was not enough to overcome sharp declines in coal and fuel surcharge revenue. The impact of a pair of hurricanes — both of which affected traffic bound to and from Florida, the railroad’s highest-volume state — […]

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Rail industry outlines legislative priorities at House hearing

Man speaking while seated at table

WASHINGTON — Widespread support for a federal grade-crossing safety program emerged during a lengthy House subcommittee hearing, a session which also saw representatives of the railroad industry and rail labor lay down markers for their priorities in the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization bill. The two-hour, 45-minute session today (Jan. 23) of the Transportation and Infrastructure […]

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Union Pacific reports stronger profits as volume grows in fourth quarter (updated)

Yellow locomotives on train of tank cars

OMAHA, Neb. – Union Pacific’s profits rose in the fourth quarter as volume increased 5% and operating costs fell. “Our strong fourth quarter results represent a great capstone to a very successful year for Union Pacific,” CEO Jim Vena said in a statement. “The team has fully embraced our strategy to lead the industry in […]

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Track buckling led to 41-car CP grain train derailment, TSB of Canada determines

Map of derailment site in Alberta

CALGARY, Alberta — Track that buckled in an area of deteriorated structure led to the derailment of 41 cars of a Canadian Pacific train near Bassano, Alb., on July 13, 2022, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said in an investigation report released today (Jan. 22, 2025). The 11,758-foot, 29,021-ton train had five locomotives — […]

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NS customers invest $4.3 billion in rail-served projects in 2024

Norfolk Southern logo

ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern customers advanced projects representing $4.3 billion in industrial development along its lines or those of a shortline partner in 2024, the railroad said today (Jan. 22). The investments involved 149 projects, including 65 representing $1.2 billion in investment and 1,700 jobs that were completed and began shipping on the railroad. Overall, […]

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House bill would update tax credit for short lines

Blue and yellow locomotives switching

WASHINGTON — In a notably bipartisan move, the top Republican and Democrat on the House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Tax have introduced a bill to update a tax credit that has been crucial to short line infrastructure investment. U.S. Reps. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), chairman of the subcommittee, and Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), the ranking member, […]

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