U.S. rail traffic sees slow week

Weekly table showing carload rail traffic by commodity, plus intermodal traffic

WASHINGTON — In a week when overall traffic dropped because of the Christmas holiday, U.S. railroads saw intermodal traffic approach 2020 levels for the first time in months. The latest statistics from the Association of American Railroads, for the week ending Dec. 25, U.S. rail traffic totaled 201,222 carloads — up 8.7% over the same […]

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STB turns down shippers’ request to delay arbitration rulemaking process

Surface Transportation Board logo

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has denied a request by several shippers’ groups to delay action on proposed rules to establish a voluntary arbitration program for small rate disputes but has modified the procedural schedule for its consideration of the proposals. The shippers groups — the American Chemistry Council, Corn Refiners Association, National Industrial […]

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CP train derails in Saskatchewan

Pile of wrecked hopper cars next to highway

CRAVEN, Saskatchewan — A Canadian Pacific derailment Tuesday night has blocked a major provincial highway, leaving a mass of damaged cars adjacent to a grade crossing. The Lumsden, Sask., Fire Department reported about 10 p.m. Tuesday that it was responding to a derailment, and subsequently reported that the grade crossing of Provincial Route 20 was […]

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News Wire Top 10, No. 3: A snarled supply chain

Yellow locomotives moving double-stack cars with container crains in background

Pandemic-related economic upheaval tangled the global supply chain in 2021, leading to unprecedented congestion at ports and intermodal terminals. At the onset of the pandemic, imports were reduced to a trickle because Chinese factories shut down. American consumers shifted their spending from experiences to goods, which increased demand and depleted retail inventories to historically low […]

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Rail projects among those receiving $241 million in port improvement grants

Aerial photo of port area with some land highlighted in yellow

WASHINGTON — Six projects with a rail component have received funds under a U.S. Department of Transportation program announced last week. In all, 25 projects in 19 states received a total of $241 million under the Maritime Adminstration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program. The program, in its third year, awarded $492 million for 32 projects in […]

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Canadian Pacific extends contract with retailer Canadian Tire

Canadian Pacific Railway beaver logo

CALGARY — Canadian Pacific and Canadian Tire Corp Ltd. have signed a multi-year agreement for the railroad to continue moving the retailer’s goods in Canada. As part of the agreement, and to support Canadian Tires’ desire for efficient transportation and to reduce carbon emissions, CP will begin serving Ashcroft Terminal in Ashcroft, British Columbia. This […]

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STB sets details for hearing on reciprocal switching

Surface Transportation Board logo

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board has released details on its previously announced hearing on proposed reciprocal switching regulations, to be held March 15-16. The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. each day at the board’s headquarters in Washington, and will be streamed online on the board website. The board will announce no later than […]

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CSX, NS documents offer harsh rebuttal to Amtrak filing in Gulf Coast case

Freight train with blue and yellow engine leaving main line

WASHINGTON — In filings that maintain if not elevate the level of acrimony between the two sides, CSX and Norfolk Southern have attacked almost every aspect of Amtrak’s response to their initial argument in the dispute over Gulf Coast passenger service that is before the Surface Transportation Board. The main document filed by the two […]

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Two Mississippi ports receive federal funds for rail projects

Two dark blue locomotives with freight cars

WASHINGTON — Two ports in Mississippi have received more than $8 million in U.S. Department of Transportation grants for rail projects, the state’s congressional delegation has announced. Port Bienville, near Bay St. Louis in Hancock County, and the City of Aberdeen Port in Monroe County, have received funding under the Port Infrastructure Development Program, U.S. […]

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BNSF train derails in northeast Missouri

BNSF Railway logo

BARING, Mo. — About 40 cars of a BNSF Railway train derailed on Sunday morning near Baring, shutting down service on the railroads Marceline Subdivision. No injuries were reported and no hazardous materials were reported to be involved. The train was carrying mixed freight, WGEM-TV reports. A BNSF service advisory to customers says the derailment […]

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News Wire Top 10, No. 5: Amtrak spars with CSX, NS over Gulf Coast service

People on station platform to welcome special Amtrak train

MOBILE, Ala. — Amtrak’s intention to begin two daily round trips between New Orleans and Mobile in 2022 has led to a Surface Transportation Board proceeding likely to  determine the rights and obligations of host railroads in granting access over routes that currently don’t have passenger service. The case before the STB grows out of […]

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