Inbound and outbound Metra trains meet in Elmwood Park, Ill., in March. A Metra official expects a long-term loss of ridership after the coronavirus pandemic. TRAINS: David Lassen Thursday morning rail news: — It may take one to three years for Metra ridership to return to 2019 levels after the coronavirus pandemic — if it […]
J.B. Hunt containers head east on a BNSF intermodal train at Brookfield, Ill., in November 2019. A J.B. Hunt executive says the company is experiencing its best rail service ever. TRAINS: David Lassen Railroads’ intermodal service is the best it’s ever been, J.B. Hunt executives said during the company’s first-quarter earnings call on Tuesday. Darren […]
Association of American Railroads WASHINGTON — The Association of American Railroads today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending April 11, 2020. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 412,503 carloads and intermodal units, down 21.9% compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending April 11 were […]
An Iowa Northern intermodal train arrives in Manly, Iowa, on Monday for handoff to the Union Pacific, transporting agricultural products for export as part of a new service between Los Angeles and Iowa. Iowa Northern: Brad Sabin Iowa Northern has begun regular service for its new intermodal service — a partnership with Union Pacific, Denver-based […]
A BNSF Railway oil train passes through Lisle, Ill. Railroads are resisting requests to use tank cars to store crude oil during the oil price downturn. TRAINS: David Lassen Still more Friday morning rail news: — Railroads are resisting efforts from oil companies to store crude oil in tank cars during the current drop in […]
CHICAGO — The North American Rail Shippers Association today announced the cancellation of its 2020 Annual Meeting planned on May 12-14, 2020 in Kansas City, Mo. Every year, the NARS organization looks forward to connecting with the rail shipping community at the NARS Annual Meeting and sharing insight from industry leaders. Given the growing concerns […]
More Wednesday morning rail news: — The Alaska Railroad reported a $21.6 million profit in 2019, a 17% improvement over the previous year, thanks to improved freight business. The Anchorage Daily News reports the railroad generated $203.9 million in total revenue, an increase of 7.5%. Freight traffic increased by 9%, leading to $85.3 million in […]
Canada’s Minister of Transport, Marc Garneau, has announced new orders restricting speeds of trains transporting hazardous materials, and updating rules regarding track safety and inspections. The first of the three ministerial orders issued Friday replaces temporary rules issued on Feb. 6 in response to a Canadian Pacific derailment and fire [see “Canadian government orders speed […]
Set up to be transported like a trailer, a donated Black Mesa & Lake Powell hopper car prepares to leave the Navajo Generating Station in Page, Ariz., for its trip to the Arizona Railroad Heritage Park and Museum. Arizona State Railroad Museum Foundation More Saturday morning rail news: — Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee has […]
Bloomberg is reporting that oil companies may be looking for tank cars to store an excess of crude oil in the U.S. Companies are running out of convenient places to store crude oil while prices hover just over $22 a barrel in national markets and domestic supplies remain high amid a demand slowdown during the coronavirus pandemic. […]
MONTREAL – Canadian National continues to scale back its operations as traffic declines amid the coronavirus pandemic. The railroad furloughed several hundred people in the past week, on top of the 1,400 who were furloughed in the past couple of weeks, CEO JJ Ruest said on an investor webcast Thursday. CN’s traffic was down 13% […]
Class I railroads have begun closing some automotive ramps to inbound multilevel traffic due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, with BNSF Railway taking the unusual step of placing embargoes on all 23 of its auto distribution centers. “As a result of the quickly developing conditions related to COVID-19, some car dealers and distribution […]
