BNSF

Southern California international intermodal volume sees weekly decline

Eastbound international container volume sank to its lowest levels in six months during the week that ended on Sunday. (Chart: RailState)

Reflecting the sting of steep tariffs levied on Chinese imports, eastbound international container volume out of Southern California declined to the lowest level in six months during the week that ended on Sunday, according to data from RailState.

The weekly volume was down 5% compared to the prior week and 10% compared to the four-week rolling average, the rail traffic monitoring company said.

The data shows the impact of the decline in shipments bound to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/southern-california-international-intermodal-volume-sees-weekly-decline

Some Class I railroads take fresh look at mergers

It’s been two years since CPKC Chief Executive Keith Creel drove the ceremonial final spike at Knoche Yard in Kansas City, Missouri, to celebrate the merger of Canadian Pacific andhttps://finance.yahoo.com/quote/CNI/ Kansas City Southern. The symbolic event marked what rail executives, regulators and analysts all expected would be the last merger involving two Class I railroads.

But now there are whispers across the railroad industry that some of the big systems are dusting off their merger...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/some-class-i-railroads-take-fresh-look-at-mergers

Layoffs hit BNSF tech staff amid restructuring

BNSF Railway has laid off a portion of its technology services staff as part of a departmental restructuring effort.

While BNSF did not disclose specific numbers, the cuts are believed to have affected between 140 and 175 workers.

The Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier is creating a division called “bnsf | tech” as part of what it describes as “a strategic initiative to transform the future of rail operations through innovation.” According to a prepared statement, this new organization “will be...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/layoffs-hit-bnsf-tech-staff-amid-restructuring

BNSF profits rise as volume and rates increase

BNSF Railway posted higher profits in the first quarter thanks to a combination of volume growth and pricing gains, corporate parent Berkshire Hathaway announced on Saturday.

“The railroad is earning a little more than last year, but it’s not earning what it should be earning at the present time,” Berkshire CEO Warren Buffett said at the company’s annual meeting on Saturday. “But that’s solvable and is getting solved. It’s still an incredible asset for Berkshire.”

BNSF’s pretax profit increased...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/bnsf-profits-rise-as-volume-and-rates-increase

Class I railroads keep optimistic outlooks despite trade uncertainty

Despite mounting uncertainty over tariffs, trade policy and the economy, most major railroads held firm on their 2025 outlooks — contrasting with a wave of guidance cuts across other industries.

Among the five publicly traded Class I railroads, Canadian National, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific kept their guidance intact, while Canadian Pacific Kansas City and CSX made slight downward adjustments during their first-quarter earnings calls over the past three weeks.

The guidance serves as a key...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/class-i-railroads-keep-optimistic-outlooks-despite-trade-uncertainty

BNSF will get to make case before STB on access to Utah short line

Federal regulators will determine whether BNSF Railway can use its trackage rights over Union Pacific to reach a new shortline railroad in Utah.

The Surface Transportation Board on Monday rejected Union Pacific’s request to dismiss the case regarding the Savage Tooele Railroad.

Savage held a groundbreaking ceremony in November for the railroad. It will revive Union Pacific’s former 6-mile Warner Branch, restore a quarter-mile of ripped-up track, and build 5 miles of new track in the Lakeview...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/bnsf-will-get-to-make-case-before-stb-on-access-to-utah-short-line

BNSF and UP say possible container glut doesn’t scare them

Since late last year, BNSF Railway and Union Pacific have been busy handling a surge of containers from West Coast ports as U.S. companies pulled forward imports to beat potential tariffs.

But now with a trade war underway — and tariffs as high as 145% on goods made in China — the number of containers bound to the U.S. from China has dropped precipitously. Container shipping line Hapag-Lloyd, for example, has seen its China-U.S. bookings drop by a third since tariffs were imposed on April 2. And...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/bnsf-and-up-say-possible-container-glut-doesnt-scare-them

BNSF, UP battle over California mountain pass trackage rights

Every day Union Pacific and BNSF Railway trains battle gravity and curvature as they wind their way up and down the former Southern Pacific main line through the rugged Tehachapi Mountains of Southern California.

Now UP and BNSF are engaged in a different sort of fight: The railroads have been unable to come to terms on a new deal for BNSF’s use of the line. And so UP (NYSE: UNP) has brought a rare trackage rights dispute to the Surface Transportation Board.

The railroads filed final briefs in...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/bnsf-up-battle-over-california-mountain-pass-trackage-rights

BNSF’s trade-related intermodal projects move ahead despite tariffs

BNSF Railway is not hitting the pause button on a pair of trade-dependent intermodal projects in California and Arizona despite the broad tariffs that the Trump administration unveiled last Wednesday.

BNSF is planning to build a $1.5 billion terminal and transload center in Barstow, California, to handle international containers. The 4,500-acre Barstow International Gateway project aims to speed imported freight to inland markets by reducing the amount of time containers dwell on the docks at...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/bnsfs-trade-related-intermodal-projects-move-ahead-despite-tariffs

BNSF, NS, Northwestern ports trim 3 days from intermodal speed service to Chicago

BNSF Railway, Norfolk Southern (NS) and the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) have announced a collaboration to enhance intermodal service from the Pacific Northwest.

The partners aim to deliver a three-day-faster service for inland point intermodal (IPI) traffic originating from the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, destined for or connecting through Chicago.

The redesigned service plan focuses on efficiency and speed. NWSA will now build trains with less than two days of dwell time off...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/bnsf-ns-northwestern-ports-trim-3-days-from-intermodal-speed-service-to-chicago

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