Proposed US port fees on Chinese vessels may alter intermodal shipping patterns

A Trump administration port fee proposal designed to boost the U.S. shipbuilding industry could scramble international intermodal traffic, shift some container business to ports in Canada and Mexico, and help Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City railroads in the process.

In February, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative floated a plan to impose steep fees on Chinese vessels that call on U.S. ports. Vessels operated by Chinese companies would face a $1 million port call fee....

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/proposed-us-port-fees-on-chinese-vessels-may-alter-intermodal-shipping-patterns

STB para analizar la oferta de NS para controlar la línea de correa de Norfolk y Portsmouth

WASHINGTON – La Junta de Transporte Surface analizará más de cerca la propuesta de Norfolk Southern de controlar oficialmente la línea de cinturón de Norfolk y Portsmouth de Virginia Terminal. CSX le había pedido a la junta que revisara los problemas de competencia que involucran NS y NPBL. CSX y...

https://fullavantenews.com/stb-para-analizar-la-oferta-de-ns-para-controlar-la-linea-de-correa-de-norfolk-y-portsmouth/?lang=es

STB to scrutinize NS bid to control Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board will take a closer look at Norfolk Southern’s proposal to officially control Virginia terminal railroad Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line.

CSX had asked the board to review competition issues involving NS and NPBL.

CSX and NS have been locked in a legal dispute over the NPBL for six years. NS has controlled the 36-mile NPBL since 1982 by virtue of its 57% ownership stake; CSX owns the other 43% of the railroad that was created as a neutral switching...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/stb-to-scrutinize-ns-bid-to-control-norfolk-portsmouth-belt-line

CSX detours 16-plus trains per day as Baltimore tunnel work begins

BALTIMORE — Just hours after empty coal train E730 rolled through the Howard Street Tunnel at 3:35 a.m. Feb. 1, a small army of contractors and CSX workers arrived to begin removing the 1.7-mile tunnel’s single track.

The 100-car coal train was the last through the 1895 Baltimore & Ohio tunnel, which will be shut down for six to eight months as work on the double-stack clearance project continues around the clock, seven days a week.

For now that means detouring 16 scheduled trains per day — five...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/csx-detours-16-plus-trains-per-day-as-baltimore-tunnel-work-begins

Improved Cumberland, Maryland, yard helps CSX reduce train starts

NEW YORK — CSX is moving more tonnage on fewer trains this year as part of a significant reduction in the number of road train starts.

The 10% decline in coal volume this year has contributed to the reduction, Chief Financial Officer Sean Pelkey told an investor conference Tuesday. “But there’s a significant amount of reengineering of the network,” he said. “The Cumberland Yard … has been a big driver of that.”

CSX has completed a reconfiguration of the yard in Cumberland, Maryland, that nearly...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/improved-cumberland-maryland-yard-helps-csx-reduce-train-starts

Trucking stocks tumble, but Citi sees opportunity in chaos

Citi’s transportation analysts have released a report suggesting that the recent sell-off in trucking stocks may be overblown, driven by investors’ overreactions to sharp declines in trucking spot rates. The report highlights key factors and trends shaping the sector.

Truckload spot rates have plummeted in early 2025, erasing gains from late 2024. While this drop partly reflects seasonal norms, its magnitude has exceeded investor expectations, fueled by excess capacity and soft demand in the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/trucking-stocks-tumble-but-citi-sees-opportunity-in-chaos

NS: CSX Virginia terminal railroad antitrust claims a ‘ghost story’

WASHINGTON — Norfolk Southern has urged the Surface Transportation Board to continue a case of regulatory housekeeping involving control of Virginia terminal railroad Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line.

Last month CSX told the STB that the Justice Department was probing its allegations about anticompetitive conduct involving NS and NPBL at a major Norfolk container terminal. CSX also asked the board to conduct a thorough review of competitive issues at the Norfolk International Terminal.

CSX contends...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ns-csx-virginia-terminal-railroad-antitrust-claims-a-ghost-story

Justice probes antitrust claims against NS, Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division is investigating Norfolk Southern and Virginia terminal railroad Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line for alleged anticompetitive conduct against CSX at a major Norfolk container terminal.

CSX, which says NPBL operates like an alter ego of NS, disclosed the investigation in a filing with the Surface Transportation Board last week.

CSX and NS have been locked in a legal dispute over the NPBL for six years. NS has controlled the 36-mile NPBL since...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/justice-probes-antitrust-claims-against-ns-norfolk-portsmouth-belt-line

Machinists union ratifies CSX pact

CSX announced on Monday that employees represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) have voted to ratify the five-year collective bargaining agreement.

“IAM’s ratification is a testament to the strength of our partnership with union leadership,” said Joe Hinrichs, president and chief executive of CSX (NASDAQ: CSX), in a release. “This underscores our commitment to fostering a workplace where every employee feels valued and respected. Together, as ONE...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/machinists-union-ratifies-csx-pact

US weekly rail volume falls compared to 2024

United States rail traffic fell below year-ago levels for the week ending Feb. 22, halting a string of three weeks of traffic gains.

According to statistics from the Association of American Railroads, total volume was 458,514 carloads and intermodal units, down 5.1% from the same week a year ago. That included 193,252 carloads, a 13.6% decrease, and 265,261 containers and trailers, up 2.3%.

The last time 2025 traffic was below 2024 levels was the week ending Jan. 25, off 2.5%.

All but one carload...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/us-weekly-rail-volume-falls-compared-to-2024