freight railroads

At STB, rail shippers reveal preference for trucks

WASHINGTON — More regulatory oversight is needed to keep rail volumes from shifting to trucks and limiting the railroads’ growth potential, rail customers have told the Surface Transportation Board.

Their testimony, along with that of railroads, unions, industry consultants and others has been filed with STB ahead of a two-day hearing at the agency next week over concerns about the railroads’ ability to continue to grow their business.

“The deteriorating rail service members have experienced for...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/at-stb-rail-shippers-reveal-preference-for-trucks

7 hot issues for rail stakeholders in 2024

googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot(‘/21776187881/FW-Responsive-Main_Content-Slot1’, [[728, 90], [468, 60], [300, 100], [320, 50]], ‘div-gpt-ad-b1-i-fw-ad-1’).defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());
gptAdSlots.push(gptSlot);
});

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-b1-i-fw-ad-1’); });

Railroads, shippers and unions are tracking hot topics ranging from service improvement to...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/7-hot-issues-for-rail-stakeholders-in-2024

FRA’s train crew size rule moves forward

googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot(‘/21776187881/FW-Responsive-Main_Content-Slot1’, [[728, 90], [468, 60], [300, 100], [320, 50]], ‘div-gpt-ad-b1-i-fw-ad-3’).defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());
gptAdSlots.push(gptSlot);
});

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-b1-i-fw-ad-3’); });

The Federal Railroad Administration has submitted its final rule on train crew staffing to the U.S....

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fras-train-crew-size-rule-moves-forward

Improving rail service key to growing intermodal volumes: Consultant

Intermodal rail in 2024 is likely to still face pressure from the trucking market; however, market conditions for the overall freight transportation market also appear to be returning to pre-pandemic patterns, and so providing good rail service will be key in enabling intermodal rail to compete, according to Matt Muenster, chief economist for Breakthrough, a transportation management technology provider.

“Railways will likely experience headwinds in growing intermodal shipping in 2024,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/improving-rail-service-key-to-growing-intermodal-volumes-consultant

Derailment, safety, partnerships among rail’s big issues in 2023

googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot(‘/21776187881/FW-Responsive-Main_Content-Slot1’, [[728, 90], [468, 60], [300, 100], [320, 50]], ‘div-gpt-ad-b1-i-fw-ad-1’).defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());
gptAdSlots.push(gptSlot);
});

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-b1-i-fw-ad-1’); });

2023 seemed to kick off quietly for U.S. freight railroads: The industry had seen the resolution of...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/derailment-safety-partnerships-among-rails-big-issues-in-2023

FRA doles out $8B in grants advancing passenger rail

The Federal Railroad Administration is awarding $8.2 billion in grants for high-speed passenger rail projects as well as projects supporting capital improvements in existing rail corridors.

While the Class I railroads generally fund their own track improvements, freight rail service can benefit from passenger rail grants because there are parts of the U.S. rail network where passenger rail and freight rail share track. Projects awarded with grant funding may be seeking to separate passenger rail...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fra-doles-out-8b-in-grants-advancing-passenger-rail

Chances dim for Senate vote on rail safety bill: Consultant

Prospects for rail safety legislation in Congress to move forward in the waning weeks of 2023 appear dim, given other pressing national issues and even “mental exhaustion” among politicians, according to a former U.S. Department of Transportation official who now heads a consulting firm.

“I think the bottom line is that it’s probably unlikely at this point that we’re gonna see any legislation this year. And next year — being an election year  — is also looking pretty grim as far as prospects for...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/chances-dim-for-senate-vote-on-rail-safety-bill-consultant

STB gets earful on proposed rule for reciprocal switching

googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot(‘/21776187881/FW-Responsive-Main_Content-Slot1’, [[728, 90], [468, 60], [300, 100], [320, 50]], ‘div-gpt-ad-b1-i-fw-ad-4’).defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());
gptAdSlots.push(gptSlot);
});

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-b1-i-fw-ad-4’); });

The Surface Transportation Board recently closed the comment period for rail stakeholders to file...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/stb-gets-earful-on-proposed-rule-for-reciprocal-switching

NTSB urges rail industry to take positive train control to the next level

googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot(‘/21776187881/FW-Responsive-Main_Content-Slot1’, [[728, 90], [468, 60], [300, 100], [320, 50]], ‘div-gpt-ad-b1-i-fw-ad-3’).defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());
gptAdSlots.push(gptSlot);
});

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-b1-i-fw-ad-3’); });

The rail industry should do more to leverage the safety benefits of positive train control (PTC),...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ntsb-urges-rail-industry-to-take-positive-train-control-to-the-next-level

FRA awards $16B in grants to passenger rail projects

googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot(‘/21776187881/FW-Responsive-Main_Content-Slot1’, [[728, 90], [468, 60], [300, 100], [320, 50]], ‘div-gpt-ad-b1-i-fw-ad-14’).defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());
gptAdSlots.push(gptSlot);
});

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-b1-i-fw-ad-14’); });

The Federal Railroad Administration is awarding $16.4 billion to 25 passenger rail projects in...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fra-awards-16b-in-grants-to-passenger-rail-projects

+ More