RAIL OPERATIONS

CN: Partnership with Google Cloud ups ante for integrating technology

Earlier this month, Canadian railway CN announced that it would be working with Google Cloud via a seven-year partnership aimed at catapulting CN’s current technological efforts into what CN calls “digital scheduled railroading” (DSR), or the next stage following precision scheduled railroading.

CN (NYSE: CNI) says DSR will modernize the railway’s technology infrastructure in the cloud and provide customers with improved visibility into the supply chain. CN will work with Google Cloud to develop...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/cn-partnership-with-google-cloud-ups-ante-for-integrating-technology

Three rail switching-related fatalities prompt warning

A photograph of a railcars in a rail yard.

A cross-industry working group for freight rail is concerned about the rate of fatalities related to switching operations over the last four months. 

The Switching Operations Fatality Analysis (SOFA) Working Group issued a warning in its November safety alert asking workers to be vigilant during switching operations. The group determined that three recent fatalities — one in Crossett, Arkansas, on Aug. 13, another in Richmond, Virginia, on Oct. 11 and a third in Tuscola, Illinois. on Nov. 11 —...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/three-rail-switching-related-fatalities-prompt-warning

Operational changes helped railcars move faster, says Union Pacific report

A photograph of a train locomotive by a buidling.

Converting more hump yards to flat switching has reduced the time a railcar is at a rail yard, Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) said in its 2019 sustainability report released May 28.

Union Pacific (UP) uses hump yards to sort railcars in such a way that blocks of cars are consolidated based on common destinations, the report said. Flat switching results in the same outcome but maintenance costs are much less, according to UP.

“Each time a car touches a [hump] yard, it adds about 24 hours to its...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/operational-changes-helped-railcars-move-faster-says-union-pacific-report

POLB’s Ninth Street railroad closure

Operational closure to improve movement of cargo by rail at Port

The Ninth Street railroad crossing near Pico Avenue in the harbor district in West Long Beach will be closed as of March 9, 2019, in a move that will immediately improve rail operations and increase the speed of moving goods through the Port.

As an operational closure, the Port will allow certain oversize trucks with special permits to traverse the crossing at appointed times. Port, commuter, and local traffic will be able to use...

https://container-news.com/polb-ninth-street-railroad-closure/

POLB: Operational closure to improve rail movement of cargo

The Port of Long Beach plans an operational closure of 9th Street where it crosses railroad tracks near Pico Avenue in the harbor district in West Long Beach as of March 9, 2019. The closure is needed to improve railroad operations at the Port, allowing for the building of longer trains, shifting cargo from trucks to rail.

The closure will enhance rail operations by allowing the assembly of longer trains to move cargo faster and more efficiently via on-dock rail. On-dock rail is the cleanest,...

http://container-news.com/polb-operational-closure-improve-rail-movement-cargo/