Archive for August 2017
UP urges eclipse viewers to stay off rail property
(source: Progressive Railroading 08/14/2017) Union Pacific Railroad has no plans to alter operations on train schedules for Aug. 21, the day of a solar eclipse. As a result, the Class I has issued a safety warning to eclipse viewers to avoid railroad property. The Class I, which has many miles of rail lines within the eclipse’s…
Read MoreRethinking coal in current context — analysis by Tony Hatch
(Source: Progressive Railroading 08/11/2017) By Tony Hatch Coal boomed in first-half 2017. Does that mean coal is back? U.S. coal volumes, dominated by steam (utility) coal, were up 18 percent through June. Of course, it was against easy comparisons, and June numbers were “only” up 13 percent. By early July, they were closer to flat. Export…
Read MoreShort Line Safety Institute study reveals themes that influence railroads’ safety culture
(Source: Progressive Railroading, August 10, 2017) After reviewing a year’s worth of safety culture assessments at short lines and regionals, the Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) has identified areas in need of improvement through training and education, the institute announced yesterday. Full story: Progressive Railroading Friday, August 11, 2017
Read MoreAAR: Rail traffic up 4.3 percent over 2016 for week ending August 5
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, August 9, 2017) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending August 5, 2017. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 554,822 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.3 percent compared with the same week last year. Total…
Read MoreSTB sets 2016 cost of capital
(source: Railway Age 08/10/2017) Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief The U.S. Surface Transportation Board has issued a decision determining the railroad industry’s cost of capital for 2016. In Railroad Cost of Capital—2016, Docket No. EP 558 (Sub-No. 20), the Board found that the rail industry’s after-tax cost of capital was 8.88% for 2016. For 2015,…
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