Archive for February 2021
UP engineers create controlled avalanche at Donner Pass
(Source: Progressive Railroading 02/04/2021) Union Pacific Railroad engineers in the Roseville Subdivision one-upped Mother Nature at California’s Donner Pass by creating a controlled avalanche before she brings the snow crashing down, according to an article on the Union Pacific’s Inside Track website. The equipment — called the avalauncher — releases two pounds of explosives at the mountain to create…
Read MoreU.S. freight railroads log traffic gain in January
(Source: Progressive Railroading 02/04/21) U.S. freight railroads hauled 2,103,523 carloads and intermodal units in January, a 5.3% increase compared with January 2020’s traffic level, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data. U.S. railroads moved 930,303 carloads last month, down 2.1%, and 1,173,220 containers and trailers, up 12.1%. “We are encouraged by rail volumes in January,” said AAR Senior…
Read MoreNorth American intermodal volumes climbed nearly 10% in Q4 2020
(Source: Freight Waves, February 3, 2021) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — North American intermodal volumes gained nearly 10% in the fourth quarter of 2020, setting the pace for the first quarter of 2021, according to the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA). Full story: Freight Waves Wednesday, February 3, 2021
Read MoreButtigieg confirmed as U.S. transportation secretary
(Source: Progressive Railroading 02/03/2021) The U.S. Senate yesterday voted 86-13 to confirm Pete Buttigieg as U.S. transportation secretary in President Joe Biden’s administration. After the vote, several rail industry leaders offered statements of congratulations and praise for Buttigieg, who will oversee a federal department that employs about 55,000 people. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is expected to play…
Read MoreRanking members named to House rail, transit subcommittees
(Source: Progressive Railroading 02/03/2021) U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I) Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-Mo.) on Monday announced the ranking members of the panel’s railroad and transit subcommittees for the 117th Congress. The following Republican lawmakers have been selected to serve as subcommittee ranking members: • U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), Subcommittee on Highways and TransitDavis served…
Read More