General Information
AAR poll: A majority of Americans support freight rail’s role in U.S. economy
(Source: Progressive Railroading 07/15/2020) A majority of U.S. adults agree that the freight-rail industry is critically important to the nation’s economy, according to a new poll conducted on behalf of the Association of American Railroads (AAR). Conducted by Morning Consult, the poll also found that 75 percent of respondents view the freight-rail industry as safe, AAR officials…
Read MoreRegulators say railroad talks can be included in lawsuits
(Source: Associated Press, July 14, 2020) OMAHA, Neb. — Federal regulators say the nation’s four largest railroads shouldn’t be able to exclude all the details of their conversations from a lawsuit challenging the way they set rates in the past. Full story: Minneapolis Star-Tribune Wednesday, July 15, 2020
Read MoreRRB not investing in questionable Chinese companies
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, July 15 — The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) advised the White House on July 8 that it is not investing railroad workers’ money in questionable companies headquartered in the People’s Republic of China. On July 7, the Chairman of the RRB received a letter from White House officials expressing concerns over the…
Read MoreStudy shows major diversion of freight from rail to roads if bigger trucks allowed
(Source: Progressive Railroading 07/14/2020) A new report commissioned by the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks (CABT) highlights how legislation allowing bigger and heavier trucks on the nation’s highways would result in a “major diversion” of freight from rail to roads. The study shows some scenarios in which intermodal traffic would be reduced by 20 percent to 25 percent…
Read MoreRail car manufacturer Greenbrier scales down during pandemic
(Source: Freight Waves, July 13, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Railcar manufacturer and lessor Greenbrier (NYSE: GBX) has cut its North American workforce by 40%, limited its production capacity and idled manufacturing at its flagship facility in Oregon, all to survive the storm brought about by the coronavirus pandemic and the recession. Full story: Freight Waves Tuesday,…
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