General Information
AAR: Coal, trade disputes caused U.S. rail traffic decline in 2019
(Source: Progressive Railroading 01/06/2020) U.S. freight railroad traffic fell 5 percent to 26,704,974 carloads and intermodal units last year compared with 2018 levels, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported last week. Total carloads declined 4.9 percent to 12,972,404 units, while intermodal volume fell 5.1 percent to 13,732,570 containers and trailers compared with a year ago, AAR officials…
Read MoreBNSF crew trapped in derailed train escape, make it to shore
(Source: ABC Fox Montana, January 2, 2020) BONNERS FERRY, Idaho — Bonners Ferry Firefighters and other emergency first responders are still working to contain a BNSF train that derailed into the KootenaiRiver Later Wednesday night. According to the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office, the Burlington Northern Railroad called just before 11:00 P.M to say a train…
Read MoreRailroads are slashing workers, cheered on by Wall Street to stay profitable
(Source: Washington Post, January 4, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Over 20,000 rail workers have lost their jobs in the past year, the biggest layoffs in rail since the Great Recession and a nearly 10 percent decline in rail employment, according to Labor Department data through November. Full story: Roanoke Times Monday, January 6, 2020
Read MoreFRA NPRMs address track, brake inspection requirements
(Source: Railway Age, December 19, 2019) NEW YORK — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on Dec. 19 issued two Notices of Proposed Rulemakings (NPRMs), one updating current Track Safety Standards (TSS), the other updating existing Brake System Safety (BSS) requirements. FRA said the proposed rules changes are designed “to promote safety innovation and reduce unnecessary…
Read MoreU.S. railroads report another dip in traffic
(Source: Progressive Railroading 12/19/2019 U.S. freight railroads logged 520,589 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending Dec. 14, down 8.5 percent compared with the same week last year, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data. Total carloads for the week declined 9 percent to 243,290 units, while intermodal volume fell 8 percent to 277,299 containers…
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