PSR
STB to hold hearing on Class Is’ demurrage, accessorial charges
(Source: Progressive Railroading 04/12/2019) The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has announced the details for its May 22 public hearing on railroad demurrage and accessorial charges. The board will receive information from railroads, shippers, receivers, third-party logistics providers, and other interested parties about their recent experiences with demurrage and accessorial charges, including matters such as reciprocity, commercial fairness, the impact…
Read MoreShould the rail industry look beyond operating ratio?
(Source: Freight Waves, April 11, 2019) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — With almost all of the Class I railroads transitioning to precision scheduling railroading (PSR), an operational model that emphasizes running railcars on a fixed schedule, a question surfacing within the rail industry is how much emphasis should the railroads place on lower operating ratio. Full story: Freight…
Read MoreIt’s taking a team effort for Union Pacific to roll out its version of PSR
(Source: Progressive Railroading 03/11/2019) By Jeff Stagl, Managing Editor In 2017’s latter half, Union Pacific Railroad rolled out a transportation plan designed to balance the network, boost productivity and improve asset utilization. The “Blend and Balance” plan called for operating general purpose trains by blending manifest and bulk trains, and balancing the network by running equal numbers of…
Read MorePSR isn’t really all that new
Written by David Schanoes, Contributing Editor (Source: Railway Age 02/20/2019) Not that long ago, E. Hunter Harrison’s methods and strategy for CSX were subject to close scrutiny, tough questioning, much doubt, some head scratching (close 8 of 12 hump yards, anyone?), customers complaining, labor opposition and STB inquiries. All of that and more was in response to…
Read MoreBeware the operating ratio trap
(Source: Railway Age 02/11/2019) Written by Frank N. Wilner, Capitol Hill Contributing Editor Watching Washington, February 2019: Sizzle sells product. No wonder the sizzle of ever-lower operating ratios is leading to remarkably higher railroad share prices. But as operating ratios—operating expenses as a percentage of operating revenue—flirt with a sub-60%, the meaning for the longer term is unclear.…
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