UP 8627 hauls freight through the desert near El Paso, Tex. (Union Pacific Photograph)

AAR: North American Rail Volume Up Through Week 18

North American carload and intermodal traffic for the first 18 weeks of 2025 (ending May 3) was up 3.4% from the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported May 7. The United States and Canada saw gains, while Mexico experienced a loss.

Kelly Mackey, incoming CFO of Denver RTD. (Image Courtesy of RTD)

RTD Tabs Kelly Mackey as CFO

Kelly Mackey on May 12 will join Denver (Colo.) Regional Transportation District (RTD) as Chief Financial Officer, succeeding Doug MacLeod, who retired earlier this year after nearly 15 years of service.

(CN Photograph)

213 CN Shippers Earn Safety Awards

CN has recognized 213 shippers with Safe Handling Awards for 2024.

(Photograph Courtesy of The Port of Virginia)

NS, Port of Virginia Partner on ‘RailGreen Corridor’

Norfolk Southern (NS) and The Port of Virginia are offering shippers an opportunity to reduce carbon emissions via the new “RailGreen Corridor” between Norfolk Harbor and Virginia Inland Port (VIP), an intermodal terminal in Front Royal, Va.

(Image Courtesy of ASLRRA)

Industry Marking Railroad Day on Capitol Hill

More than 300 freight rail industry representatives—from Class I’s and short lines to suppliers and contractors, and the major associations that represent them—are coming together in force on and around Capitol Hill on May 7.

Testifying at the “America Builds: Improving the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Federal Rail Assistance” hearing on May 6 were (left to right): Matthew Dietrich, Ohio Rail Development Commission; Garrett Eucalitto, Connecticut DOT, on behalf of AASHTO; Kevin Hicks, TranSystems, on behalf of NRC; and Kristin Bevil, Pinsly Railroad Company, on behalf of ASLRRA. (Screen Grab from House Rail Subcommittee Hearing Video)

House Subcommittee Eyes Federal Rail Funding Reform

Pinsly Railroad Company executive and ASLRRA Board Member Kristin Bevil was among those testifying on ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of federal rail assistance at a May 6 hearing of

(Logo Courtesy of USDOT)

USDOT Approves $3.2B for 180 Infrastructure Grants

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on May 6 reported signing off on 180 infrastructure grants, totaling more than $3.2 billion. Grants to be administered by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will support 24 projects for freight and passenger rail/transit, valued at a total of $282.4 million.

Pictured, from left to right: Paul Duncan, Cando; K.E. “Kirk” Bedford, NYA; and STV’s Michael Curto Jr., Alexa Heidrich, Boris Lipkin and Jason Mumford. (Photographs courtesy of the respective organizations)

People News: Cando, NYA, STV

Class I railroad veteran Paul Duncan joins Cando Rail & Terminals (Cando) as Chief Operating Officer. Also, Anacostia Rail Holdings (ARH) appoints K.E. “Kirk” Bedford as Vice President, New York & Atlantic Railway (NYA); and professional services firm STV bolsters its National Planning Team to support transportation project development across the United States.

The Capital Area Rail Terminal in Jefferson City, Mo., officially launched late last month. It connects with Union Pacific. (Photograph Courtesy of terminal operator Capital Logistics)

Class I Briefs: UP, BNSF, CSX

Union Pacific (UP) links to the new Capital Area Rail Terminal in Jefferson City, Mo., and signs a historic lease agreement for Colorado’s Moffat Tunnel, replacing the original 1926 lease. Also, BNSF honors its 2024 Employees of the Year in Fort Worth, Tex.; and CSX celebrates three employees whose “outstanding commitment to strong attendance” has earned them new cars.

FreightCar America Castaños, Mexico manufacturing plant. (FreightCar America Photograph)

For FreightCar America 1Q25, ‘Robust’ Margins, ‘Strong’ Order Activity

FreightCar America, Inc.  on May 5 reported first-quarter 2025 results that included gross profit up 26% and gross margin expanding 780 basis points. The company generated operating cash flow of $12.8 million

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