South Carolina Ports Authority’s rail-served inland ports continue to see strong volumes, serving as key connections between inland markets and the Port of Charleston.(Photo/SCPA/English Purcell)

Intermodal Briefs: SC Ports, IANA

South Carolina Ports Authority’s (SC Ports) rail-served Inland Port Greer handles record cargo in August. Also, the University of North Texas (UNT) notches another win in the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) case study competition.

Union Pacific Photograph

AAR: North American Rail Volume Down Through 37 Weeks

For the first 37 weeks of 2023 (ending Sept. 16), total U.S. weekly rail traffic dipped 4.1% from the same point last year, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) Sept. 20 report. Both Canada and the U.S. saw declines, while Mexico saw an increase.

Pictured: Norfolk Southern’s Floyd Hudson, Vice President Field Engagement (left) and Joe Gioe, Vice President Transportation.

NS Promotes Hudson, Gioe

Norfolk Southern (NS) has elevated Floyd Hudson to the newly created position of Vice President Field Engagement. Succeeding him as Vice President Transportation is Joe Gioe, the Class I railroad told Railway Age on Sept. 20.

For Quebec, C$60MM to Improve Rail Transport Infrastructure

The Government of Quebec on Sept. 19 announced C$60 million in funding to maintain and improve the condition of rail transport infrastructure in Quebec.

REMSA Announces $10,000 Railway Engineering Education Scholarship and InnoTrans Career Award

The Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA) recently announced the availability of two awards for students who have the intent to pursue a career in the railway engineering-maintenance industry.

The North Platte Nebraska Volunteer Fire Department on Sept. 14 at 4:25 p.m. reported via social media platform X that “NP Fire & Hazmat are on scene with UPRR. The incident is contained at this time. They are monitoring the situation and the weather, adjusting their tactics and evacuations to keep responders and citizens safe. Stay alert to any changes that may come.” (Photograph Courtesy of NPVFD, via X)

Report: Explosion at UP’s Bailey Yard in Nebraska (Updated Sept. 20)

The Sept. 14 explosion from inside an intermodal container loaded on a railcar at Union Pacific’s (UP) Bailey Yard was contained within hours, allowing yard operations to resume. An investigation is under way.

Chemicals Marketing Group doing an in-class session on “Safety Fundamentals” of railroad operations.
Commentary

A Focus on Safety: From the Ballast Line to Our Customers

Every day, Norfolk Southern railroaders evaluate and make decisions with a focus on becoming a safer, more reliable, and more efficient operation. Whether we are out on the track, at one of our facilities across our 22-state network, or visiting a customer’s operation, safety is always first.

Beaver County, PA Emergency Communications Center. (Photograph Courtesy of AAR)

AAR, NS Boost AskRail Access

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) on Sept. 18 reported working with member company Norfolk Southern (NS) to integrate AskRail into the dispatching services of the Columbiana County, Ohio, and Beaver County,

NS Announces VAP for East Palestine Area Homeowners

Norfolk Southern (NS) on Sept. 18 announced an interim Value Assurance Program (VAP) to “compensate any reduction in value of eligible residential properties located in East Palestine, Ohio, and some surrounding communities following the February derailment.”

Eliot Hamlisch, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Amtrak

Amtrak Taps Hamlisch as EVP, CCO

Amtrak has hired Eliot Hamlisch as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, responsible for corporate marketing, sales distribution, network and consist planning, market research, and pricing and revenue management for the

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