Intermodal Briefs: SC Ports, Port of Vancouver
South Carolina Ports (SC Ports) wraps up Fiscal Year 2025 with steady container volumes and record rail moves. Also, auto terminal capacity expands at the Port of Vancouver in Canada.
news
AAR: North American Rail Volume Up Through Week 29
North American carload and intermodal traffic for the first 29 weeks of 2025 (ending July 19) was up 2.9% from the prior-year period, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) latest rail traffic report. While the United States and Canada both saw gains, Mexico experienced a loss.
GoRail, INRD Host State Legislators to Witness Freight Rail Operations
GoRail on July 18 welcomes 55 state legislators from 23 states for a policy discussion, reception, and tour at The Indiana Rail Road Company (INRD).
See Tracks? Think Train® Week Set for Sept. 15-21
Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI), along with state OLI programs, and rail safety partners across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, are kicking off this year’s observance of See Tracks? Think Train® Week on Sept. 15.
CTA Inaugurates RPM Phase One Stations
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has opened its new Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn and Bryn Mawr Red Line stations. The station replacements are part of the $2.1 billion Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Phase
Ontario Northland Supporting WAHA Redevelopment Project
Ontario Northland is upgrading 7 miles (11.5 kilometers) of rail spur to create a direct connection from Iroquois Falls to the Cochrane junction, where construction materials will be delivered north via rail
TXNW Wraps Up Texas Interchange Improvement Project
Texas North Western Railway Company (TXNW), a subsidiary of TNW Corporation of Dallas, has completed an $8.2 million project to rebuild, reconfigure, and extend its rail interchange with BNSF in Etter, Tex.
CN’s Robinson: ‘Strong’ Results Despite ‘Challenging External Environment’
“Our team’s ability to be nimble and our focus on tight cost control allowed us to adjust our operations and deliver strong results despite a challenging external environment,” said CN President and CEO Tracy Robinson during the Class I’s second-quarter 2025 financial and operating announcement on July 22.
Report: Buffett Busts BNSF/Goldman Sachs Confab Rumors
Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett on July 22 denied reports that BNSF is working with Goldman Sachs on a possible merger with an eastern Class I, CNBC has reported. Buffett’s brush-aside came
Commentary
A Three-Tiered Approach to Emissions Reductions—Starting from the Bottom
Five years after World War II ended, it became apparent to the railroads that steam locomotives were not the motive power of the choice. While a half dozen locomotive builders were assembling
TransmetriQ Launches ‘Ocean to Rail Visibility’ Tool
Railinc®’s Transmetriq brand on July 22 introduced an “Ocean to Rail Visibility” tool to help manage shipments of containerized goods between ocean vessels and North American railroads. “By integrating GPS-based vessel data,
Transit Briefs: NYCT, MDOT MTA
The first trainset of R211A/S (traditional closed-end) cars to operate on the MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) B Line enters service. Also, Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) releases its inaugural customer experience action plan.
UP: Big Boy, Lincoln Locomotive Unite for Tour
Union Pacific’s (UP) Big Boy No. 4014 and Lincoln Locomotive No. 1616 last week rode the rails together for the first time as part of a limited excursion tour in Colorado and Wyoming.
Meet the ‘Leadership Journeys’ Lineup for Women in Rail 2025
Railway Age and RT&S are returning to Chicagoland on Oct. 15-16 for the third annual Women in Rail Conference. This year’s program features trailblazing women and their allies who are significantly influencing today’s freight, passenger and transit rail industry. Setting
Railroad Cost of Capital Set at 10.68% for 2024
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has determined that the cost of capital for the railroad industry, which is calculated each year, was 10.68% for 2024.
Commentary
Takeaways, MARS Summer Meeting
In general, 2024 was “a tough year” for the industry, but the situation “has shifted far more toward the positive and will continue to do so in 2025.” That’s the message CSX
People News: CN, Denver RTD
Janet Drysdale assumes the role of CN’s Interim Chief Commercial Officer. Also, Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) appoints Timothy (Tim) Tyran as Director of Safety and Environmental Compliance and Chief Safety Officer.
STB to Hold Meetings on ‘Improving Competition and Reducing Regulatory Barriers’
Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Patrick Fuchs on July 21 announced that the agency is holding a series of meetings “designed to discuss ideas and opportunities to update the STB’s regulatory framework to improve competition and reduce regulatory barriers.”
Class I Briefs: BNSF, UP
BNSF provides customers with an operational performance update. Also, Union Pacific (UP) delivers the first unit train to the new Graneleras Bartlett Monterrey Facility in Mexico.
Transit Briefs: BART, VRE, MARTA, TransLink, SEPTA, NYMTA, MassDOT, LA Metro, Reading & Northern
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) ridership continues to grow. Also, Virginia Railway Express (VRE) adopts its System Plan 2050; the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and Atlanta United release the second edition of the “MARTA Collection” retail line; TransLink frontline workers wear language pins to better support newcomers and tourists; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) ridership in June increases 6% from last year; the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) installs protective platform barriers at more than 50 subway stations; POTUS 47 terminates $327 million for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT) Allston Multimodal Project; the opening of LA Metro’s LAX Transit Center drives a dramatic increase in ridership on the K Line; and Reading & Northern Railroad’s (RBMN) Passenger Department celebrates its 40th anniversary.