news

Commentary

Building Bridges of Understanding

WATCHING WASHINGTON, RAILWAY AGE MAY 2025 ISSUE: The Ethical Culture Fieldston School and University Heights High School, both in the Bronx, N.Y., are but minutes apart by public transit, yet otherwise at

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.

(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.

Commentary

Vive L’Alberta Libre?

Just days after Quebec voters chose that their province should remain part of Canada by a very narrow 54,000-vote margin in 1995, Canadian Pacific Railway announced it would move its head office

(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.

Transit Briefs: San Diego MTS, DCTA, Keolis

New San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) survey results show strong customer satisfaction. Also, the Denton County Transit Authority (DCTA) will extend the A-train to the Downtown Carrollton Station; and the International Association of Sheet, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers – Transportation Division (SMART-TD) ratifies a tentative agreement with Keolis Commuter Services.

New Legislation Introduced to Stop Calif. Locomotive Regulations

On May 5, Congressmen John Moolenaar (R-MI), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), and Craig Goldman (R-TX) introduced the Lifting Overburdensome Commerce Obstructions and Motives Act (the LOCOMOTIVES Act), which aims to “limit the State of California’s ability to place unsustainable regulations on trains crossing into the state.”

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.

STB Provides Update on Outstanding Proceedings

Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Patrick Fuchs on May 5 provided an update on recent actions to “facilitate and expedite the resolution of several outstanding Board proceedings.” They are as follows: “The

(Courtesy of IANA)

IANA: ‘Tariff Deadlines’ Drove Up 1Q25 Intermodal Traffic

Total intermodal volume rose 6.3% in first-quarter 2025, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth, reported the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) in its latest quarterly report. International and domestic containers increased 8.5% and 5.6%, respectively, while trailers fell 18.2%. The association also projected the intermodal network “to contract 0.6% in 2025 on the heels of an 8.5% gain in 2024.”

People News: Indiana Rail Road, OLI

The Indiana Rail Road Co. (INRD) promotes Brian Jonaitis to Vice President of Business Development. Also, Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) welcomes six new Board of Director members.

BLET, Union Railroad Reach Tentative Contract

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) on May 2 announced that it has reached a tentative agreement with Pittsburgh, Pa.-based Union Railroad, a Class III switching railroad with 128 miles