AAR

AAR, ASLRRA, TTD to Congress: Rethink Cap on RRB Spending

The Railroad Retirement Board’s (RRB) ability to process retirements and sickness benefits for railroad employees and retirees “living in every state and every congressional district” would be “severely” impacted by the limitation on RRB’s administrative funding included in the fiscal year (FY) 2024 House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) appropriations bill, the Association of American Railroads (AAR), American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), and Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) told Congress in a July 31 letter expressing their opposition.

AAR: North American Rail Volume Down Through 29 Weeks

For the first 29 weeks of 2023 (ending July 22), total U.S. weekly rail traffic dipped 4.2% from the same point last year, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) July 26 report. Both Canada and the U.S. saw declines, while Mexico saw an increase.

(Photograph Courtesy of BNSF, via LinkedIn)

For Week 28, Carloads Rise, Intermodal Falls

U.S. rail traffic for the week ending July 15, 2023 (Week 28) was 478,153 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.4% from the same week last year, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) July 19 report. Total carloads were 225,609, up 0.9%, while intermodal volume of 252,544 containers and trailers fell 5.3%. Year-to-date, carloads improved 0.5%, but intermodal dropped 10.0% from the prior-year period.

AAR, ASLRRA, IBT, TTD Urge Swift Passage of REEF Act

Two rail industry associations and two unions teamed recently to encourage Congressional support of the Railroad Employee Equity and Fairness Act (REEF Act; H.R.2785/S.1274), which they said would “eliminate cuts to railroad unemployment and sickness benefits.”

AAR: North American Rail Volume Down Through 27 Weeks

For the first 27 weeks of 2023 (ending July 8), total U.S. weekly rail traffic dipped 4.2% from the same point last year, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) July 12 report. Both Canada and the U.S. saw declines, while Mexico saw an increase.

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From AAR, a ‘Clarifying Perspective’ on Safety

Regarding to Surface Transportation Board docket Urgent Issues in Freight Rail Service, EP 770; Urgent Issues in Freight Rail Service—Railroad Reporting, EP 770-1, some rail labor unions have been providing STB (as

AAR: North American Rail Volume Down Through 25 Weeks

For the first 25 weeks of 2023 (ending June 24), total U.S. weekly rail traffic dipped 4.0% from the same point last year, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) June 28 report. Both Canada and the U.S. saw declines, while Mexico saw an increase.

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