U.S. freight traffic advances in latest week
Both U.S. freight carload traffic and U.S. intermodal volume gained ground in the week ending March 15, 2014, the Association of American Railroads said Thursday, March 20.
AAR
AAR: U.S. freight traffic rallies as February ends
U.S. freight rail traffic was mixed over the 28 days of February, but advanced in the final days of the month included in the latest tally offered by the Association of American Railroads for the week ending March 1, 2014.
SPECIAL REPORT: Keeping Railroads Healthy
Railroads are operating at peak safety, profitabilty, and productivity levels. Let’s keep them that way.
Freight railroads implement voluntary CBR safety initiatives
North America’s Class I railroads have embarked on a rail operations safety initiative that will institute new voluntary operating practices for moving crude oil by rail. The initiative, which follows consultations between railroads represented by the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), including the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), covers steps related to crude by rail operations. Additional issues relating to the safe transport of crude oil, such as tank car standards and proper shipper classification of crude oil, are being addressed separately.
Commentary
API emphasizing collaboration, not confrontation
Following the recent, unrelated series of crude oil train derailments that resulted in fires, explosions, and in the case of Lac-Mégantic, tragedy and death, CBR (crude by rail) has come under intense scrutiny by regulatory and safety agencies, legislators, the media, the public, the oil industry, and the rail industry itself. Tank car safety standards as well as CBR operating practices—including those at origin and destination points—are being evaluated to determine if changes need to be made to improve safety, and what those changes should be.
U.S. freight traffic falters in latest week
Both U.S. freight carload traffic and U.S. intermodal volume declined during the week ending Feb. 15, 2014, measured against the comparable week in 2013, the Association of American Railroads reported Thursday, Feb. 20.
Irving Oil sets tank car conversion plan
Saint John, New Brunswick-based Irving Oil Ltd. announced plans Monday, Feb. 17, 2014, to voluntarily convert its older DOT-111 tank cars used in crude-by-rail (CBR) business—which has soared in recent years—to meet higher recommended safety standards by the end of April.
Back to mixed results for U.S. freight traffic
Resuming a pattern predominant through 2013, U.S. intermodal volume gained ground, while U.S. carload freight fell short, during the week ending Feb. 8, 2014, the Association of American Railroads reported Thursday, Feb. 13.
Re-inventing the DOT 111
Railcar suppliers gear up to meet demand for safety-first tank cars.
Freight traffic falls for week, gains in January
U.S. freight rail traffic declined during the week ending Feb. 1, 2014, but gained ground during the month of January, the Association of American Railroads reported Thursday, Feb. 6.