Greenbrier’s report outlines its 2021-22 initiatives in five areas: people, governance and ethics, safety and quality, environmental sustainability and communities.

Greenbrier Issues 2022 ESG Report

The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. on Nov. 1 published its fourth-annual Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report.

North American Rail Volume Down 2.1% Through 42 Weeks, AAR

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) now has 42 weeks of traffic data for 2022 (ending Oct. 22). Total North American carload and intermodal traffic dipped 2.1% from the same point last year—with decreases in the U.S. and Canada, and an increase in Mexico.

Rail Traffic Uptick for Week 41

For the week ending Oct. 15, 2022, total U.S. rail traffic was up 0.7% over the same week last year; carloads came in 3.2% higher while intermodal volume continued its downward trend, dipping 1.6%, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) Oct. 19 report.

TSA Releases Rail Cybersecurity Directive (UPDATED)

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on Oct. 18 issued a new cybersecurity directive for designated passenger and freight railroads.

Grace Olsen, General Director-Locomotive Engineering and Quality, Mechanical, Union Pacific

UP’s Olsen Recognized for Environmental Stewardship

Union Pacific (UP) has presented its 2022 Chairman’s Environmental Award to Grace Olsen, General Director-Locomotive Engineering and Quality, Mechanical. The award, established in 1994, recognizes a UP employee who demonstrates “outstanding environmental awareness, leadership and responsibility.”

Week 40: Carloads, Intermodal Drop

U.S. freight rail traffic dipped yet again in Week 40, compared with the prior-year period, as carloads fell just below 3% and intermodal dropped 2%, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported for the week ending Oct. 8, 2022. Mexican and Canadian volumes fared far better.

(Norfolk Southern Photograph)

Intermodal Continues Downward Trend

Intermodal slowed in September as consumer consumption continued to switch from goods to services, according to John T. Gray, Senior Vice President of the Association of American Railroads (AAR). The group’s monthly rail traffic report, issued Oct. 5, showed not only an intermodal volume decline of 4.8% from the prior-year period, but also a carload decrease of 1.1%.

Week 38: U.S. Rail Traffic Behind 2021 Levels

U.S. freight rail traffic dipped in Week 38, compared with the prior-year period, as carloads were down 3.2% and intermodal volume fell 5.4%, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported for the week ending Sept. 24, 2022.

Aerial view of the derailment scene.​​ (Photograph courtesy of Pike County Office of Emergency Management with overlay annotations by NTSB.)

NTSB: Loose Debris from Mudslide Probable Cause of CSX Derailment

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently determined that the probable cause of a February 13, 2020, derailment of CSX Transportation (CSX) train K42911 on a railroad track that runs between a hillside and the Russel Fork River in Draffin, Ky., was loose mud, vegetation, sand, soil and rock from a mudslide that obstructed the track following excessive rain accumulation over several weeks.

(Photograph Courtesy of Norfolk Southern)

AAR: Carloads Up, Intermodal Down for Week 37

While U.S. carloads rose for Week 37 (ending Sept. 17, 2022), intermodal volume fell, bringing total traffic down compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported on Sept. 21. Traffic was also down cumulatively for the year’s first 37 weeks.

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