Commentary

UPDATE: Kill your boxcar ad, Subaru!

I’m pleased (and relieved) to report that, with a push from readers of this blog and the Association of American Railroads, Subaru has thankfully removed its “Boxcar” ad from circulation, demonstrating at least some sense of corporate social responsibility. Now, I’d like to hear from the Fillmore & Western, the tourist railroad that provided the equipment and right-of-way for the infamous commercial. Why would you allow this? Aren’t you aware of the dangers of trespassing and attempting to ride a freight train? What were you thinking?

Eighth Circuit Court rules in railroads’ favor re: Amtrak OTP

In a major victory for freight railroads, a Surface Transportation Board (STB) attempt to revive what previously was ruled an unconstitutional regulatory scheme has been blocked by the federal Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Takeways from AAR’s Hamberger at Rail Insights

Association of American Railroads President and CEO Ed Hamberger and Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono discussed a wide range of issues affecting the railroad industry at the third annual Rail Insights conference, held June 7-8 in Chicago. Contributing Editor Jim Blaze offers the following takeaways and observations:

AAR: Steady recovery continues

U.S. rail freight traffic for the week ending June 3, 2017, as well as volume for May 2017 and the first 22 weeks of the year show that business continues its steady recovery, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported June 7.

AAR: Carloads, intermodal continue climb

Carload traffic on U.S. railroads continued a year-long gain, up 6.7% for the week ending May 27 from the same week a year ago, according to the Association of American Railroads.

Freight traffic still bouncing back

Rail freight traffic continued its recovery, as volume rose consistently during 2017’s first 20 weeks and registered a solid gain for the week ending May 20, the Association of American Railroads reported.

Grain, coal lead freight traffic gains

Is the rail freight traffic slump over? It would appear so, as total combined U.S. traffic for the first 17 weeks of 2017 of nearly nine million carloads and intermodal units was an increase of 3.9% compared to last year, and half of all Association of American Railroads-tracked carload commodities registered gains in April, grain and coal significantly.

Trump tax cuts good for railroads? Probably not

The Trump Administration on April 26 released a proposed overhaul of the federal income tax system that promises to simplify the tax structure as well as reduce the rate at which large corporations are taxed to 15%.

Rail traffic sees big boost

U.S. rail traffic totaled 526,471 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending March 25, 2017, up 12% compared with the same week last year, the Association of American Railroads reported on March 29. Canadian and Mexican carriers also realized big gains.

Commentary

AAR to Trump Administration: “Proceed with caution”

I have stressed many times in this blog, and in my monthly magazine columns—at times in harsh terms that may have offended some people who, for reasons I can’t quite figure out, took my remarks personally—that the Trump Administration’s extremely nationalistic ideology, if it morphs into law, will critically injure the railroads and the railroad supply community.

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