BNSF

Experts weigh in on LNG

Programs to evaluate LNG (liquefied natural gas) as a locomotive fuel are expanding throughout the rail industry, led by such stakeholders as GE Transportation, Electro-Motive Diesel, BNSF, Union Pacific, CN, Clean Energy Fuels, Chart Industries, Westport Innovations, Waste Management, and many others. At the 2013 GE Transportation/Norfolk Southern Railroad Sustainability Symposium, a panel of industry experts talked about current LNG projects, and the potential of this relatively new alternative to diesel fuel.

Potash resilient after consortium break-up

One of railroading’s least-recognized commodities found itself in the global spotlight this summer. On July 30, Russian potash producer Uralkali announced it was severing ties to the Belarusian Potash Company, a joint marketing venture with rival producer Belaruskali. Uralkali’s exit was in response to Belaruskali making independent sales of potash to China.

CP and UP forge Canada-to-California CBR corridor

For the past year, BNSF Railway has dominated in the shipment of crude by rail (CBR) from North America’s Bakken shale formation westward to refineries and ship terminals along America’s Pacific Coast. Now, Canadian Pacific and Union Pacific are teaming up to move crude oil from Canada south into California.

U.S. Appeals Court reverses Class I price-fixing decision

Union Pacific Corp., CSX Corp., Norfolk Southern Corp., and Burlington Northern Santa Fe (a unit of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) have won their bid to reverse a ruling that turned a price-fixing lawsuit against them into a class action with potential damages of at least $10 billion.

BNSF’s Johnson succeeds CP’s McFarlane in U.S.

Robert Johnson, who has spent 32 years with BNSF Railway and its predecessors, most recently as General Manager-Northwest Division, has been appointed Canadian Pacific Railway’s Vice President U.S. Operations. He replaces Senior Vice President U.S. Operations Doug McFarlane (pictured), who has announced his retirement after 37 years with CP in both Canada and the United States.

STB OKs service shuffle on Louisiana rail line

The Surface Transportation Board has granted permission to Union Pacific Railroad to cease service on 12.5 miles of the Lockport Branch, located in Lofourche Parish, La., which UP owns, while affirming rival Class I railroad BNSF to continue operating over 14.1 miles of the branch, rejecting UP objections.

Washington appeals court to hear railroad antitrust case

A multibillion-dollar antitrust suit alleging that four Class I railroads conspired to impose a uniform fuel surcharge on shippers will reach a crucial point on May 3, when a federal appeals court in Washington considers whether the case can proceed as a class action, Reuters reported today.
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