All-public funding ‘groundbreaking’ for Illinois short line project
Culminating a dozen years of planning, the City of Rochelle, Ill., broke ground on a $7 million expansion of the City of Rochelle Railroad.
BNSF
NTSB cites retrofit tank cars in preliminary report on Iowa derailment
A June derailment that spilled crude oil in Iowa involved older tank cars retrofitted to newer safety standards, federal investigators found.
BNSF settles Montana derailment lawsuit
BNSF Railway will pay nearly $1 million to settle a federal lawsuit over damages to a national park following a 2011 derailment in Montana.
BNSF posts strong second quarter, first half
BNSF Railway realized significant gains in operating income and revenue in this year’s second quarter and first half, attributable to volume increases in most commodities, tight truck capacity leading to highway-to-rail conversions, pricing and other factors.
New rail access unveiled by Vancouver USA port
The Port of Vancouver USA dedicated a $251 million project designed to ease rail congestion and improve efficiency at the Washington state gateway.
Commentary
Tempest in a tank car
Industry watchers greeted the news of the recent BNSF derailment in Doon, Iowa, as typical ho-hum news. 32 tank railcars hauling crude derailed on a stretch of track that had been compromised by floodwaters. Several of the cars were ruptured and there was a crude spill. Emergency services (BNSF and others) were able to contain the size of the spill, and residents of the area were evacuated as a precaution. Luckily for all parties involved, there was no conflagration whatsoever as a result of the derailment.
Rail freight volumes continue to climb
Rail freight, including commodity and intermodal volumes, continued steady upward movement in the latest weekly data check.
Report: BNSF to limit retrofit tank cars
A move by a major western Class I railroad to restrict certain tank cars could pinch available capacity as shippers ramp up crude oil volumes.
BNSF in record Minn. project
A ceremonial groundbreaking was held July 16 for a $72.9 million grade separation project in Moorhead, Minn. It is the largest transportation project in the city’s history.
Carloads, intermodal up ahead of tariffs
Rail traffic moved smartly ahead the first week of July as shippers secured orders before President Trump’s tariffs take full effect.