Steel Dynamics’ Southwest-Sinton Division (pictured) was designed with a 3 million-ton annual production capacity, which includes a galvanizing line and a paint line; an additional galvanizing line and paint line are slated to be up and running in mid-2023.

Steel Dynamics Mill Launches in Texas (Updated)

Steel Dynamics earlier this month held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new flat roll steel mill in Sinton, Tex., which is served by Union Pacific (UP) and BNSF.

The FRA report found that Amtrak trains experienced more than 1.2 million minutes of delay during the fourth quarter, up 37% from the previous quarter. System-wide, fourth-quarter train-miles were up 33% from the third quarter, coming in at 8,168,324 train-miles, as Amtrak restored service following the pandemic.

FRA Issues Amtrak OTP Report Card

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has released a report measuring the performance and service quality of Amtrak intercity passenger train operations for fourth-quarter 2021 (ending Sept. 30). Among the findings: the Cardinal, Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle were delayed most.

25 UNDER 40

RAILWAY AGE FEBRUARY 2022 ISSUE: Railway Age is proud to recognize 25 “Fast Trackers” Under 40 in 2022.

The multimodal Castle Commerce Center (pictured) features an airport with 11,800 feet of runway plus road access, and is adjacent to the BNSF mainline. Patriot Rail is forming a “rail district” at the facility, where it will lease 6,500 of track and related property.

Patriot Rail to Form ‘Rail District’ at California Multimodal Facility

The Merced County (Calif.) Board of Supervisors has signed off on an agreement with Patriot Rail to form a “rail district” at the 1,912-acre Castle Commerce Center.

Sam Sexhus, President and COO, Patriot Rail Co. LLC

Sexhus Joins Patriot Rail

Jacksonville, Fla.-based Patriot Rail Co. LLC has tapped Sam Sexhus as President and Chief Operating Officer.

PCI Reload Transload Facility, Phoenix, Ariz. (Photo Courtesy of UP)

UP’s Loup Acquires Phoenix-Based Transload

Union Pacific subsidiary Loup Logistics Company has purchased Precision Components Inc. (PCI Reload), a 100-plus-acre transload in Phoenix, Ariz.

BNSF “Hi-Viz” Attendance Policy Rankling Rank-and-File (UPDATED JAN. 28)

After 20 years of no changes to its attendance guidelines, BNSF, citing “today’s competitive freight environment,” plans on Feb. 1 to institute a new system called “Hi-Viz” it says is “designed to provide employees with real-time information and greater flexibility, so they can make informed decisions about their work schedules.” The two largest unions representing some 17,000 BNSF TYE (train and engine service) and Yardmaster employees, the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation union (SMART-TD) and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), are—not unexpectedly—reacting negatively, calling the policy “the worst and most egregious attendance policy ever adopted by any rail carrier” and threatening a strike action, which the railroad filed suit to block.

Commentary

First Thing We Do Is Automate All the Trains

FINANCIAL EDGE, JANUARY 2022 ISSUE: It might be the meme of all memes, at least for the COVID-19 pandemic: Al Pacino’s iconic “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!” right before collapsing from a diabetic stroke, sums up what Omicron feels like (collapse included).

U.S. Steel is building a new mill in Osceola, Ark., close to its Big River Steel plant (pictured), where non-grain oriented electrical steel and galvalume/galvanizing lines are currently under construction.

New U.S. Steel Facility Coming To Arkansas

United States Steel Corp. reported on Jan. 11 that it will build a $3 billion steel mill in Osceola, Ark., to be served by BNSF.

MRL helper locomotives assist at the rear end of a BNSF grain train climbing Bozeman Pass, west of Livingston, Mont. (Photo and caption by Bruce Kelly)

MRL Rails Returning to BNSF (Updated)

After more than 30 years of operating BNSF-owned main line between Huntley, Mont., and Sandpoint, Idaho, Montana Rail Link (MRL) reported on Jan. 10 that it is ceasing its long-term lease with the Class I.

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