One day prior to a hearing before the Surface Transportation Board on its recent service problems, CSX on Oct. 10 posted its weekly metrics report to the STB on its website. The report, CSX said, shows that “network performance has recovered and is continuing to improve.”
COVER STORY, RAILWAY AGE, OCTOBER 2017: After “a very ragged 90 days,” CSX seems to be settling down as its CEO gives his Precision Scheduled Railroading one more go.
Approximately one week before the Oct. 11 Surface Transportation Board hearing (curiously called a “public listening session” by the STB) on CSX service issues, the railroad is pointing to extended “positive trends” as President and CEO Hunter Harrison’s Precision Scheduled Railroading is implemented.
Jacksonville-based CSX this week is partnering with Operation Lifesaver and the rail industry on Rail Safety Week Sept. 25-30, to raise public awareness about how to be safe around railroad tracks.
CSX reports that it “rapidly restored service throughout the areas affected by Hurricane Irma,” which struck Florida on Sunday, Sept. 10, with devastating winds and flooding. The railroad says it re-established rail service “in most of the southeast U.S. within hours, into and out of northern Florida within 24 hours, and throughout the vast majority of the state within one week.”
The Surface Transportation Board has rescheduled its hearing on CSX Transportation, Inc.’s (CSXT) recent rail service problems for Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017, at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. The hearing “will allow the Board to hear from CSXT about its service issues and recovery efforts, as well as hear from rail shippers and other stakeholders affected by service disruptions.”
Traffic on U.S. railroads totaled 486,474 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.8% compared with the same week in 2016.
Railroads restarted some services in Florida following Hurricane Irma, and began to assess damage throughout the southeast region.
Union Pacific and its rail partners plan to up the frequency of its Cold Connect refrigerated produce service with an eye on expanded market opportunities for Idaho potatoes in New York state.
CSX has begun operations at its new Pittsburgh intermodal rail terminal in McKees Rocks, Pa. The facility “provides shippers a new transportation option to move freight to and from western Pennsylvania, while enhancing their competitive advantages through greater connectivity to this major consumption market,” CSX said.