Opinion

Commentary

Rail Equipment Webinar Takeaways: Cowen

Tightness across a wide array of freight cars has continued, and with supply chain challenges limiting the industry’s ability to produce to demand, the lease rate momentum looks sustainable, according to expert panelists at Cowen and Company’s Jan. 19 webinar on the current state and outlook of the rail, locomotive, and railcar leasing and manufacturing markets.

The new chairlift in operation on the slopes, Sun Valley, Idaho, 1937.
Commentary

Union Pacific Invented the Ski Chairlift?

You expect innovation from a name like Union Pacific, although with the company’s rich history, you may be surprised how far its achievements in technology and engineering reach. Take for example the ski chairlift, spotlighted in the Union Pacific Museum’s newest exhibit, “Discovered!: Winter Sports Under a Summer Sun: The Railroad and Sun Valley.”

Commentary

In the Blood: BNSF Employee’s Railroad Heritage Goes Back Six Generations

Railroading has been integral to our nation for almost two centuries, and for many families, it has been an important part of their heritage, too. BNSF locomotive engineer Brett Wodke is a sixth-generation railroader, starting with his great-great-great grandfather. Here’s a look at the Wodke family’s impressive history.

Amtrak’s recent winter meltdown was not the first time the passenger railroad faced widespread delays during the holiday travel season. On Dec. 31, 2021, Train No. 8 was some nine hours late when it passed Hauser Jct., Idaho, where the temperature was only 10 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s mild compared with the sub-zero weather the Empire Builder routinely faces on the northern plains. (Photo and Caption by Bruce Kelly)
Commentary

What’s Triggering Empire Builder Service Setbacks?

Severe winter conditions were blamed for Amtrak suspending a number of its long-distance and regional trains across the nation’s Northern Tier and Midwest during the Christmas holiday week. Then came West Coast cancellations in the wake of heavy rains and flooding during the first week of January.

Within the 49% of total shippers who are contemplating railcar orders in the next 12 months, 58% said “yes,” they plan to place orders, versus 54% in third-quarter 2022, and 42% said “maybe,” compared with 46% in third-quarter 2022. This could mean an increased level of certainty about ordering within the total shipper group relative to last quarter. Box and tank cars saw demand improvement relative to third-quarter 2022. Hoppers, gondolas and centerbeams declined relative to third-quarter 2022.
Commentary

Cowen Insight: 4Q22 Shipper Surveys Say …

According to Cowen and Company’s recently conducted fourth-quarter 2022 Rail Equipment and Rail Shipper surveys, the demand for railcars remains strong, and rail-shipping pricing expectations ticked up sequentially. Details follow, plus insights on the Class I railroads, ahead of earnings.

Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono
Commentary

New Year’s Evolution

FROM THE EDITOR, RAILWAY AGE JANUARY 2023 ISSUE: New Year’s resolutions are, mostly, as my late Uncle Alberto used to say, “a bunch of malarkey.” What’s the point in pledging once a year to change something that perhaps you should have changed a long time ago, or in starting to behave differently than what people are accustomed to, on Jan. 1, year after year? The only constant in life is change, right? And if you really think about it, life is more about adapting than about changing.

Images Courtesy of Infinity Transportation
Commentary

North American Rail Craves Stability. A New Year’s Resolution to That Effect Might Be in Order

FINANCIAL EDGE, RAILWAY AGE JANUARY 2023 ISSUE: There is a reason why John Lennon wrote songs and Financial Edge is a column. Perhaps a restatement of what Rolling Stone noted about the Maroon 5 version of “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” is in order: Quickie quiz: Are you John Lennon? No! Are you Yoko Ono? Also no! The next question should be easy: On what planet are you qualified to remake their classic “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”? Not this one!

Commentary

Where Intermodal Can and Will Grow

I’ve accepted the challenge offered back in April 2022 by Gil Lamphere regarding the intermodal business options for the North American rail freight sector.

LOAD MORE