Opinion

Commentary

Suds With Seidl: ‘Rail Service Severely Challenged’

We hosted another Suds with Seidl event featuring leaders across the railroad industry. Rail service continues to be severely challenged, although there have been some slight improvements in recent weeks. Rails continue to have tremendous pricing freedom, and are capitalizing despite service metrics. Intermodal demand remains high, although the recent Blume Global supply chain management platform cyberattack outage has impacted service.

Commentary

Unrehearsed, Unpolished, Inexperienced

FINANCIAL EDGE, RAILWAY AGE MAY 2022 ISSUE: Sports journalists say they don’t root for teams; they root for stories. At “Financial Edge,” the circumstance is the same. There always needs to be something to write about. Nonetheless, at its heart, “Financial Edge” roots for the railroads. The North American rail system should be an unfailing anchor for the nation, for its survival, growth and economic stability. Unfortunately, North American rail continues to look like a first-time performer at “open mike” at the logistics theater: unrehearsed, unpolished and inexperienced.

Commentary

Can STB Motivate Rails to Improve Service?

WATCHING WASHINGTON, RAILWAY AGE MAY 2022 ISSUE: Have you tried pushing on a string? Therein lies a challenge facing the Surface Transportation Board (STB), which regulates rates and practices of freight railroads.

Commentary

‘A Disconnect From Reality’

As a labor leader, I often give little attention to the political pawns and one-sided opinions of writers that attempt to create a public illusion for the Wall Street puppets running the

Commentary

CSX CEO Lost Situational Awareness

Whatever was CSX CEO James M. Foote thinking when he testified before the STB’s “Urgent Issues in Freight Rail Service” hearing April 26? His display of disdain for the agency—in particular, White House-nominated and Senate-confirmed STB member Robert A. Primus—was evident in mannerisms and sarcastic responses.

Commentary

The ‘One-Trick Pony’: Past, Present, Future

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a One-Trick Pony was foaled. His parents named him “PSR.” He had many attributes, so it was unfair that he was labeled a One-Trick Pony by his jealous detractors.

Commentary

Redux: Beware the Operating Ratio Trap

Editor’s Note: Allegations that railroads place too great an emphasis on lowering the operating ratio dominated the Surface Transportation Board’s two-day hearing April 26-27, “Urgent Issues in Freight Rail Service.” To assist

Commentary

‘It is Getting Worse. People are Leaving’

Editor’s Note: The Surface Transportation Board is conducting an in-person hearing April 26-27 (EP 770, Urgent Issues in Freight Rail Service) with the CEOs of the “Big Four” Class I railroads—BNSF, CSX, Norfolk

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