Grade Crossing Improvements Discussed at Rail Subcommittee Hearing
Four witnesses on Jan. 18 discussed improving safety at highway-rail grade crossings at a hearing of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
AAR
AAR: North American Rail Volume Down Through Week 2 (UPDATED with Larry Gross Commentary)
Through the first two weeks of 2024 (ending Jan. 13), total North American carload and intermodal traffic dipped 1.5% from the same point last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Jan. 17. The U.S. and Canada experienced declines, while Mexico saw a gain.
U.S. Rail Traffic Boost Continues in First Week of 2024
For the week ending Jan. 6, 2024 (Week 1), total U.S. rail traffic was 417,257 carloads and intermodal units, rising 2.3% from the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Jan. 10.
For U.S. Rail Traffic, 2023 Ends on a High Note
The fourth quarter was “the best quarter of 2023 for U.S. rail volumes on a year-over-year basis,” AAR Senior Vice President John T. Gray reported Jan. 2. “It appears that intense rail efforts to improve service quality are paying off. Railroads are hopeful that gains in the fourth quarter will carry over into the first quarter of 2024 and beyond.”
Week 51: U.S. Carloads, Intermodal Register Double-Digit Gains
U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Dec. 23, 2023 (Week 51), came in at 486,787 carloads and intermodal units, rising 24.2% from the same week last year, based on 230,946 carloads—up 23.7% from 2022—and intermodal volume of 255,841 containers and trailers—up 24.7%, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Dec. 27.
Eagle Pass, El Paso Rail Crossings Resume Operations
Following five days of closures at Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced Dec. 22 the reopening of these key international crossings, according to an Association of American Railroads (AAR) release.
AAR: U.S. Rail Traffic Uptick Continues in Week 50
For the week ending Dec. 16 (Week 50), total U.S. rail traffic was 502,583 carloads and intermodal units, rising 7.6% from the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Dec. 20.
Railinc’s TransmetriQ Brand Earns ‘Manufacturing + Supply Chain’ Award
The North Carolina Technology Association (NC TECH) recently presented TransmetriQ, a Railinc® brand that provides rail management software, with an award “for advancing technology in the supply chain.”
TSB: Railcar Structural Failure Led to 2019 CN Tunnel Derailment
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) on Dec. 18 reported that structural failure of a bathtub gondola car led to the 2019 derailment of a CN train proceeding through the CN Paul M. Tellier Tunnel en route from Sarnia, Ontario, to Port Huron, Mich. At the time of the accident, “there was no industry or regulatory requirement to periodically conduct a full inspection of the car to ensure it maintained its structural integrity,” the TSB reported. “As a result, its structural integrity deteriorated and this was not identified. …”
UP, AAR Take STB to Court Over ‘Final Offer Rate Review’ Rule
The U.S. Court of Appeals Eighth Circuit is hearing a case brought by Union Pacific (UP) and the Association of American Railroads (AAR) that challenges the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) Final Offer