Railroad News

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Managing Editor

Norfolk Southern Railway generated more than 60,000 carloads of new traffic last year through its industrial development efforts, the Class I announced today.

The 72 new and 18 expanded industrial plants in 17 states represented an investment of $1.5 billion by NS customers. The commercial development is expected to create nearly 3,000 new customer jobs and contribute to the economy in communities across the railroad's service area, NS officials said in a press release.

BNSF Railway Co. is moving strong volumes throughout its network during the late portion of the peak season, according to a customer letter issued by the Class I Dec. 21.

Volume in the week ending Dec. 15 increased slightly over the prior week and represented a new year-to-date high at nearly 216,500 units, BNSF officials wrote in the letter. Year-to-date volume through that week totaling 10.3 million carloads and intermodal units exceeded the full-year volume in each of the past 11 years, they said.

CN has met all Dec. 31 milestone deadlines in its positive train control (PTC) implementation plan, the Class I announced last week.

Last month, CN applied to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a two-year extension to complete deployment and interoperability of its PTC system, according to a press release.

Canadian Pacific's 2018 Holiday Train is on track to have raised more than CA$1.3 million and collected more than 200,000 pounds of food for local food banks, the Class I announced last week.

The train recently completed its 20th journey through Canada and the United States as part of the railroad's charitable efforts.

The City Council of Willmar, Minnesota, this week unanimously approved master agreements for the Willmar Wye rail project.

The project is a public-private partnership between BNSF Railway Co., the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), Kandiyohi County and the city of Willmar to build a new rail line bypass on the city's west side.

CSX has reversed an earlier decision and determined the Class I will participate in a project to upgrade the Howard Street Tunnel in Baltimore, Maryland federal and local officials announced late last week.

Railroad officials appeared to "walk away" from the proposal about a year ago, and are now willing to commit $91 million toward the tunnel project's cost, Maryland's congressional delegation said in a press release.

The announcement was expected for months, but yesterday Norfolk Southern Corp. made it official: The Class I will move its corporate headquarters from Norfolk, Virginia, to Atlanta.

NS is in advanced discussions to purchase a site from Cousins Properties at 650 W. Peachtree St. NW in Midtown Atlanta, where the railroad plans to build its new headquarters. Progress on the move has begun and will span the next several years as the facility is built, NS officials said in a press release.

Norfolk Southern Corp. yesterday released its latest Corporate Social Responsibility Report, which includes such details as the Class I's record locomotive fuel efficiency and reduced greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions.

NS improved locomotive fuel efficiency by 5 percent in 2017 over 2016, conserved 23 million gallons of diesel and avoided more than 233,750 metric tons of GHG emissions, according to the report.

Canadian Pacific yesterday unveiled its first 8,500-foot high efficiency product (HEP) grain train at G3 Canada Ltd.’s Pasqua elevator near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

The HEP train features more efficient hopper cars and is designed to move about 44 percent more grain than the Class I’s prior generation of grain train. The new hopper cars feature a capacity 10 percent greater by weight than older-model Canadian government cars, and can hold 15 percent more volume.

Norfolk Southern Railway will provide service to a new inland port to be developed near Gainesville, Georgia, state and Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) officials announced yesterday.

Set to open in 2021, the Northeast Georgia Inland Port will be situated in the manufacturing and logistics corridor along Interstate 85 and operated by the GPA.

Union Pacific Railroad will be part of this week's funeral procession for President George H.W. Bush, who died Nov. 30 at the age of 94.

Following funeral and memorial services in Washington, D.C., and Houston, Bush will be transported by the funeral train from Spring to College Station, Texas, on Thursday.

Norfolk Southern Corp. announced yesterday that Marque Ledoux will become vice president of government affairs on Jan. 1, 2019. He will succeed Bruno Maestri, who is retiring from the Class I.

Ledoux joined NS in 2003 as assistant VP of government affairs. Prior to joining the company, he worked for FedEx for 16 years in public relations and government relations positions. In his new role, he will continue to be based in Washington, D.C., and report to John Sheib, executive VP of law and administration.

Union Pacific Corp. has named Printz Bolin vice president-external relations, effective Dec. 1. He will succeed Mike Rock, who will retire Feb. 15, 2019, after 29 years of service at the Class I.

Currently assistant VP-external relations, Bolin will continue to work out of UP's office in Washington, D.C., when he starts his new role, UP officials said in a press release.

Union Pacific Railroad is making progress on its plan to implement positive train control (PTC) and will meet all required deadlines for installing the safety technology on its network, the Class I announced yesterday.

"As allowed by federal law," UP will continue to implement, test and refine the technology during 2019 and 2020, company officials said in a press release.