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Rail

News and analysis of railroads, intermodal, earnings, precision scheduled railroading (PCR), interchanges, port connectivity

The latest Rail News & Analysis

Intermodal contract savings fell in Q4 ahead of 2023 bids

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Feb 1, 2023, 7:59 AM EST

Shippers saved less than in prior quarters on their intermodal contracts to close 2022, setting up a race to the bottom this year to keep freight on the rails.
RailIntermodal providersNorth-American rail

Norfolk Southern adds to Southeast intermodal capacity with new cranes

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Jan 31, 2023, 4:02 PM EST

Norfolk Southern’s plan to bring more capacity to its international intermodal business this year has kicked off with new cranes enabling the stacking of marine containers at its Austell ramp in Georgia.
North-American railContainer shippingNorth American portsIntermodal providers

US railroads looking to mend fences with labor after trying 2022

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Jan 30, 2023, 4:53 PM EST

US Class I railroads are taking steps to address quality-of-life issues for their employees, including reducing on-call positions, avoiding furloughs, and introducing more flexible working structures.
North-American rail

Bridge repair along UP’s LA/LB-Midwest network nearing completion

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Jan 26, 2023, 1:37 PM EST

The approximately 72-hour repair on a bridge in New Mexico would appear to mitigate what could potentially have been a major disruption for UP’s international and domestic intermodal shippers.
North-American railIntermodal providers

Virginia lawmakers propose funds for state’s second inland port

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Jan 24, 2023, 4:49 PM EST

Some Virginia state legislators are looking to fund a second inland port, but the project’s prospects hinge on railroad and shipper demand, according to a study.
North American portsRailIntermodal providers

UP says all container traffic halted on its network between LA and Midwest

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Jan 24, 2023, 3:51 PM EST

An outage involving a bridge in New Mexico in the heart of Union Pacific’s network is causing major delays for intermodal and automotive shippers between Southern California and two major inland hubs.
Intermodal providersNorth-American rail

Customer service, not falling rates, the focus for 2023: UP

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Jan 24, 2023, 2:19 PM EST

The Class I railroad vowed it would focus on providing better service to shippers in 2023 and move to heal wounds from tense labor negotiations by addressing quality-of-life issues affecting its workforce.
North-American railIntermodal providers

Waning demand, service issues to weigh on international intermodal volumes

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Jan 20, 2023, 12:16 PM EST

If inland rail ramps remain congested due to chassis shortages and discretionary imports continue to flow away from the West Coast to the East Coast, international intermodal volumes could decline for a second straight year.
Intermodal providersSurfaceNorth-American rail

J.B. Hunt focusing on faster container turns to move more loads

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Jan 19, 2023, 3:52 PM EST

J.B. Hunt Transport Services will focus on working with shippers to empty containers in a more expedited manner as freight is moving slower than ever with box turn ratios falling for four consecutive years.
Intermodal providersNorth-American rail

Intermodal markets shift into recession after no peak season: J.B. Hunt

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Jan 18, 2023, 1:25 PM EST

Intermodal shippers are sitting on the sidelines until warehouses unclog and rail service improves, which will result in lower contract rates for shippers in 2023.
Intermodal providersNorth-American rail

Domestic intermodal rail volumes likely to slip after 2022 uptick

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Jan 12, 2023, 2:49 PM EST

As consumer buying patterns return to a more normal mix of goods and services in 2023, domestic intermodal providers will have to find a way to fill a huge influx of boxes ordered during the pandemic.
SurfaceIntermodal providersNorth-American rail

Elevated chassis dwell times persist in Chicago, Kansas City

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Jan 11, 2023, 12:48 PM EST

The lingering congestion in Chicago and Kansas City comes despite a decrease in US imports and a relatively low volume of freight being transported inland by train.
North-American rail

Inland hubs use lessons learned in 2022 to prep for next cargo surge

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Jan 10, 2023, 11:47 AM EST

To better handle the next cargo surge, inland hubs need to own enough equipment so they can build and deconstruct container stacks while possessing the technology to plan for cargo retrieval.
North-American rail

Plan unveiled to allow Mobile’s rail freight to run alongside Amtrak service

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Jan 6, 2023, 2:28 PM EST

Amtrak had asked federal regulators for permission to restart a passenger service between New Orleans and Mobile that had not operated since Hurricane Katrina, but Class I railroads and the Port of Mobile opposed the move.
North American portsIntermodal providersNorth-American rail

UP lifts storage penalty cap on containers in Chicago, Kansas City

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Jan 4, 2023, 1:41 PM EST

Union Pacific has removed the demurrage penalty caps on cargo in Chicago and Kansas City, although trucking companies indicate some international containers remain stacked in both cities because of a shortage of marine chassis.
North-American rail

UP looks to boost ag exports through new Oregon intermodal ramp

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Jan 3, 2023, 3:23 PM EST

A new Oregon intermodal ramp linked to Union Pacific’s network should ease ag shipper frustrations over rising transportation costs and limited container availability.
North-American railContainer shipping

Norfolk Southern to shut container spillover lot near Memphis

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Dec 29, 2022, 3:48 PM EST

Norfolk Southern Railway will shut one of two container spillover lots outside Memphis this week after a significant reduction in rail boxes coming into the inland hub from Savannah.
North-American railNorth American ports

Hapag-Lloyd hit with FMC rail demurrage complaint

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Dec 29, 2022, 2:29 PM EST

The filing is just the latest in a barrage of complaints made against various container lines with the FMC in recent months, a flurry accelerated by major reform of US shipping law that went into effect in June.
Transport, trade and regulationContainer shippingContainer linesDrayageRailIntermodal providersNorth-American rail

Forwarding tech providers push into US trucking market

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Dec 21, 2022, 1:53 PM EST

The need for forwarders to tether quoting and tracking in international freight modes to US surface modes has been highlighted by new offerings from ECU Worldwide and Freightos.
TruckingForwardingTruckloadLTLIntermodal providersAir cargo forwardingLogistics technology

Calmer supply chain waters beckon in 2023

Bill Cassidy, Senior Editor | Dec 19, 2022, 3:55 PM EST

As the US economy slows, logistics managers are searching not just for lower supply chain costs but a normalization of freight flows and networks, a level of stability and predictability that remains elusive.
Container shippingForwardingTruckingNorth-American rail