Rail Freight

Carload volume—at 295,426—was down 0.3 percent compared to last year, and intermodal was up 9.8 percent at 230,460 trailers and containers.

In the last few days trains have begun rolling in and out of Class I railroad carrier Union Pacific’s 785-acre Joliet, Illinois Intermodal Terminal.

More good news surfaced in the domestic rail sector yesterday as Norfolk Southern Corporation reported second-quarter 2010 net income earnings.

Weekly carload volumes—at 282,199—were up 3.5 percent compared to 2009 and down 13.8 percent compared to 2008.

Railroad volumes for the week ending July 10 were down year-over-year and compared to 2008, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Rail traffic is up year-over-year in June but remains below 2008 levels.

The rebound in market conditions for the freight railroad industry—due to an improving economy—is evident based on second quarter earnings results for Class I railroad carrier CSX.

While the White House has its sights set on expanding high-speed rail in the U.S., some analysis concludes that in order for HSR to be successful more buy-in is needed from Class I railroads.

More of the same appears to the theme when looking at railroad volumes in recent weeks, with volumes for the week ending June 26 up year-over-year and down compared to 2008, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Spurred by strong intermodal growth, weekly railroad volumes remain well ahead of 2009 levels for the week ending June 19, according to the Association of American Railroads.

While volumes still lag 2008 levels, weekly carload and intermodal volumes continue to surpass 2009 levels, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

Class I railroad carrier Canadian National Railway (CN) recently announced it has inked a Memorandum of Understanding with TSI Terminal Systems, a subsidiary of GCT Container Terminals Inc., which endeavors to enhance service levels for mutual customers and draw greater volumes of traffic over Port Metro Vancouver.

High-speed rail is coming to America—but not without the cooperation of five Class 1 freight railroads in North America, the nation’s top transportation official says.