Texas Cold Won’t Bring Back Coal
The Texas wind that blows, blows not for king coal. The recent electricity debacle is likely to pivot power generation further away.
Class I
Now On Line: Railway Age’s March Digital Edition
The March 2021 issue of Railway Age is available digitally.
People News: New CEO for Brightline Holdings; Directors for FMW Solutions
Brightline has tapped its former President and Chief Development Officer to lead the newly formed Brightline Holdings; railroad contracting, consulting and engineering firm FMW Solutions LLC has hired Directors of Special Projects and Safety and Compliance.
Railway Interchange Postponed
The organizers of Railway Interchange announced March 4 that the largest Rail Industry Conference and Exhibition in North America will be postponed until 2023.
Extreme Winter Weather Slows Traffic: AAR
The Association of American Railroads, in reporting U.S. rail traffic for the week ending Feb. 27, 2021, as well as volumes for February 2021, noted that volume took a polar vortex hit.
Progress at Canadian Ports
The Montreal Port Authority’s (MPA) Contrecoeur Port Terminal Expansion Project gets the greenlight; Port of Vancouver sets annual grain, potash and container records in 2020.
UP Operating Teams Battle through Polar Vortex
Editor’s Note: As a polar vortex gripped much of the U.S. in February, railroad field employees braved harsh conditions to keep trains running and workers safe. Here are a few examples from Union Pacific, originally posted on the Safety section of the Class I’s website.
CN Continues Record-Breaking Grain Haul Pace
CN shipped more than 2.28 million metric tonnes (MMT) of Canadian grain and processed grain products via carload in February—setting a new volume record for the 12th straight month, despite challenging weather conditions.
FRA Hazmat Tank Car Impact Test Research
Approximately one out of every four railroad freight cars in North America is a tank car, according to the Association of American Railroads, Railroad Facts, 2019 Edition (p. 38). Each year, such cars transport roughly 2 million shipments of hazardous materials (hazmat), carrying goods that are essential to North America’s economy, public health and quality of life.
U.S. Senators Eye RRIF Program Improvements
Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) have reintroduced the Railroad Rehabilitation and Financing Innovation Act to provide dedicated funding for RRIF financing costs, streamline the application process, and extend loan terms for certain assets.