AAR: U.S. Intermodal Up, Carloads Down in Week 41

For the week ending Oct. 14, 2023 (Week 41), total U.S. rail traffic was 492,781 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.5% from the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Oct. 18. It is the fifth consecutive week of gains for intermodal units while carloads took a dip.

Gov. Laura Kelly on Oct. 11 announced that Kansas would have a two-person crew rule “to improve safety.” (Gov. Kelly’s Office Photograph)

Kansas Attempts Two-Person Crew Requirement

The state of Kansas on Nov. 3 will put into effect an administrative rule requiring two-person freight railroad crews.

AAR: U.S. Rail Traffic Uptick Continues in Week 40

For the week ending Oct. 7, 2023 (Week 40), total U.S. rail traffic was 499,217 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.0% from the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Oct. 11. It is the fourth consecutive week of gains for carloads and intermodal units.

(Photograph Courtesy of BNSF, via LinkedIn)

AAR: Rail Traffic Remains ‘Uncertain’

“Rail traffic, although improving, remains in uncertain territory along with the economy,” Association of American Railroads (AAR) Senior Vice President John T. Gray reported Oct. 4. While intermodal had “the best volume month of the year in September,” he said, “a sustained boost across rail categories will require stronger overall industrial growth.”

STB to AAR on Reciprocal Switching: 15 More Days to Comment

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has partially granted the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) request to extend the comment period for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued Sept. 7, 2023 in Docket

(Screen Grab Courtesy of TTX YouTube Video)

U.S. Rail Traffic Uptick Continues in Week 38

For the week ending Sept. 23, 2023 (Week 38), total U.S. rail traffic was 493,323 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.8% from the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Sept. 27. It is the second consecutive week of gains for carloads and intermodal units, following weeks of losses or virtually flat results for both.

AAR to STB on Reciprocal Switching: We Need 90 More Days

The Association of American Railroads has asked the Surface Transportation Board for a 90-day extension of the comment period for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued Sept. 7, 2023 in Docket No. EP 711(Sub-No. 2), Reciprocal Switching for Inadequate Service. If granted, AAR’s request will extend the comment period to Feb. 20, 2024.

Atlas Completes Testing

The Atlas, a specialized railcar that will be used to transport SNF (spent nuclear fuel) and HLW (high-level radioactive waste) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), has completed a 1,600-plus-mile round-trip from

STB: Rail Cost Adjustment Factor Set for 4Q23

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has adopted for fourth-quarter 2023 the rail cost adjustment factor (RCAF), defined as “an index formulated to represent changes in railroad costs incurred by the nation’s largest railroads over a specified period of time.”

Union Pacific Photograph

AAR: North American Rail Volume Down Through 37 Weeks

For the first 37 weeks of 2023 (ending Sept. 16), total U.S. weekly rail traffic dipped 4.1% from the same point last year, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) Sept. 20 report. Both Canada and the U.S. saw declines, while Mexico saw an increase.

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