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

(FRA Photograph)

FRA Examines Vertical Split Rim Causes, Prevention

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) this month released a technical report on the causes and prevention vertical split rim (VSR), which is related broken wheel rims, one of the leading causes of FRA-reportable wheel-related accidents.

(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.

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.

Beaver County, PA Emergency Communications Center. (Photograph Courtesy of AAR)

AAR, NS Boost AskRail Access

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) on Sept. 18 reported working with member company Norfolk Southern (NS) to integrate AskRail into the dispatching services of the Columbiana County, Ohio, and Beaver County,

(CSX Photograph)

North American Rail Volume Continues Decline Through Week 36: AAR

Through the first 36 weeks of 2023 (ending Sept. 9), total North American carload and intermodal traffic decreased 4.1% from the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Sept. 13. Both the U.S. and Canada experienced declines, while Mexico saw a gain.

Parallel Systems plans to start “platoon demonstrations” of second-generation autonomous battery-electric railcars later this year. According to the company, each railcar is individually powered and can “form platoons of up to 50 cars to reduce energy consumption and efficiently use rail network capacity” or split off to multiple destinations while en route. (Rendering Courtesy of Parallel Systems)

Watch: Parallel Systems Debuts 2nd-Gen Autonomous Battery-Electric Freight Car

Los Angeles, Calif.-based Parallel Systems on Sept. 12 introduced its second-generation autonomous battery-electric freight car, which it plans to pilot test on existing U.S. and international rail networks.

‘Poor Service’ Drives STB’s Proposed Reciprocal Switching Rule (Updated, TD Cowen Commentary)

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on Sept. 7 issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that it said focused on “providing rail customers with access to reciprocal switching as a remedy for

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