In the ongoing juggling of transport logistics affecting fossil fuels throughout western North America, British Columbia’s Port Metro Vancouver on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014, approved a new rail-to-barge coal transfer facility.
Oregon’s Department of State Lands on Monday, Aug. 18, 2014, denied a permit for construction of a coal export project on the Columbia River to bolster international coal export.
With traffic in most commodities on an upswing and capital investment at record levels, the railroads are on track for another prosperous year.
U.S. coal use for electricity generation may be declining, and U.S. freight railroads may be delivering less coal as a result. But rail still is by far the modal choice for remaining demand, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s June 11, 2014 “Today in Energy” brief.
U.S. freight rail traffic was mixed over the 28 days of February, but advanced in the final days of the month included in the latest tally offered by the Association of American Railroads for the week ending March 1, 2014.
Reversing course from last week’s declines, both U.S. freight carload traffic and U.S. intermodal volume gained ground during the week ending Feb. 22, 2014, measured against the comparable week in 2013, the Association of American Railroads said Thursday, Feb. 27.
The Surface Transportation Board Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013 said BNSF Railway has performed due diligence in minimizing or mitigating the generation of coal dust during rail movements, turning aside complaints from shippers and environmental groups claiming the railroad has been negligent.
U.S. freight traffic continued gaining ground in the week ending Nov. 2, 2013, the Association of American Railroads reported Thursday, Nov. 7, capping significant and sustained gains registered during the month of October.
Norfolk Southern said Monday, Sept. 23, 2013 it had again notched a new record for coal transloading at its Pier 6 at Lambert Point facility in Norfolk, Va., loading a record amount of coal into a single ocean-going vessel.
Norfolk Southern says it loaded a record amount of coal into a single ocean-going vessel on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013, at Pier 6 at Lamberts Point, Port of Hampton Roads, Va.