Officials from the CSX TDSI terminal (New Boston, Mich.) were recently presented an award for the Highest Quality Review Score at the Association of American Railroads’ Damage Prevention and Freight Claims Conference. (CSX Photograph)

Class I Briefs: CSX, UP, CSX/NS, CPKC/CN

A CSX Total Distribution Services Inc. (TDSI) terminal in Michigan earned an Association of American Railroads (AAR) quality award. Also, Union Pacific (UP) is named a 2023 VETS Indexes 4-Star Employer, and will be the exclusive rail service provider for a new industrial rail park in Buckeye, Ariz.; Vertical Cold Storage closed on its acquisition of MWCold, an operator of two temperature-controlled warehouse facilities in central Indiana, one of which is served by CSX and Norfolk Southern (NS); and Avalon Advanced Materials purchased an industrial site in Thunder Bay, Ontario, with existing Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and CN rail services, for its planned midstream lithium-hydroxide processing facility.

“Through multiple visits, I have seen firsthand the love and pride the community has for the park and we are honored to support meaningful improvements,” said NS President and CEO Alan H. Shaw.

NS to Move Forward With Master Plan for East Palestine City Park

Norfolk Southern (NS) announced June 20 that plans for revitalizing East Palestine City Park reached a major milestone after earning approval by the East Palestine City Council and the Class I can now move forward developing a full master plan for the community park.

BNSF's Dr. Zabih Ghelichi (right), pictured with Amanda Mewborn, IISE President and Vice President for Atrium Health.

People News: NS, BNSF, Princeton Consultants, CRC

Norfolk Southern (NS) promotes Joe Gioe to Vice President. Also, Dr. Zabih Ghelichi, Senior Operations Research and Advanced Specialist at BNSF receives the 2023 Pritsker Doctoral Dissertation Award from the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE); Keith Dierkx joins Princeton Consultants as Principal; and members of the Commuter Rail Coalition (CRC) elect leadership slate.

NS, Colonial Terminals Partner on Development of $100MM Breakbulk Facility

Norfolk Southern (NS) has announced the recent sale of 16.7 acres of land adjacent to one of its rail facilities and an existing Colonial Terminals riverfront facility, which will “provide opportunity to develop breakbulk infrastructure along the Savannah River and support the creation of approximately 20 new jobs in the region,” according to the Class I.

FRA Awards $570MM for Grade Crossing Elimination Projects (UPDATED June 12)

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on June 5 reported that 63 projects will share more than $570 million in Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program funding to address safety at 400-plus at-grade crossings

Kronospan later this year will begin construction of a new Oriented Strand Board (OSB) manufacturing plant on its 460-acre site in Oxford, Ala., which is served by Norfolk Southern. (Kronospan Photograph)

Kronospan Expanding NS-Served Alabama Site

Wood-panel product producer Kronospan will break ground later this year on a $350 million project to expand its operations in Oxford, Ala. The company, with headquarters in Austria, is served by Norfolk Southern (NS).

“We thank the unions for their partnership on improving safety and quality of life for every employee,” Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan H. Shaw said during his railroad’s June 1 town hall meeting, which included labor leader speakers. “We said we wanted to partner more effectively with union leadership—and today you see management and labor keeping that promise.” (Norfolk Southern Photograph)

NS Hosts Inaugural Safety-Focused Town Hall

Safety, union collaboration and “creating long-term value” were the three main topics of Norfolk Southern’s (NS) first company-wide town hall meeting. Held June 1 in Bellevue, Ohio, 20,000 railroaders from across the

Amtrak, NS Ratify Agreements With Unions

Following a year and a half of successful negotiations, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 19 has ratified an agreement with Amtrak. Meanwhile, members of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD), represented by General Committees of Adjustment GO-898, GO-687 and GO-680, have voted to ratify their tentative agreement with Norfolk Southern (NS). Also, SMART-TD and NS reach yardmaster sick leave deal.

Three Class I Railroads Named to Forbes’ Net Zero Leaders List

Three of the six Class I railroads have been named among the top 100 U.S. companies in Forbes’ first-ever sustainability ranking, with CSX placing in the top 10.

Rendering Courtesy of NS

NS Donates Historic Train Depot to East Palestine Community

Norfolk Southern (NS) on May 22 unveiled plans to donate its historic East Palestine Train Depot to the village.

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