BUILDING STRONGER.

With hurricane season underway, freight railroads are prepared to keep shipments safely moving thanks to ongoing infrastructure investments and lessons learned from previous storms.

Last year’s Hurricane Helene was a powerful example. The storm caused catastrophic flooding and landslides across Tennessee and North Carolina, devastating infrastructure along the Blue Ridge Subdivision, where both Norfolk Southern and CSX operate.

CSX saw 60 miles of track damaged and three key bridges impacted, including a 520-foot span in Poplar, North Carolina. Norfolk Southern faced more than 21,000 feet of washed-out track and multiple destroyed bridges as well.

In true freight rail form, both railroads privately invested hundreds of millions of dollars into rebuilding and reinforcing this vital corridor, with Norfolk Southern completing its restoration in May, and CSX on track to finish by November of this year.

☝ In March, NS crews quickly replaced the Pigeon River rail bridge in Newport, TN.

In addition to rebuilding infrastructure, both companies provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in disaster relief, partnering with the American Red Cross and local nonprofits, and offering direct support to employees through relief funds and donation matching.

SURGE FLEET

As trade flows continue to fluctuate, BNSF Railway demonstrates how long-term investments in a resilient, well-managed network ensure railroads are ready to meet evolving supply chain demands no matter what.

“We have more than 100 locomotives that we would call a ‘surge fleet,’ ready to go in the state of California alone, some nine miles of locomotives,” Jon Gabriel, BNSF VP of Consumer Products said in a recent interview. “And we have a large quantity of railcars set up against traffic in California, Arizona and in Washington for the Pacific Northwest. We have also taken the opportunity to do some preventative maintenance, both on tracks and rolling stock, in pre-position against the West Coast.”

☝ Check out the video above to see what the journey of a single car looks like on the BNSF network.

HERE’S A TIP FOR YOU

Did you know that train inspection portals (TIPs) are high-tech systems that use advanced imaging, lasers, and AI to scan passing trains in real time?

Installed along the track, these portals can detect defects or irregularities—such as damaged wheels, axles, or shifted loads—without stopping the train. By identifying issues early, inspection portals help railroads enhance safety, reduce delays, and keep freight moving efficiently across the network.

UPCOMING EVENT

Mark your calendar for Emergency Notification System (ENS) Sign Awareness Day on June 24, hosted by Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI). This first-ever event highlights the life-saving role of blue-and-white ENS signs at railroad crossings and teaches the public and first responders how to use them in emergencies.

Get involved by attending local events, sharing resources, engaging first responders, and spreading the word with OLI’s ready-to-use tools and PSAs.

DID YOU SEE?

At a Senate Commerce Committee hearing held before the Congressional recess, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) questioned David Fink—nominee for Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration—regarding the agency’s regulatory approach.

EXPERT INPUT: TRUMP VS. TRUMP ON RAILROAD REGULATIONS

Dominic Pino of the National Review Pino dissects the issue of crew size from the Obama 2016 NPRM through today’s litigation, presenting a holistic case for why the rule is nonsensical.

“The rule has nothing to do with safety, and reversing it should be easy to do. Trump has already done it once…The Trump administration should include freight rail in its deregulatory agenda, starting by pulling the plug on Joe Biden’s resuscitation of Obama’s crew-size mandate. All the administration has to do is listen to itself from six years ago.”

INDUSTRY READS

WSJ
Why the U.S. Economy Will Muddle Through Trump’s Tariffs. Probably

FreightWaves
Nearshoring investments still flowing south of the border

Trains
BNSF creates carload growth team

RailwayAge
STB Dropping Final Offer Rate Review Rule

Fleet Owner
Let’s weigh out the ramifications (Opinion)