PUMP IT UP!!! – The Signal – 1/30/25
GETTING STRONGER EVERY DAY.
It’s hard to believe January is already over! For 2025, American’s top New Year’s resolutions are to save more money, eat healthier and exercise more. Are you sticking to your resolutions?
Freight railroads certainly are. From equipping employees with new technologies to making major infrastructure investments, they’re committed to enhancing safety and efficiency. Here’s how they’re making it happen.
CSX’s Train Inspection Portal (TIP) uses high-speed imaging and AI-powered machine vision to inspect railcars traveling at 40-50 mph, enhancing safety by detecting potential issues early, reducing delays and improving reliability. Check out the video above. ☝
During the peak season of 2024, BNSF set the new record for moving agricultural volumes during peak season, ensuring farmers, businesses and communities received the goods they need. This vital work helps maintain America’s position as the world’s leading grain producer.
Union Pacific’s recent Safety Culture Assessment, which engaged thousands of employees, led to new training protocols, stronger communication channels and improved resource allocation. As of November 2024, the railroad’s year-to-date derailment and personal injury rates improved 25% compared to one year ago.
CPKC’s new $100 million Ottensmeyer Bridge at the Laredo-Nuevo Laredo crossing, one of North America’s busiest rail trade corridors, doubles freight capacity, enhances security with X-ray inspection and surveillance, and streamlines trade for the continent’s supply chain.
Canadian National’s new hybrid locomotive pilot, developed with Knoxville Locomotive Works, blends battery and diesel technology to reduce fuel use by up to 50%, supporting rail’s role as a viable solution for a transportation network future shaped by climate change.
In 2024, Norfolk Southern doubled the number of autonomous track inspection locomotives to 20 and installed five new digital train inspection portals, bringing the total to seven. The railroad also trained more than 5,500 first responders through the Operation Awareness & Response (OAR) program.
POLICY BREAK DOWN
NY Times: California withdraws some requests for tighter climate rules.
California’s recent climate rule change is a win for our economy because while the the original rule was well-intended, it posed serious challenges that could have disrupted freight efficiency, increased costs, and even resulted in unintended environmental harm by pushing more freight onto less efficient transportation modes.
Freight rail is already one of the most sustainable ways to move goods, producing far fewer emissions than trucks. Burdensome regulations that hinder rail operations could actually lead to increased highway congestion and higher overall emissions. This decision helps ensure that railroads can continue investing in cleaner, more efficient technologies without compromising their ability to deliver goods reliably and sustainably.
Related Reads: EPA Should Reject California’s Locomotive Electrification Regulation and Sales of Electric Heavy-duty Trucks are Hitting a Regulatory Wall.
NEW PODCAST ALERT
AAR CEO Ian Jefferies joins Freightvine host Chris Caplis to discuss everything
from rail’s growing intermodal role to automated track inspections, cybersecurity and Mexico’s rising supply chain impact.
REGIONAL HAPPENINGS
More than $150 million in federal funding allocated to Illinois for rail improvements.
Funding from the Department of Transportation’s Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) grant program will support six key projects across Illinois, including pedestrian crossings and grade separations. These improvements will enhance safety for both pedestrians and drivers while ensuring the efficient flow of commerce through Chicago — the nation’s busiest rail hub.
INVESTMENT SPOTLIGHT
Speaking of Chicago, CN completed a four-mile siding extension near the city, increasing speed by 30% and capacity by 17%. Built from scratch by an 80-member team, the track was completed and made operational on December 23, 2024.
INDUSTRY READS
Wall Street Journal
U.S. Consumers Lose Confidence at Start of Trump’s Second Term
Washington Post
Union Membership Fell in 2024, Hitting New Low
FreightWaves
Judge Blocks Trump Funding Freeze That Could Hit Rail, Maritime
Real Clear Markets
Trucks Need To Pay More For Their Use of U.S. Highways (Opinion)
