Posts by Robert H. Cantwell
Robert H. Cantwell
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Anemic Railcar Orders an Industry Travesty
Orders for new railcars in 2025’s third quarter amounted to 3,071. We’re not facing a financial crisis, or a COVID lockdown, but orders are behaving as though we’re in a…
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Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda Invested in Rail Supply
Two years ago, I released an article cautioning the freight rail industry to expect higher railcar prices and lease rates. At the following Rail Equipment Finance conference, the article was…
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‘There Will Be Hell to Pay’
During a 2013 GATX earnings call, then-CEO Brian Kenney was asked a question about the staggering number of new railcar orders being placed in response to the crude-by-rail/fracking boom. His…
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Rail Supply: ‘Buy North American’
Almost 10 years ago, CRRC (China Railway Rolling Stock Company), the world’s largest rail rolling stock and railcar components company, a Chinese Communist Party SOE (State-Owned Enterprise), set forth a…
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Bearing Down on Bearings
The bearing related derailment that occurred in East Palestine Feb. 3, 2023 on a Norfolk Southern line was tragic in many ways. Following months of investigation, the NTSB held a…
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Sea Change in Railcar Supply
RAILWAY AGE, DECEMBER 2023 ISSUE: A railcar and lease rate outlook for 2024 and beyond.
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Clean Track Ahead
RAILWAY AGE, SEPTEMBER 2023 ISSUE: The California Air Resources Board (CARB) fired a shot across the freight rail industry’s bow to accelerate the drive to lower locomotive emissions to zero…
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North American Rail Supply and the Global Supply Risk: Why We Should Be Concerned
My article highlighting China’s strategy to dominate global rail supply and its desire to conquer the North American rail supply market, posted on June 2, 2021, received a lot of…
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USITC-Imposed Chinese Coupler Tariffs a Good Decision
On March 3, 2023 the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) determined that Chinese coupler producers were unfairly selling couplers into the North American market and imposed a duty of 265.99%.…
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Real-Time Tracking: What Are We Waiting For?
“AEI (Automatic Equipment Identification) technology is 40 years old and tells us where our shipment was. What we need is a technology that tells us where our shipment is, and…
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Get Used to Higher Railcar Prices and Lease Rates
“Rational” and “Disciplined” are words rarely used when talking about freight railcar supply. But perhaps this time is different.
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Rail Wheel Supply: North American Supply Chain is Critical
Nothing highlights the impact and risks of the global supply chain on the North American rail industry better than wheels. Yes, wheels for rail rolling stock: freight cars, passenger and…