BNSF
“The network is in solid condition, and BNSF operating teams are positioned to build on the positive momentum as we move deeper into May,” the Class I railroad told customers in a May 9 online message. Average car velocity and terminal dwell times have remained stable, it noted, compared with the previous week and have shown “significant improvement” since April. Additionally, BNSF’s local service compliance measure, which indicates its efficiency in handling carload freight, is trending at nearly 92%, according to the railroad.
Track maintenance continues across the network, with scheduled work windows occurring in various locations. “BNSF teams are working together to ensure that train operations remain efficient during these windows, minimizing delays as much as possible,” the railroad reported. “Favorable operating conditions are anticipated across most of the network.”
Separately, BNSF on May 5 released first-quarter 2025 results, including operating income of $1.8 billion, a 6% increase from the prior-year period’s $1.720 billion, and an operating ratio of 67.9%, a 1.6% decrease compared to 2024’s 69.5%.
CN
CN via social media reported being recognized as Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Limited 2024 Supplier Partner of the Year–Transportation. The award, it said, “reflects more than moving freight; it’s about trust, collaboration, and the ability to adapt.”
Meanwhile, the Canadian Class I reported on its website that its has partnered with Indigenous-owned technology firm ORIGIN to use immersive virtual reality (VR) during recruitment. The aim: “to bring railway careers to life and inspire the next generation of talent.”
Future recruits no longer have to guess what a working railroad looks like or what career opportunities are available, according to CN. ORIGIN’s ImmersiveLink platform allows them to experience shunting operations during a virtual tour of a CN rail yard, for example. CN said that such realistic scenarios were developed with input from field staff and CN trainers, and the technology will be used at job fairs and recruitment events across the railroad’s network (see photograph, right).
“The partnership with ORIGIN promises to open new doors for talent across the country and offers a revolutionary approach to how career opportunities are presented and explored,” said Christina Hane, Senior Director, Employer Branding, Talent Acquisition Solutions at CN.
“Our vision aligns with CN’s efforts to advance economic reconciliation by improving career opportunities for Indigenous people,” ORIGIN Owner and CEO Melissa Hardy-Giles said. “We pride ourselves on providing innovative solutions for recruiting qualified people from all backgrounds.”
“From a rail enthusiast’s perspective, it was a wonderful way to see the diversity of equipment used and all the different types of locomotives,” said student Aiden Morel of his VR experience at the Soaring Rally in Vancouver, according to CN. “The immersive experience gave me ideas.”
Separately, CN recently recognized 213 shippers with Safe Handling Awards for 2024.
NS
“NS is building a safer, more resilient, and more customer-focused rail network; one that’s ready for what’s next,” Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Ed Elkins told attendees of the North American Rail Shippers Association (NARS) 2025 Annual Meeting, held May 7-9 in Chicago.
The meeting brought together shippers, industry leaders, and public-sector partners to exchange ideas on the future of freight, according to NS, which provided an overview of Elkins’ presentation in the Story Yard section of its website. The railroad noted that Elkins championed the message, “Moving Business Forward,” highlighting safety, operations, customers and growth at NS.
Elkins shared that the Class I railroad has reduced main line accidents by 40% and is seeing “continued downward trends” in both train accident and employee injury rates. He also noted that more than 5,600 first responders have been trained through NS-led initiatives.
NS’s use of AI-powered train inspection technology is helping to detect and address potential issues early, Elkins pointed out. “We’re turning finders into fixers,” he said, describing how predictive data is driving proactive maintenance and improving reliability.
In 2024, NS system speed improved by 10%, with merchandise train velocity up 11% and unit train speed up 17%, according to NS. In first-quarter 2025, the railroad saw year-over-year gains across terminal dwell times, car velocity, and locomotive productivity. “We’re operating a safe, fast, and resilient network,” Elkins told NARS Annual Meeting attendees. “And we’re not stopping there.”
Elkins also underscored how NS is “doubling down” on the customer experience, launching tools and initiatives to make rail shipping easier and more transparent—from enhanced local service notifications to accurate Estimated Times of Arrival (ETAs).
Additionally, he previewed new feedback mechanisms like the Customer Advisory Board, which allow shipper insights to help inform NS system improvements. “Our customers are telling us what they need, and we’re listening closely,” Elkins noted.
Looking ahead, Elkins spotlighted growth drivers like industrial development, transloading, and short line partnerships, according to NS. In 2024, the Class I supported 140-plus industrial projects representing more than $4.3 billion in private investment. That momentum accelerated in first-quarter 2025, with a 25% increase in activity over the prior-year period; 517 projects are in the pipeline.
