CPKC
CPKC on Dec. 12 announced that Viterra Weyburn (Canada) and Elbow Lake Co-op Grain (U.S.) are the winners of its Elevator of the Year Award for the 2022-2023 crop year.
CPKC presents this award annually to grain elevators that “achieve high volumes from a single loading point while consistently demonstrating efficient railcar loading and a strong commitment to safety.”
“CPKC is proud to recognize the people who operate these elevators for their dedication in helping farmers in Canada and the U.S. supply the world with high-quality products,” said CPKC Senior Vice-President Sales and Marketing, Intermodal & Bulk Jonathan Wahba.
Weyburn, Saskatchewan-based Viterra, which features an 8,500-foot continuous lead track that came online in 2021, is a valued customer and first-time winner of the CPKC Elevator of the Year Award, having shown “efficient and safe practices with each unit-train loaded at the site while moving an impressive amount of grain,” according to the Class I railroad.
“We’re very pleased to be recognized by CPKC for the performance of our Weyburn facility last year,” said Viterra Canada CEO Kyle Jeworski. “This is one of many facilities across our asset network where we’ve made significant investments to provide our farm customers with superior service to market and move their products efficiently. I’d also like to thank our team at Weyburn for their consistent focus on safety and high performance, because without their efforts we would have not been able to achieve this milestone.”
Elbow Lake, Minn.-based Elbow Lake Co-op Grain, winner of this award for the second consecutive year, had the highest tonnage across the U.S. north network with more than 464,000 metric tons for the full crop year, an increase from the previous year, according to CPKC. In addition, Elbow Lake Co-op leveraged the expanded CPKC network with multiple corn trains to Mexico from legacy CP origin.
“Elbow Lake Co-op appreciates this award,” said Elbow Lake Co-op Grain General Manager Kevin Stein. “This couldn’t have been achieved without the support of the producers, the efforts of the staff and CPKC’s commitment to service.”
NS
NS announced Dec. 12 that it will donate nearly $600,000 in grants to 29 organizations that serve homeless individuals across its 22-state network.
Recipient organizations are based in communities served by NS and provide an array of vital services to homeless populations, from housing to job assistance to food and mental health support, according to the Class I railroad.
This announcement, NS says, comes as data shows homelessness has increased by nearly 6% over the last five years. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in 2022, counts of individuals and chronically homeless individuals reached record highs in the history of data collection. “Homelessness is not a problem unique to any one city or town, but local service organizations play a key role in supporting those affected,” said NS.
Organizations receiving funding include:
As a major driver of business and economic growth in towns and cities across the eastern U.S., NS says it is “committed to playing an active role in helping its communities thrive.” In its corporate giving, NS is focused on making investments and supporting organizations that “promote safe and sustainable operations, develop the local workforce, and build strong, thriving communities.”
“We believe in the power of community and understand the profound impact homelessness has on individuals and families,” said NS Director of Corporate Giving Kristin Wong. “Norfolk Southern is focused on addressing this issue by supporting organizations across our 22-state network that provide shelter and critical services to the most vulnerable members of our communities.”
Separately, NS is celebrating its railroaders’ exceptional service throughout its 22-state network.
On Nov. 2, the Class I railroad recognized six railroaders in its Great Lakes Division for their contributions during a ceremony in South Bend, Ind.
“Throughout their career at Norfolk Southern, these six railroaders have shown a strong dedication to delivering safe, reliable, and resilient service to our customers,” said Rob Sarver, Great Lakes Division Superintendent. “Through their hard work, each of our honorees are helping build and sustain a high performing culture on the Great Lakes Division.”
20 Years of Injury Free Service
- Eric Fell, Mechanical Locomotive
Years of Service Award
- Don McKinney, Mechanical Car (21 years).
- Eric Uncapher, Transportation (21 years).
- Modesto Tamayo, Communication & Signal.
- Mike Myrick, Communication & Signals (11 years).
CSX
CSX has been included on the DJSI North America Index, marking the 13th consecutive year the company will appear in the regional index tied to corporate sustainability performance.
DJSI North America is rebalanced annually based on eligible companies’ scores on the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA), a rigorous evaluation of public and non-public data submitted by participating companies. More than 13,000 companies are invited to participate in the CSA every year, and only about 3,500 of the largest companies globally are eligible for inclusion in any of the DJSI.
“Participating in the CSA and being a member of the DJSI North America for 13 years in a row is a badge of honor for CSX and a validation of our sustainability commitment,” said CSX President and CEO Joe Hinrichs. “Rail and rail-based transportation solutions have inherent environmental advantages over trucking that help our customers reach their carbon reduction goals, yet CSX continues to pursue alternative fuel and fuel-efficiency technologies that further improve our environmental performance.”
