Opinion

ASLRRA PERSPECTIVE, RAILWAY AGE FEBRUARY 2025 ISSUE: A favorite phrase we use in Washington, D.C., is “cautiously optimistic.” Roughly translated, it means “I don’t really know how this is going to…

The big winter weather challenge has now come and gone in the form of last week’s polar vortex. The Eastern railroads got doubly lucky as they also had to contend…

Union Pacific teams navigated unprecedented blizzard conditions earlier this month as a once-in-a-lifetime winter storm hit Texas and Louisiana’s Gulf Coast. Railroad employees safely provided service to customers amid record…

I grew up looking up facts in encyclopedias, figuring out directions using trifold maps and listening to my music on cassette tapes. While these tools conjure up fond memories, I…

On April 29, 2016, the Rail Users’ Network (RUN) held a conference in Boston with the theme: “Who’s Looking Out for You? The State of Rail Advocacy in New England.”…

Union Pacific Railroad is making it easier—and more transparent—for states and local communities to work with the railroad on infrastructure projects that cross paths with its tracks.

As the calendar turns to a new year, the rail industry remains laser focused on improving safety and reliability, with innovation and quality at the center.

Los Angeles Union Station caused a sensation when it opened in 1939. For first-time visitors to the City of Angels who alight from an Amtrak train there, it still does.…

In the previous article in this series, we took a close look at SEPTA’s through-running operation in and around Philadelphia, both its challenging start and its status today, as the…

The Midwest Association of Rail Shippers held its Winter meeting in Schaumburg, Ill., Jan 14-16. Katie Farmer, President and CEO of BNSF, opened the conference with her usual crisp and…

We never want to delay or cancel a train, but sometimes the weather forecasts and other factors make it the right thing to do.  It’s true, Amtrak is often able…

Here, we look at weekly operating data through Jan. 10. U.S. West Coast container imports were strong last year, particularly in the second half, driven initially by diversions from the…

Surface Transportation Board Chairperson Robert E. Primus has rung a tocsin, alleging a toxin is skulking about in the rough-and-tumble environment of railroad-shipper relations despite the lawfulness of capitalist acts…

As a small boy, one of my favorite stories was my Uncle Curt’s tale about a hostler buddy of his who had ended his railroad career by putting most of…

Early the week of Jan. 13, Amtrak issued a cancellation alert for its Empire Builder: “Trains 7 and 8 will be canceled between Spokane and Chicago due to inclement weather…

“The great cities of the world have their trains running through the urban core. They include London, Paris, Berlin, and Philadelphia, but not New York.” So says George Haikalis, who…

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…

The President-elect has created a non-government Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Their goal is to make a comprehensive review of the government and…

BNSF is committed to deploying cutting-edge technologies to enhance our operations and better serve our customers. Artificial intelligence (AI) is proving to be transformational, driving efficiency, reliability, and safety across…

The prosperity and growth from which the railroad industry has benefitted for the past 45 years is largely due to two people, both Democrats: New Jersey Congressman and Governor James…