Rail News

Shippers gave railroads poor marks on its latest quarterly report, according to a Cowen & Co. survey. More than 50 percent of shippers did not have a favorable review of service since January 1, as railroads struggled to handle the additional spillover freight from the US truck sector. Railroads blamed inclement weather and say better times are ahead. Shippers and lawmakers argue the problems are deeper.

Shippers concerned that rising cargo volumes at the Port of Montreal will increase rail dwell times may have their fears allayed by a Canadian Government investment designed to improve rail efficiency and make the port more competitive.

Bangladesh, currently in its seventh five-year plan, which covers 2016 to 2020, has set goal of a 15 percent rail transport share by 2020.

Delays on railroads have eased since mid-March in Chicago, Savannah, and Dallas, after a rough winter filled with delays, detention, per diem, and demurrage fees for shippers. Railroads are rushing to hire employees, lease locomotives, and build sidings to be prepared for the next seasonal wave in the second half of 2018.

Despite a 28 percent increase in container volume in the first quarter, Prince Rupert today is fluid. The port predicts continued fluidity through peak season even with continued double-digit growth, but beneficial cargo owners are taking a wait-and-see attitude.

Public officials in India seek an increase in rail cargo and a decline in truck-based cargo in order to reduce congestion and delays at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust.

It is vital that US intermodal continues to perform up to its maximum capabilities now that it is entering the normal seasonal upswing in volume and full enforcement of the electronic logging device mandate has commenced.

The terminal will be developed on the site of a former bulk terminal in the port’s upper harbor.

Port officials expect better quarters ahead for the Port of Mobile (above), and one of several reasons is because automotive shipments are poised to grow with the continuing expansion of auto assembly plants in Alabama and surrounding states.

The port’s deployment in May of two new cranes at the port’s only container terminal, Packer Avenue Marine Terminal, and the opening of an extended berth that will enable the port to handle three super post-Panamax vessels at once are the first parts of the expansion.

New infrastructure along the Rhine-Alpine and Scandinavian-Mediterranean corridors, together with improved administrative and regulatory conditions, are supporting a brisk expansion of intermodal services linking Italy’s and Spain’s ports with hinterlands to the north.

Cosco Shipping Holdings, China's largest shipping company, has continued to aggressively expand into landside logistics, building on Beijing’s Belt and Road strategy to grow its terminal and inland footprint in Asia and Europe.

Marine terminal operators are building beneficial cargo owners' loyalty by providing more-coordinated inland transport, either by owning and operating inland facilities and logistics operations or by partnering with logistics providers.

Shippers are benefiting from a new Contrail intermodal terminal and railroad service from the São Paulo hinterland to the key Brazilian Port of Santos. The Jundiaí Intermodal Terminal is strategically located and has opened at an opportune time — as Brazil’s container volumes rise with the strengthening regional and global economies.

Beneficial cargo owners who ship through the Alameda Corridor can anticipate financial stability at the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority (ACTA), at least through 2026, based on current trends that include 4 to 5 percent annual increases in container traffic and continued increases in the Consumer Price Index, the combination of which generates ACTA’s revenues.

A new study by radio-frequency identification services provider DMICDC Logistics Data Services found that Mundra’s exports and imports by train declined in February.

Container Corporation of India Ltd.’s train will transport 60 TEU in its debut journey, which will be treated as a trial run. Officials will start regular service within two months, after removing any bottlenecks identified during the trial trip.

Russian shippers and foreign companies operating in the country are unhappy with the development rates of Far East seaports and their focus on low-cost coal and bulk cargoes, instead of containers. A new railway upgrade plan, combined with seaport development, may solve their problem.

PSA International appears to have addressed connection issues that earlier had led to supply chain complications.

Attendees made the case that Brazil has turned a corner, with trade picking up, and the economy growing, despite Brasilia’s political problems.

The review, led by the minister of transport and set for completion next year, also comes amid governmental consideration of privatizing Canadian ports.

Shippers were angered by delays over the last six months, and interim CEO Jean-Jacques Ruest has acknowledged the company's lackluster service in January and February.

From the first day of Brazil's Intermodal South America Trade Show 2018, it was clear that port, railroad, and airport privatizations were back on the agenda.

CSX service returns back to normal at the 59th Street terminal in what is a rough winter for shippers.

Truckers, under the aegis of the Nhava Sheva Container Operators’ Welfare Association, have also expressed concern regarding the impact on their businesses, due to lengthy turn times. They called on authorities to intervene.

The launching of an Amsterdam-China rail link this week could have implications for the nearby Port of Rotterdam, Europe's largest port.

The intermodal model is complex, requiring a coordinated ballet in which various inputs — including rail line capacity, railcar supply, terminal capacity, chassis supply, container supply, and drayage capacity — all need to be in balance. That is not the case this year.

Shippers will face more delays sending freight out of Chicago. CSX Transportation is overwhelmed with outbound freight and will not accept containers being dropped off at the 59th Street terminal through March 12.

Canadian Pacific Railway CEO Keith Creel says the new ONE business in Vancouver and CP’s expansion into the distribution center-rich Ohio Valley signal the Canadian railroad’s intention to growth its international intermodal freight volume.

The Mexican agency probing allegations of a lack of competition in the country's railroad sector has dropped the case, saying there is insufficient proof.

According to railroad RZD, container cargo delivery time on the new rail route will be substantially shorter than sea transport.

Intermodal delays are only getting worse in Chicago as Union Pacific restricts in-gate traffic on March 5 to 6, limiting the amount of outbound containers accepted at the Global 2 terminal.

The Mediterranean port of Koper has continued to build up its intermodal links with Central Europe.

In the announcement, CN's board admitted that customer service and operations were not up to par since autumn, due to “insufficient network resiliency” to handle the demand of shippers.

TRAC Intermodal has moved 400 chassis into Chicago and plans to move another 1,500 over the next three months to help alleviate the backlog of containers.

Shippers concerned about the US truck capacity shortage will find some relief from intermodal, but take note: demand for intermodal service is increasing substantially, as well.

The European Union is pushing further for rail freight development. In addition to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent, facilitating the free circulation of goods within Europe is part of the European Union's DNA. And the quality of inland transportation is a key success factor regarding port development.

An end-to-end protective service for perishable, refrigerated goods and seafood in natural-water-environment containers is the cold chain railroad model, and its deployers argue they can grab reefer market share from other transport modes.

Although not limited to Chicago, the top US freight hub has been cited for the most severe gridlock and so much drayage demand that some motor carriers will not accept new customers until April.

The expansion of business with Japan’s Ocean Network Express shipping alliance underscores Canadian Pacific Railway's intent to gain intermodal market share.