rail

Earlier this week, the Surface Transportation Board approved the Kansas City Southern Railway Company acquisition by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, with conditions.  The decision includes an unprecedented seven-year oversight period and contains many conditions designed to mitigate environmental impacts, preserve competition, protect railroad workers, and promote efficient passenger rail.  Th..

Rail service in central Washington could improve thanks to a budget proposal in Olympia.  Governor Jay Inslee has included nearly $15 million in funding in his recently released 2023-25 Budget for the Connell Rail Interchange Project.  That pr...

The National Grain and Feed Association asked Congress to intervene, if necessary, to prevent any interruptions of rail service that could occur if negotiations fail between carriers and labor groups. Last week, the association sent letters to the leaders of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, Transportation, and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee...

The Surface Transportation Board said it will hold public hearings on April 26 and 27 on recent rail service problems and recovery efforts involving several Class One carriers. The Board plans to direct several executive-level officials from many major railways to appear during the hearing ...

Amid the fallout of an eight-day CN Rail strike, Canada is facing similar propane woes as seen in the Midwest United States. Agriculture groups, along with the Canadian Propane Association, are asking for their products to take priority above other shipments as the railway works to get trains moving...

Could passenger rail services soon return to Central Washington, and how could that benefit the Ag industry?  John Bowen teaches at Central Washington University.  He and several of his students are conducting a survey to determine interest in returning rain service, connecting the Tri Cities, Yakima, Ellensburg and other communities to the greater Seattle area.   ...

Earlier this month, Governor Jay Inslee signed legislation into law supporters say will help keep many shoreline railroad companies in business.  Representative Mary Dye sponsored House Bill 1136, which alters the emergency planning requirements for lines that haul cooking oil, mint oil, French fry oil and other minority oils that are important to the ag economy.  ...

Another year of at or near record crops has rail freight demand on the rise.  BNSF Railway reports there are “tangible signs” for much better U.S. grain exports than the industry expected a few months ago.  BNSF’s chief of agricultural products, John Miller, told Pro Farmer’s First Thing Today that BNSF has sold record grain shuttles for July and August this year, and the company expects a late su

On Thursday, several regional leaders gathered in Pasco to promote the Millennium Bulk Terminals at Longview.  The project will focus on cleaning up an old smelter location along the Columbia River, allowing for large cargo ships to transport products over seas.  Su...

Last week, Canada issued a one-year extension of rules aimed at speeding grain movement by rail.  The rules were put in place after a massive backup of grain occurred in Canada’s Western Prairies in 2014.  Pro Farmer’s First Thing Today reports the rules give U.S. railways more acce...