Prototype News

The Women in Rail 2025 Conference, presented by Railway Age and RT&S, will feature a panel of railroaders covering how having a background in the military adds to their success in leadership roles across the freight and passenger rail industry. These panelists will speak to hiring practices, talent development for veterans, and more.

“Railroading’s Heroes” is one of many dynamic sessions scheduled for the third-annual in-person Women in Rail Conference, taking place in Chicagoland on Oct. 15-16. It will also include a celebratory luncheon for the Railway Age 2024 Women in Rail and RT&S 2025 Women in Railroad Engineering award honorees, and the chance to network with a wide-reaching group of like-minded professionals. All this will take place at a new, larger venue: the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg. Plus, don’t miss a special tour of Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s (CPKC) Bensenville Yard.

I’m excited to see the incredible range of perspectives and experiences other leaders bring to the rail industry. I’m really looking forward to hearing stories of leadership, innovation and resilience of those who pave the way for the next generation. – Quilesha Hodges, BNSF

Meet ‘Railroading’s Heroes’ Moderator: James T. Riley, President, Railway Supply Institute

James T. Riley will moderate this “fireside chat” on how veterans play a key role in the railroad industry. Since March 2025, he has served as President of the Railway Supply Institute after spending more than 20 years in the trade association sector. Previously, Riley served as Interim President and CEO at the National Waste & Recycling Association and Senior Director of Government Affairs at the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association. In these roles, he has advanced industry advocacy and played a part in supporting key legislation. For his efforts, Riley was awarded the American Society of Association Executives’ 2021 Summit Award for Advocacy.

Jean Savage, CEO and President, Trinity Industries, Inc.

Jean Savage has served as CEO and President of Trinity Industries, Inc., since February 2020 and on its Board of Directors since 2018. A U.S. Army veteran, Savage served for nine years as an Army Reserve Intelligence Officer. In this fireside chat, Savage will speak to her experiences as a veteran and her career in operations and engineering.

Currently, Savage sits on the board of many organizations, including Parker Hannifin, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation, and the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, as well as the Texas A&M University Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology (MMT) External Advisory Committee. Previously, Savage held many manufacturing and engineering positions at Parker Hannifin Corporation and served as Vice President of the Surface Mining & Technology Division of Caterpillar Inc. 

Quilesha Hodges, Asst. Terminal Superintendent, Women’s Network Mentorship Chair, BNSF

Quilesha Hodges spent 14 years in the U.S. Navy and joined BNSF through the Experienced First Line Supervisor program in May 2011. She worked in BNSF’s Mechanical shop in California where she oversaw 35 employees in locomotive maintenance. Soon after, she was promoted to a terminal trainmaster position in San Bernadino to work in overseeing terminal operations. Now, Hodges is assistant superintendent at Phoenix/Glendale/El Mirage, Ariz. 

Hodges is serving a 2nd term as the Mentorship Chair for the BNSF Women’s Network where she supports the growth and advancement of men and women across the organization.

In the Railroading Hero’s session, I hope to address the importance of leading with both vision and empathy. Taking a deep dive into how the best leaders not only drive for results but also create a culture where people feel valued and empowered. – Quilesha Hodges, BNSF

Jim Derwinski, CEO and Executive Director, Metra

Jim Derwinski spent six years in the U.S. Navy as an electrician in America’s nuclear submarine fleet. In 1993, he began his career in rail with Chicago & North Western Railroad. Now, Derwinski leads Metra as its CEO and Executive Director where he oversees transportation initiatives including updating its fleet of railcars, increasing transit affordability and accessibility, and contracting to deliver the first all-battery passenger equipment in the U.S. 

Derwinski is an advocate of public transportation, serving on the American Public Transportation Association Board of Directors, the MxV Rail Board of Directors, and the Passenger Rail Advisory Committee for the Surface Transportation Board, and is Chairman of the Illinois High Speed Rail Commission. Derwinski is also a founder of the Commuter Rail Coalition and was named one of Railway Age’s “Influential Leaders” in 2021.

Herman E. Crosson, Chief Safety and Compliance Officer, Anacostia Rail Holdings

With more than 35 years of military service and 26 years of rail industry experience, Herman Crosson brings his expertise to this “fireside chat.” In May 2022, Crosson joined Anacostia Rail Holdings as its Chief Safety and Compliance Officer. 

Before retiring from the service, he served as the Brigade Commander of the 59th Troop Command Brigade, South Carolina National Guard. He holds a BS from Excelsior College, an MBA from Liberty University, and an MSS from US Army War College. Crosson has held various positions with CSX and Patriot Rail Company as VP of Safety, Training, and Regulatory. He received the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association’s (ASLRRA) Safety Professional of the Year award in 2021 and 2025 and serves on the association’s Environmental Committee and as Chairman of its Sustainability Sub-Committee.

About Railway Age / RT&S Women in Rail 2025

These “Railroading’s Heroes” panelists will be joined at the 2025 Women in Rail Conference by a diverse group of railroaders with a shared commitment to our industry’s future. Among them: Annie Adams, Chief Human Resources Officer, Norfolk Southern; Jennifer Hamann, EVP & Chief Financial Officer, Union Pacific; Sarah Watterson, President, Brightline West; Jenni Benton, SVP Commercial, Patriot Rail; Vianey De la Mora, Director General, Mexican Railway Association (AMF); Kari Gonzales, President & CEO, MxV Rail; Henrika Buchanan, SVP, National Practice Consultant, Transit & Rail Market Sector, HNTB; Paul Hubler, Chief Strategy Officer, Metrolink; Cherise Myers, Director-Workforce Development, American Public Transportation Association (APTA); and many more.

Speakers will offer their candid thoughts on topics ranging from marketing yourself to ESG and new technologies.

Supporting Organizations

Industry support for the 2025 Women in Rail Conference is already strong, including sponsorship from: AITX, GATX, TrinityRail, CN, CPKC, RailPros, R. J. Corman, API, Genesee & Wyoming, The Greenbrier Companies, UTLX, Progress Rail, Patriot Rail, Union Pacific, The National Association of Railway Business Women, and The League of Railway Women.

Learn More

To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, contact Jonathan Chalon at jchalon@sbpub.com or (212) 620-7224.

View the agenda and confirmed speakers, plus take advantage of the early bird rate for Railway Age / RT&S Women in Rail 2025 >>

As a reminder, the last chance for early bird rates is August 15th!

Don’t Forget

Through Oct. 2, Railway Age is accepting nominations for its 2025 Women in Rail Awards program, which will honor 25 trailblazers for their achievements in our November issue and at the 2026 Railway Age / RT&S Women in Rail Conference. These outstanding railroaders will be selected based on their leadership, vision, innovation, and accomplishments. This award celebrates female leaders in rail and pioneers with a track record of breaking down barriers and helping to create industry opportunities for women. Entries will be judged by Barbara Wilson, Senior Advisor at Railroad Financial Corporation, and Catherine Rinaldi, Executive Vice President of Gateway Development Commission, with input from the Railway Age staff. Both Wilson and Rinaldi will participate at the 2025 Railway Age / RT&S Women in Rail Conference.

Submit your nomination now >>

The post ‘Railroading’s Heroes’: Military Veterans Share Successes at WIR 2025 appeared first on Railway Age.

Parks, of all people, would know.  

The transportation planner was a formative force in the Bay Area punk scene, particularly from the mid-1980s through the 1990s. This was an inflection point for punk, with bands like Green Day, Neurosis, and the Offspring making the leap from tiny scene venues to sold-out concert halls and stadiums.  

These iconic bands have at least two things in common. All of them are graduates of one of the most legendary punk venues of all time – 924 Gilman Street in Berkeley, often called Gilman by the punk community – and Parks played an early role in their success. 

Parks cofounded 924 Gilman – an all ages, collectively organized nonprofit music venue still going strong today – in 1986 as part of the MaximumRockNRoll ‘zine and collective spearheaded by Tim Yohannan. Getting the venue off the ground required wading through the leasing and zoning process, attending city hall meetings, and speaking with officials. The experience was Parks very first taste of urban planning, and it would come to serve her professionally many years later.  

So, Green Day…well, Parks was their first-ever band manager. Neurosis and the Offspring? She booked their first two national tours. The Offspring were the first to bring her on tour as their road manager, the first of many tour managing roles she did for multiple bands. 

When she wasn’t uplifting other bands, Parks was drumming for Cringer, the Gr’ups, Naked Aggression, and the aptly named Kamala & The Karnivores. If you saw the recent film Freaky Tales, you might have spotted a Kamala & The Karnivores patch stitched on the back of star Ji-young Yoo’s jacket.  

“Parks is a networker of East Bay punk,” a 2017 profile of her proclaimed, noting that she unknowingly designed “what would become a blueprint for DIY scenes worldwide.” 

A recent photo of Kamala Parks at Lake Merritt Station.  

In sum, Parks is a punk legend.  

Many of her BART coworkers have absolutely no idea. Rather, they know Parks from her planning efforts, like her work on BART’s Transit-Oriented Development, her leadership on projects like Safe Trips to BART, and her role as the Station Area Planner from Orinda to Antioch. 

“Some folks are surprised I’m a punk rocker. They say I don’t look like one,” Parks said. “But I don’t have to look it. It’s my people, it’s a way of being in the world.”  

And transit, she said, is decidedly punk.  

“When you’re a punk, you love efficiency, sustainability, democracy,” she said. “Transit fulfills all these things.” 

Parks brings the spirit of punk to the workplace. When you’re a punk, if there’s an obstacle, you find a way to work around it. Low on resources? Figure it out. And most importantly, never take anything at face value, always question the status quo.  

“As a planner, I’m constantly asking myself things like, is there a reason this is the way it is? Can we revisit this? Reimagine it?”  

It’s a helpful vantage point for someone in her line of work. Crudely put, planners assess the present to construct the future. There’s a synergy with planning and punk, the music and movement known for holding a magnifying glass to the world and asking, “Why does it have to be like that?” 

“You don’t buy into the mainstream narrative as much when you’re a punk,” Parks said.  

Kamala Parks, pictured front right, circa late 1980s/early 1990s at a backyard gig in Pinole. Credit: Murray Bowles

Parks’ career was the least of her concerns as a free-spirited teenager growing up in Berkeley.  

“I was not exactly an ambitious kid,” she said. “When I was young, I wanted to be a cashier. They seemed to know everything – the price of an apple, the cost of a can of corn. This was way before the scanner. You had to enter all the prices manually! But as soon as the scanner rolled out, my dream was quashed.”  

Parks described her teenage years as “directionless.” She was a mediocre student at Berkeley High School, didn’t have a lot of friends or grand ambitions.  

What she did have was music. Parks recalled the summer before 11th grade when her dad left her in the care of one of his students from Diablo Valley College while he was on sabbatical in Europe. He gave the college kid $500 for Parks’ care and keeping. Not long after dad hit the road, the young woman and her boyfriend decided to spend the summer in Mexico, leaving Parks to fend for herself.  

“I came home from school one day and no one was home. But she had left the money on the table,” Parks recalled. “I immediately went to Telegraph [Avenue] and bought records and a Walkman. Needless to say, I spent that $500 in a very short amount of time.”  

“Music,” she went on, “was the thing that saved me as a kid. I cared about it so much, and I was beginning to have this incredible community in the punk scene full of very smart, supportive people.”  

But she had a bone to pick with Berkeley: All the cool live music venues in town were 21 and over. So 17-year-old Parks wrote a letter to the city council more or less asking, “What gives? There’s nothing for young people to do in this city. Why aren’t there any all-ages music venues?” 

That was the genesis of the idea that would eventually give birth to 924 Gilman.  

Left: Kamala and The Karnivores Girl Band EP, originally released on Lookout Records in 1989. Right: Kamala and The Karnivores second record, Vanity Project, released in 2018. 

Flash forwards a couple of years, and Parks and her cofounders are sitting in a city council meeting, ready to make the case for their venue.  

“The lightbulb did not go off that this sort of work was what I should be doing, not at all,” Parks said of urban planning. “I thought the city was being silly, asking things like, ‘Where will people park?’ And I said, ‘Parking? Who cares about parking!’”  

Parks argued that the industrial area already had ample street parking, and most people would carpool or use transit. The majority of her friends didn’t own cars.  

“We ended up rezoning the building for an entertainment permit,” she said. “At the time, it seemed like a bunch of hooey that we couldn’t have our club immediately. There was so much hoop jumping. I was definitely not inspired to pursue urban planning.” 

But there was a lesson in all of it.  

“The wonderful thing about youth is you’re not weighed down by past experiences that tell you what is and isn’t possible,” she said. “Fresh, questioning eyes are an asset.”  

After Parks “barely” graduated high school, she worked at the Peet’s Coffee and Tea warehouse and other blue collar or service jobs to prioritize and fund the unpaid efforts of touring, booking tours and shows, playing music, and volunteering at Gilman. However, part-time studying at community colleges eventually led to her getting a math degree from a four-year college. Unsure of what to do next, she got her teaching credential. 

“Teaching was brutal,” she said. “I have so much respect for teachers. That is the hardest job I’ve ever had.” 

Before getting the credential, Parks had taken a few urban studies classes at San Francisco State and realized, “This is it! This is what I want to do!” 

But Parks wasn’t sure she wanted to spend more time in school to get a second bachelor’s degree. And though she loved the field, she was sick of being poor and just wanted to start working. 

Her stint as a teacher lasted about two years, and Parks took some time to regroup working as a project assistant at a construction management company. While there, she discovered the urban studies flame still flickered inside her.  

Parks eventually decided to enroll in a grueling program at UC Berkeley, where she got two master’s degrees, one in civil engineering and one in city and regional planning.  

She went on to work in consulting and for the City of Berkeley. BART, however, was always the dream.  

Kamala drumming with Kamala and The Karnivores in 2017. Credit: Jonathan Botkin.  

“BART has a very special place in my heart and has been crucial to many aspects of my life,” she said.  

In 2018, after applying for years to any position she was qualified for, Parks finally got the call that she was selected for a planner role.  

She’s never looked back. 

“There is rarely a day I wake up and say, ‘I don’t feel like going to work today,’” she said. “I just feel so lucky.”  

Parks wishes she had discovered transportation planning earlier. Growing up, she never thought of it as a profession or really knew that the field existed at all. Now, she’s doing her part to amend that for the next generation.  

“A few years ago, I went back to Berkeley High School for a lunch session called ‘How did you get that cool job?’ where I met with seniors and talked about what I do,” she said. “I wish someone had done that for me!”  

Through it all, the punk community has remained a constant force in her life. And she’s still involved with 924 Gilman, not as a booker or board member anymore, but as an attendee and an as-needed advisor. To this day, the venue hosts more than 20 nights of performances a month, often with bills consisting of five to six bands.  

Parks left an indelible mark on the Bay Area punk scene, and now, as a planner for BART, she gets to leave a different sort of legacy behind.  

“Planners come up with the ideas that spur improvements to connect communities,” she said.  

And that’s a through line in her life. Whether its music or street improvements, she wants more than anything to facilitate connections– to other people and to the spaces in which they gather. 

The post Transit is Punk: Kamala Parks Went From Cofounding 924 Gilman Street to Urban Planning at BART appeared first on Railway Age.

They laced up, volunteered and showed what it means to play with purpose. Hockey Helps the Homeless, sponsored by CN, raised an incredible C$7.8 million for local organizations fighting homelessness across Canada through a series of friendly hockey tournaments.

Our inaugural season has been an incredibly positive experience. This partnership is yet another way CN shows its commitment to communities across our network—and beyond. Together with Hockey Helps the Homeless, we’re working toward a vision of Canada where everyone has a safe place to call home.

–Olivier Chouc, CN Senior Vice-President and Chief Legal Officer

Team CN showed up in full force: 162 players and 46 volunteers across eight cities stepped onto the ice alongside former pro-players, all united by one goal: to help shutout homelessness.

John Mazzei, CN National Account Manager, Bulk, who played hockey in his youth, was all-in at the tournament in Calgary. “It was a fantastic day of hockey! Playing alongside teammates and against opponents who were all united in the same cause created an incredible atmosphere,” says Mazzei, who got to play left wing on a line with former Montreal Canadien Brian Skrudland, who brought in his Stanley Cup ring for people to try on.

We each have a responsibility to show up for our communities and Hockey Helps The Homeless offered a chance to contribute in a meaningful and focussed way,” says Camila. “Seeing the genuine camaraderie between athletes, volunteers, and community partners –people from all walks of life – who were there with their families, was the best part.

–Camila Andrea Sanchez, CN Junior Coordinator, Legislative Affairs

The hockey events were made successful thanks to the efforts of many volunteers, including an enthusiastic group of CN pensioners, employees and their families in every participating city. Camila Andrea Sanchez, CN Junior Coordinator, Legislative Affairs, volunteered at the Montreal tournament, welcoming players, helping coordinate team logistics, and supporting the teams throughout the day. “Homelessness is not something people choose—it can happen to anyone. It has many faces, and it doesn’t define a person’s worth. Everyone deserves compassion. Everyone deserves a second chance—and a safe place to call home,” says Sanchez.

About Our Partnership

In 2024, CN became the new Premier National Partner of Hockey Helps the Homeless, beginning with the 2024–2025 season, to raise awareness and support for people experiencing homelessness through education, fundraising, and partnerships with solution-focused local shelters and services.

The stories shared, the connections made, and the collective energy dedicated to helping others truly exemplified the best of our hockey community. It was a great reminder of how sport can be a powerful force for unity and positive change.

–John Mazzei, CN National Account Manager, Bulk

Currently, there are 300,000-plus unhoused people each year in Canada, though this figure is likely underreported. In 2023-2024, the organizations benefiting from HHTH tournaments provided over 2.7 million meals and 1.8 million nights in beds across the country, among many other vital services. Support from CN will enable HHTH to expand into new markets and to deepen support in existing markets, allowing more lives to be impacted.

(CN Photographs) This story first appeared on the CN website.

The post CN: Playing With Purpose appeared first on Railway Age.

What Happened?

​At about 5:44 p.m. local time, eastbound NS mixed-freight train NS-167, as it passed over a spring switch at milepost 139.90W, derailed 24 railcars. The derailed cars then collided with stationary westbound mixed freight train NS-33K on the NS Midwest Division, Southern West District, near Browns, Ill., which was holding in a siding adjacent to the derailment site. The derailed equipment from train NS-167 included three tank cars carrying hazardous materials, two tank cars containing molten sulfur that were breached and released product, and one tank car carrying denatured fuel ethanol, which released about 15 gallons of product. “Two NS crewmembers from train NS-33K were injured,” the agency said. Visibility conditions at the time of the accident were clear with no precipitation; the ​ temperature was 88°F.

​The crew of train NS-1​67, which was composed of two locomotives and 44 railcars (26 loaded railcars and 18 empty railcars), consisted of one engineer and one conductor. Shortly before the accident, a signal maintainer had conducted work on the spring switch. “About 40 minutes later, train NS-167 proceeded through the spring switch, the first train to do so after the maintenance was completed. As the train traversed through this switch, 24 of its railcars derailed,” according to the report.

The crew of train NS-33K, which was composed of two locomotives and 44 railcars (37 loaded railcars and 7 empty railcars), consisted of one engineer, one conductor, and one engineer trainee. “At the time of the accident, train NS-33K was stopped in a siding adjacent to the switch at milepost 139.90W,” NTSB said.

​As the head end of train NS-167 traversed the spring switch at 47 mph, the railcars derailed, according to the report. “As a result, the train NS-33K engineer sustained a leg injury and was treated at a local hospital; the engineer trainee was injured when molten sulfur splashed onto him and was treated on scene and later airlifted to a trauma center,” according to the report.

While on scene, NTSB investigators inspected the railcars involved in the accident, examined conditions of the track and signals, reviewed event recorder data from the lead locomotive and the video from inward- and outward-facing image recorders, conducted a reenactment of the accident, tested the spring switch cylinder from the accident switch, and conducted interviews.

NTSB’s investigation is ongoing. “Future investigative activity will focus on testing and maintenance protocols of spring switches, and review of interdepartmental collaboration between the railroad’s Signals and Communications and Maintenance-of-Way departments, with emphasis on communication, joint procedures, training programs, and overall maintenance practices related to spring switch inspection and maintenance,” the agency reported.

Parties to the investigation include the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA); the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC); NS; the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART), the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET); the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS); and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED).

The post NTSB Issues Preliminary Report for NS July 18 Derailment appeared first on Railway Age.

A Southern Pacific 2-8-2, currently being restored in New Orleans, is looking for a new home. 

SP 745 has been maintained by the Louisiana Steam Train Association since the 1980s and returned to operation in the early 2000s. Over the years, the locomotive operated around New Orleans and as far as Kansas City. It was eventually taken out of service because it needed work on its boiler, and LSTA has been working on it ever since. 

The locomotive has been stored and maintained at Jefferson Yard since the 1980s. Now, the Ochsner Medical Center, which owns the land beneath the spur, is expanding. LSTA said they knew they would eventually need to move, but didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. Regardless, they were grateful for the home they had over the past few decades. 

“We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Ochsner organization and its staff for their generosity over the years. Most importantly, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to you, our valued community members. Your unwavering support has been the backbone of our organization and we couldn’t have come this far without you,” the group said in a press release. 

The locomotive and other equipment are expected to be moved to a temporary location soon while the group searches for a more permanent home. For more information and to donate, visit lasta.org/relocation. 

The post SP 2-8-2 Looking For New Home appeared first on Railfan & Railroad Magazine.

Rail industry icon Thomas F. Prendergast, CEO of Gateway Development Commission, leads off  Next-Gen Rail Systems, the communications, signaling and advanced technology conference presented by Railway Age, and formerly known as Next-Gen Train Control.

Next-Gen Rail Systems reflects the evolving state of rail technology. Over the years, rapid technological developments—artificial intelligence, deep data analysis, machine learning, cybersecurity, telematics—have transformed train control into just one element of a complex, integrated platform. Systems and technology are constantly undergoing improvements and enhancements that deliver better safety, functionality, interoperability, versatility and reliability at lower life-cycle costs for rail transit, main line passenger rail, and freight railroads.

Meet Tom Prendergast

The Gateway Development Commission in January appointed Tom Prendergast, Railway Age’s 2017 Railroader of the Year, as Chief Executive Officer. Prendergast came to GDC from AECOM, where he, as Executive Vice President and Americas Transit Team Leader, oversaw design and consulting services across all business lines in New York and New Jersey, including transportation, water and wastewater, environment, power, and buildings. He brought significant experience managing large rail systems, including serving as President, Chairman and CEO of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, President of MTA Long Island Rail Road and MTA New York City Transit, and CEO of TransLink in British Columbia. At MTA head, Prendergast led the way to securing a five-year capital plan to modernize New York City’s public transportation systems, oversaw restoration of service after Superstorm Sandy and critical rehabilitation and flood resiliency efforts, and spearheaded completion and opening of Phase 1 of the Second Avenue Subway.

“A modern rail system that ensures fast, reliable service for commuters and travelers is the foundation for strong and sustained economic growth,” Prendergast says. “As someone who has spent much of my career working to improve rail mass transit for residents of New York and New Jersey, I understand the urgent need for the Gateway Program—the most urgent infrastructure project in the nation—and am committed to making sure it is built on time and on budget.”

Next-Gen Rail Systems is an essential gathering for all those involved in the growing rail systems market—whether the focus is transit, main line passenger, or freight. Railway Age is proud to present a rebranded, expanded event that features the same in-depth technical sessions and comprehensive project updates that attendees have come to expect. This conference, since its 1995 inception, has always been a “must attend” event.

In addition to Tom Prendergast, leading experts in the lineup are Kris Kolluri, President and CEO of New Jersey Transit; Mario Péloquin, President and CEO of VIA Rail Canada; Dustin K. Lange, P.E., Senior Director of Engineering, Norfolk Southern, Mark Salsberg, Principal of WDG Consulting; Matthew Kim, Assistant Vice President Enterprise Strategy, Canadian Pacific Kansas City; Wilson Milian, PE, President and CEO of Milian Consultants, LLC; Pete Tomlin, Independent Consultant, Jonathan Kirby, Senior Director, NJT PTC, New Jersey Transit; Clarelle DeGraffe, General Manager, PATH; Steven Vant, Chief Signal Engineer, Conrail, Mike Palmer, Senior Project Manager, Parsons; Brian Yeager, Director Advanced Technology & Train Reliability, Norfolk Southern; Yousef Kimiagar, Vice President, Institution of Railway Signal Engineers; and Catherine Campbell-Wilson, Principal, StrategyFive.

Registration is now open for Next-Gen Rail Systems, to be held Oct. 30-31, 2025, in Jersey City, N.J. Attendees can get early bird rates on their registration from now until Sept. 5.

Railway Age conferences are known for providing valuable opportunities: networking with professionals from around the world; learning about innovative approaches to implementing advanced technologies; discovering new methods for procurement and contracting; providing input on standards development; becoming better-informed about ongoing and planned projects; and discovering what regulations are coming and how they could impact business.

Supporting Organizations

Industry support for Next-Gen Rail Systems is strong, including sponsorships from: 4AI Systems, Alstom, CSA – Critical Systems Analysis, Hitachi Rail, HNTB, KB Signaling, Parsons, Piper, SATS, and Milian Consultants, LLC. To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, contact Jonathan Chalon at jchalon@sbpub.com or (212) 620-7224.

The post Prendergast Keynoting Next-Gen Rail Systems Conference appeared first on Railway Age.

OmniTRAX on Aug. 14 reported signing an agreement with a second soda ash producer to provide exclusive third-party rail switching in Green River, Wyo. In addition to serving the Tata Chemical Soda Ash Partners mine, which was announced earlier this month, the transportation and infrastructure affiliate of The Broe Group will serve WE Soda’s Westvaco mining facility.

Wyoming has the world’s largest deposit of trona, a sodium carbonate compound that is processed into soda ash—found in the glass used in bottles, cars, and homes, and in insulation, light bulbs, soaps, and detergents—or bicarbonate of soda, or baking soda, according to the Wyoming Mining Association.

OmniTRAX’s new service agreement with WE Soda is long-term, and annual cargo volumes at the Westvaco mine are projected to exceed 3.5 million tons.  

“Excited to work with Union Pacific Railroad EVP Kenny Rocker to help WE Soda Chief Executive Officer Tarlan Oguz E. and his team create [a] seamless global supply chain,” OmniTRAX reported via LinkedIn on Aug. 14. Green River, Wyo., Map Courtesy of OpenRailwayMap.org.

“WE Soda is the global market leader and a visionary company,” said Dean Piacente, Co-CEO of OmniTRAX, which operates 31 railroads, serving ports, industrial parks and customers across the country. “We are excited to partner with WE Soda and provide safe and reliable rail service that can scale with their North American mining operations. WE Soda’s Wyoming facility is a vital production hub to serve domestic and global demand for soda ash.”  

“The OmniTRAX partnership supports our continued investment in North American infrastructure and logistics, reinforcing WE Soda’s commitment to deliver sustainable, low-cost soda ash to customers worldwide,” said Oguz Erkan, CEO of WE Soda, the world’s largest soda ash producer, supplying 80 countries.

Earlier this year, OmniTRAX became the exclusive operator of the Long Island, N.Y.-based Brookhaven Rail Terminal and of Port Muskogee’s Port Muskogee Railroad in Oklahoma. It also teamed with Coast Belle Rail Corporation to run Santa Maria Valley Railroad in California.

The post For OmniTRAX, Another Wyoming Mining Partnership appeared first on Railway Age.

Metro Transit

Metro Transit’s Blue Line Extension LRT project has achieved a critical milestone with federal environmental approval, “clearing the way for final design and construction while setting a new standard for supporting communities and businesses impacted by construction,” the Minnesota Metropolitan Council announced Aug. 13.

(Minn. Metro Council)

The FTA signed the Amended Record of Decision for the Blue Line Extension’s Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement (SFEIS), “concluding years of comprehensive environmental review and community engagement.”

This federal action also allows for the project, which is a proposed 13.4-mile light rail line that will connect downtown Minneapolis to the communities of North Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, Crystal, and Brooklyn Park, to include groundbreaking measures to support residents and businesses before, during, and after construction of the line:

• $5 Million Business Support Program: Construction-impacted businesses will be eligible for up to $30,000 each in rent assistance, helping maintain economic stability during the multi-year construction period.
• $5 Million Community Investment Fund: This program will provide funding to community-serving organizations for things like rent and housing cost assistance, specifically designed to help existing residents remain in their neighborhoods.

“This is the first time this type of support for residents and businesses impacted by construction has been included in a major project in Minnesota,” said Hennepin County Board Chair Irene Fernando. “The Blue Line Extension will connect thousands of people to new opportunities to work, go to school, and access healthcare. It is a generational investment in communities where many people rely on transit to get where they need to go every day.”

“Light rail projects, more than any other mode of transit, generate significant economic and community investment. This project will unlock long-overdue investment in some of our state’s most vibrant communities. The strategies included in this project’s environmental documents will help make sure this investment benefits the people there today and the generations that will follow,” Fernando added.

Additionally, the environmental documents outline strategies to address other environmental, economic, and social impacts and opportunities of the Blue Line Extension, including things like noise and vibration, parking, property impacts, and more.

“This milestone represents a significant investment in our region’s future,” said Metropolitan Council Chair Charlie Zelle. “It brings us closer to advancing our regional transit vision to create jobs, improve mobility, and strengthen communities.”

A public engagement process will launch this fall to inform the development and design of these community support programs, “ensuring maximum benefit for residents and businesses once a Full Funding Grant Agreement is awarded,” the Council said.

Santa Clara VTA

“In a decisive move to support public transportation across the Bay Area,” the Santa Clara VTA Board of Directors voted unanimously to join California Senate Bill 63 (Weiner/Arreguin). This landmark funding measure, the agency says, “is poised to preserve and enhance transit service throughout the region.”

By participating in SB 63, VTA joins a coalition of Bay Area counties—Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco and San Mateo—committed to preventing service cuts. The measure is expected to provide $264 million annually to VTA to support local transit improvements, positioning Santa Clara County to receive funding for critical needs such as VTA’s Visionary Network—an ambitious plan to improve frequency, reliability and connectivity.

“SB 63 represents a transformative opportunity to invest in the future of public transit,” said Carolyn Gonot, VTA General Manager/CEO. “With this measure, we can deliver faster, more reliable service and ensure equitable access for all riders across Santa Clara County.”

“The board’s vote affirms VTA’s regional leadership role and will allow Bay Area residents to not just protect but transform vital public transit services,” added Sergio Lopez, VTA Board Chair. “I am grateful to all who invested countless hours in putting in the hard work to improve this measure and ensure a fair deal for Santa Clara County, while strengthening our regional network.”

According to the agency, SB 63 would create a special district across five counties that would allow this regional funding measure to be placed on the November 2026 ballot. “It would include transformational regional investments such as enhancing speed and reliability, supporting cross-county paratransit, streamlining fare programs, and unifying wayfinding across systems. VTA’s endorsement underscores its leadership in shaping a more integrated, equitable, and sustainable transit future.”

This board decision, the agency says, “follows voter engagement research and a thorough evaluation of the bill’s alignment with VTA’s strategic priorities. VTA’s action ensures Santa Clara County has a seat at the table in shaping the future of Bay Area mobility.”

In related news, the VTA Board discussed potentially switching from a single-bore tunnel to a twin-bore tunnel “in an effort to make the best financial decisions for the Silicon Valley BART Expansion project,” according to a KGO news report.

According to the report, a new study (download below) released this week has concluded that a single-bore tunnel is the “smarter, faster, and more community-friendly way” to complete the final phase of the project.

(Santa Clara VTA)

The findings, VTA says, “show that this design is more cost-effective, quicker to build, already approved, and far less disruptive to downtown San José and its business community. It keeps streets open, supports the local economy during construction, and brings BART to Santa Clara County sooner.”

After years of technical analysis, public input, and federal review, the VTA says it continues to advance the single-bore tunnel as the preferred design for extending BART through downtown San José to Santa Clara. Compared to a twin-bore tunnel, the single-bore option “offers clear advantages and is significantly less expensive and less risky,” the agency noted.

Attachment-13809Download

The post Transit Briefs: Metro Transit, Santa Clara VTA appeared first on Railway Age.

NY&A

BLET members on Aug. 6 ratified a new two-year agreement with Anacostia‘s NY&A, which operates more than 270 route miles throughout Brooklyn and Queens, N.Y. The new provides a $1.00 per hour increase to all pay grades effective June 1, 2025, followed by two general wage increases totaling 8% through the end of 2028.

The BLET’s Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) General Committee of Adjustment represents the NY&A membership. The negotiating team consisted of General Chairman Gilman Lang, previous General Chairman Kevin Sexton, 2nd Vice General Chairman Duane O’Connor, and National Vice President Jim Louis.

R.J. Corman

R. J. Corman Signaling Project Manager Shane Burks II has been selected to participate in the 2025-26 Leadership Lexington program, “marking a significant milestone not only in [Burks’s] professional journey but also in R.J. Corman’s continued commitment to leadership development and community engagement.”

Leadership Lexington has served as the premier leadership development initiative in the greater Lexington, Ky., area for more than four decades, the company noted. With a highly competitive application and selection process, the program admits only 50 professionals each year. Participants engage in 10 immersive day-sessions hosted by local leaders, gaining firsthand insight into Lexington’s community dynamics, signature industries, and public issues. Each class also completes up to four community-based projects, selected and led by the participants themselves.

“The program’s mission is to prepare emerging leaders to meet the challenges facing Lexington by fostering deeper understanding and collaboration across sectors. Through educational experiences and meaningful connections, Leadership Lexington empowers participants to broaden their perspectives and become catalysts for positive change,” R.J. Corman said.

“I am truly honored and privileged to be a member of the 2025–26 Leadership Lexington class. This opportunity is one I deeply value, and I am committed to challenging myself to grow both personally and professionally. I look forward to learning from and engaging with fellow leaders in our community, and I am excited to bring back invaluable knowledge and connections to R. J. Corman. Together, we will continue to foster growth and innovation within our organization and community,” said Burks.

Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad

Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 11, manufacturer of cast iron and plastic pipe and fittings Charlotte and Foundry Company’s new $80 million manufacturing facility is officially open in Maize, Kans.

(Image Courtesy of Watco via X)

The 134,000-square-foot plant has premier access to Watco’s Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad, “aiding in the company’s continued success and swift production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes for plumbing and irrigation applications.” Watco, a single-source transportation and supply chain services company, was a pivotal partner in addressing Charlotte Pipe’s rail needs, according to Governor Laura Kelly.

The plant, which is located on the 5801 block of 119th Street West and is the company’s seventh plastics plant in the U.S., will provide 50 full-time jobs in the area, which the company has already hired for, according to a KSNW report. Plants are also located on the East and West Coast.

“It’s a great location, has a terrific workforce, a can-do attitude when it comes to business and it’s where we want to be,” said Hooper Hardison, Charlotte Pipe & Foundry CEO. “We don’t have a plant in this area to serve the central part of the country so being in Kansas and Maize is really going to help us ground out our footprint and serve our customers better.”

“Along with Sedgewick County, Maize, Kans., and the Greater Wichita Partnership, our team is excited to welcome the newest customer on the Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad,” Watco wrote in an X post.

The post Small-Road Briefs: New York & Atlantic Railway, R.J. Corman, Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad appeared first on Railway Age.

July was the busiest month on record in the Port of Los Angeles’s 117-year history, according to the Port. It processed 8.5% more TEUs than in July 2024. This followed a busy June, when it handled 892,340 TEUs, up 8% from last year.

Port of Los Angeles’s Latest Monthly Container Counts (Courtesy of the Port)

July 2025 loaded imports came in at 543,728 TEUs, 8% more than last year and the most imports ever in a month at the Port, it reported. Loaded exports landed at 121,507 TEUs, a 6% improvement from 2024. Additionally, the Port processed 354,602 empty container units, 10% more than last year. 

Port of Los Angeles’s Annual Container Statistics; container counts (TEUs) for years 1981-1994 are provided in calendar year totals only, as monthly breakdowns prior to calendar year 1995 are unavailable. (Courtesy of the Port)

Seven months into 2025, the Port of Los Angeles has handled 5,975,649 TEUs, 5% more than the same period in 2024. 

“Shippers have been frontloading their cargo for months to get ahead of tariffs and recent activity at America’s top port really tells that story,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka, who recently gave a cargo briefing with Dr. Zachary Rogers, Assistant Professor of Supply Chain Management at Colorado State University, to discuss the impacts of tariffs on transportation, warehousing, and inventory (watch below). “Port terminals in July were jam-packed with ships loaded with cargo, processed without any delay—much to the credit of our dedicated longshore workers, terminal and rail operators, truckers, and supply chain partners.”

(Port of Long Beach Photograph)

A pause in tariffs in recent months lifted the Port of Long Beach to its most active July on record and the third-busiest month in its 114-year history, according to the Port, which predicted the trade rebound in its June cargo report.

Port of Long Beach Container Trade in TEUs: July 2025 (Courtesy of the Port) Port of Long Beach Container Trade in TEUs: Fiscal Year to Date – July 2025 (Courtesy of the Port) Port of Long Beach Container Trade in TEUs: Calendar Year to Date (Totals) – July 2025 (Courtesy of the Port)

The TEUS processed by dockworkers and terminal operators in July were up 7% from the previous record set in July 2024. Imports rose 7.6% to 468,081 TEUs and exports declined 12.9% to 91,328 TEUs. Empty containers moving through the Port increased 12.3% to 384,824 TEUs.

Port of Long Beach Container Trade in TEUs: Calendar Year to Date (By Month) (Courtesy of the Port)

The Port has moved 5,690,863 TEUs through the first seven months of this year, up 10% from the prior-year period.

“Retailers are now seeing the arrival of goods that were purchased for lower costs during the temporary pause placed on tariffs and retaliatory tariffs earlier this year,” Port of Long Beach CEO Mario Cordero said. “Due to the ongoing uncertainty caused by shifting trade policies, our Supply Chain Information Highway digital tracking tool forecasts that cargo will be down about 10% in the second half of 2025, resulting in a flat year for volume.”

“We appreciate our terminal operators, truckers, dockworkers and all the individuals who are moving cargo through the Port at a record-setting pace,” Long Beach Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna added. “We continue to work closely with labor and industry to meet the evolving needs of our customers.”

The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles recently announced they are extending their agreement with Pacific Harbor Line to provide railroad operating and maintenance services within the San Pedro Bay ports complex. Union Pacific and BNSF move cargo in and out of the complex.

(Courtesy of the Port of Los Angeles) Further Reading:

• Jacobs Tapped for POLB Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility
• POLB: $3.2B 10-Year Capex Plan
• Watch: California ‘State of the Port’ Priorities for 2025

The post For Ports of LA, Long Beach, ‘Record’ July Cargo appeared first on Railway Age.

Here we go with another shutdown of democratic free speech by a POTUS and his inner circle consolidating power in pursuit of a unitary form of government controlling every aspect of American life from the arts, to Congress, to the courts, to education, to independent federal agencies, non-government organizations, corporate decision making and transportation.

In a formal statement issued by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Aug. 13 and citing instructions from POTUS 47 and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, FRA announced it is deconstructing its Rail Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) and “refocusing [it and other Executive Branch] federal advisory committees on what matters.”

Without specifics, the statement asserts that “some committees have lost sight of the mission and have been overrun with individuals whose sole focus is their radical DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) and climate agenda.” The statement says DOT has “intent to reconstitute membership” without providing a date or preferred membership qualifications.

Duffy previously weaponized the Department of Transportation against transit, high-speed rail and Amtrak funding, and ordered DOT agencies to cancel DEI programs whose appreciation of cultural, racial and gender differences offends POTUS 47.

Notably, FRA has been without a Senate-confirmed Administrator since POTUS 47 took office. His nominee, former Pan Am Railways President David Armstrong Fink, cleared a Senate Commerce Committee confirmation hearing in May, but his name has yet to reach the Senate floor for a confirmation vote.

There is no evidence RSAC has offended the POTUS as asserted. FRA, under previous Republican and Democratic Administrations, celebrated RSAC’s “invaluable input” toward improving railroad safety nationwide, terming RSAC “a unique tool of democratic government.” RSAC’s mission, say previous FRA statements, is to “develop new regulatory standards, through a collaborative process, with all segments of the rail community working together to fashion mutually satisfactory solutions on safety regulatory issues.”

RSAC was created in 1996 by the longest serving (1993-2000) and first female FRA Administrator, Jolene Molitoris, whose legacy is consensus building. She convened an informal version of RSAC in 1994 to focus on reducing track worker deaths and injuries. Its success drove its expansion.

Participating in RSAC, up to POTUS 47 and Duffy’s ordered execution of it, have been representatives of railroads; rail labor; and organizations representing rail passengers, rail shippers, manufacturers, suppliers and states.

At its October 2024 meeting—RSAC typically convenes formally twice each year, but its working groups more often—discussion topics included C3R (confidential close call reporting), train braking modernization, wayside detectors, roadway worker protection and electronic devices. RSAC is the only forum for such a diverse group to share knowledge on these and other complex rail safety issues.

“The process has not always been perfect nor always productive, but there were outcomes beneficial to everyone,” says a former Class I mechanical officer who participated two RSAC Working Groups—locomotive crashworthiness and locomotive cab sanitation and working conditions—in the late 1990s and early 2000s. “We incorporated the existing AAR standards for crashworthy noses and fuel tanks into FRA locomotive safety regulations. That effort alone by my estimate saved lives by preventing ‘cab crush’ and fuel fires. Overall, I believe the RSAC WG process allowed the unions to see that railroad managers were like them—people—and capable of reaching commonsense solutions.

“Cab sanitation was a ‘rapidly boiling pot’ situation as the unions had made the FRA aware that cab sanitation on some railroads was truly deplorable. One eastern railroad took the extreme step of replacing ‘dry hoppers’ with a welded angle-iron ‘seat frame’ on which each employee would attach a black plastic ‘disposal bag’ that was to be placed after use in a sanitary waste dumpster upon arrival at their destination. To enforce use, each bag was serial-numbered and recorded as to which employee was issued which bag. Many bags eventually ended up in trees along the right-of-way. Residents threatened to sue the railroad. The unions threatened a strike. FRA, in the first RSAC cab sanitation Working Group meeting in 1998, gave the railroads one month to come up with a joint solution, or FRA would quickly issue a regulation without any involvement by anyone, and the unions would strike. The eastern railroad said ‘hell no.’

“I returned to headquarters at my railroad and met with the executive vice president of operations, suggesting he talk with his eastern counterpart to urge common sense. He did, and they ‘saw the light.’ That railroad subsequently installed airliner-style microprocessor-controlled vacuum toilets (though after about 10 years they discovered the toilets were unsuited for a locomotive environment).”

Railroads, as described above, have had difficulties with RSAC, but it has everything to do with FRA Administrator neutrality. The RSAC advisory process, when respected, brings together a peer group representing a variety of academic disciplines, practical experience, diverse viewpoints and data open to collegial scrutiny.

Its low point came in 2014 with allegations that then Administrator Joseph C. Szabo—a former union officer—placed the agency’s thumb on the scale in pursuing rail labor’s objective of minimum two-person crews on intercity freight trains and in switch yards nationwide.

The Szabo-led FRA said its two-person minimum crew-size mandate was collaborated with RSAC. But the Association of American Railroads, whose members were and are seeking to operate some trains with one-person crews, termed the process “a sham,” saying “there was no consensus. There was no vote taken. [FRA] spurned the collaborative RSAC process by declaring in advance the only result it would accept.”

When FRA published its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in March 2016, following Szabo’s departure, it confirmed “FRA cannot provide reliable or conclusive statistical data to suggest whether one-person crew operations are generally safer or less safe than multiple-person crew operation.”

The NPRM was eventually withdrawn when career railroader Ronald L. Batory was Administrator, but his successor, Amit Bose, in 2024 finalized a minimum two-person crew requirement now being challenged in federal court as running afoul of a Supreme Court holding that regulatory agency edicts have “a rational connection between the facts found and the choice made.”

As to the crew-size matter, the RSAC process is not to blame if FRA, as alleged, failed to consider the full record before it as presented by all RSAC stakeholders. Overall, RSAC has performed as advertised and enjoyed, prior to this Administration’s attack, laudatory bipartisan comments.

At the independent (of the Executive Branch) Surface Transportation Board, several advisory groups continue to function, with the agency seeking to fill membership vacancies.

RSAC participating organizations include:

• American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners
• American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
• American Chemistry Council
• American Petroleum Institute
• American Public Transportation Association
• American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association
• American Train Dispatchers Association
• Association of American Railroads
• Association of State Rail Safety Managers
• Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
• Brotherhood of Maintenance of Ways Employes
• Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen
• The Chlorine Institute
• Commuter Rail Coalition
• The Fertilizer Institute
• Heritage Rail Alliance
• Institute of Makers of Explosives
• International Association of Machinists
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
• National Conference of Firemen & Oilers
• National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association
• Rail Passengers Association
• Railway Supply Institute
• SMART Transportation Division
• Transportation Communications Union
• Transportation Workers Union

Railway Age Capitol Hill Contributing Editor Frank N. Wilner is author of “Railroads & Economic Regulation,” available from Simmons-Boardman Books, 800-228-9670. 

The post DOT Dumps FRA’s Collaborative RSAC appeared first on Railway Age.

NS Meet-the-AmbassadorsDownload

NS on Aug. 12 reported bringing together 17 railroaders (see list above) to serve as its representatives at local events, “fostering relationships with community organizations and stakeholders.” Selected through a competitive application process earlier this year, the Community Impact Ambassadors will also recruit volunteers, “inspiring fellow employees to get involved and give back,” and promote safety, becoming Operation Lifesaver-certified and supporting safety education efforts.

“In partnership with NS Community Impact, they’re helping us build bridges between our work and the people it touches,” NS said. Through its Community Impact program, the railroad last year contributed approximately $18.3 million to charitable organizations across its 22-state network. Of that total, $1 million was awarded to 65 Hampton Roads, Va., nonprofits.

The Community Impact Ambassadors team includes:

1. Shawn Bruderly, Foreman
2. Katie Byrd, Assistant Director Executive Communications
3. Trevor Cain, Track Patrol Foreman
4. Ariana Draine, Wayside Detection Analyst
5. Marijoy Halitzka, Bridge Tender
6. Mark Goin, Telephone Maintainer
7. Andrew Homick, Senior Supervisor Equipment Engineering
8. Ernest “Leon” Jackson, Manager Public Safety
9. Kelly Keil, Supervisor C&S II
10. Paul Lawson, Locomotive Engineer
11. Shawn McCauley, Signal Maintainer
12. Willie Mills, Road Foreman of Engines
13. Taylor Morton, Payroll Business Analyst
14. Thomas Saathoff, Terminal Manager
15. Christopher Slasinski, Field Sales Manager
16. Matthew Wade, NSPD Special Agent
17. Courtland Wheat, Conductor

Further Reading:

• Union Pacific + Norfolk Southern: It’s Official
• Momentum on All Fronts: Safety, Operations, Customer Trust, Growth
• NS Recaps 2024 Safety Achievements

CSX (Photograph Courtesy of CSX)

“CSX is helping Sappi North America, a global leader in sustainable wood fiber products, achieve its supply chain goals through dependable freight rail service and a collaborative partnership,” the Class I reported Aug. 12.

CSX works with the company to develop shared key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor progress and prevent delays.

“We’ve established some good KPIs around congestion and service visibility,” said Mike Segal, Director of Logistics and Operations Planning for Sappi North America, which produces graphic papers, packaging, and dissolving pulp used in textiles, hygiene products, and pharmaceuticals. “This has strengthened our relationship with CSX and helped us move things forward.”

The CSX-Sappi partnership, he added, is built on communication and collaboration. “I’ve been very pleased with our relationship with CSX because I feel like they really understand our challenges and our network,” Segal reported. “We’ve had a number of meetings with them to identify potential issues and solve them ahead of time.”

According to Segal, the railroad’s transparency has been a standout feature of the partnership, CSX reported. “CSX has been very honest with us,” Segal said. “If things aren’t going a certain way, they’ve been very clear with us, and then we can make a plan.”

That level of openness and alignment supports Sappi’s commitment to reliable service and continuous improvement, Segal pointed out.

“Freight rail is a key component of our transportation network,” he said. “We fully expect that our rail volume will grow, and CSX will be a key partner in that.”

“We appreciate the investments they’re making in the network,” Segal added, “and we hope to support that moving forward.”

Further Reading:

• CSX ‘Elevates Freight Efficiency’ With CSX Howard Street Tunnel Bridge Project
• CSX: ‘We Continue to Stay Focused’

The post Class I Briefs: NS, CSX appeared first on Railway Age.