We’re always the backbone of the supply chain, but the holidays are a time of year when our mission becomes even more tangible and recognizable.
Peak Season isn’t just about moving more freight. It’s about moving what matters: gifts for family and friends, inventory for small businesses, and the essentials that keep communities running strong through the busiest shopping season of the year.
From the moment a container arrives at an East Coast port to the package landing on a front porch, our network connects the dots—linking terminals, distribution hubs, and communities in a seamless flow.
A Season of ScalePeak Season brings a surge unlike anything else on the calendar:
Throughout Peak Season, our teams can see as much as a 60% increase in parcel volumes compared to the rest of the year. That sequential surge means more shipments moving through busy terminals, longer trains running along key routes, and our people working tirelessly around the clock to ensure packages arrive safely and on time.
The Execution Norris Yard in Birmingham, ALPreparing for the holiday rush is no small feat. It doesn’t happen by chance—it’s built on tactical precision and cross-functional collaboration. Here’s how our teams prepare and perform:
1. Terminal & Equipment Readiness
2. Train Plan Optimization
3. Precision ETA’s
4. Locomotive Reliability
5. Communication & Exception Handling
6. Safety & Security
NSPD Special Agent Mckinnor and K9 Thorr patrolling at Inman Yard in Atlanta, GAIt takes every person on Team NS to deliver the holidays. Behind the scenes, teams across Transportation, Intermodal Terminal Operations, Engineering, Mechanical, the Network Operations Center (NOC), Network Design & Optimization, Customer Logistics, and Commercial work together 24/7 to coordinate efforts, overcome challenges, and deliver a successful Peak Season.
There’s a unique energy during this time of year, a shared purpose that ignites our team and drives us to rise to the challenge. Every railroader knows what’s at stake and brings their A-game because every second and every delivery counts.
Rain. Snow. Tight timelines. Record volumes. We’re ready for it all. Every train, every package, every mile—NS is proud to keep the holidays safely on track.
The post From Port to Porch: Team NS Powers Peak Season 2025 appeared first on Railway Age.
The U.S. Surface Transportation Board has approved Fortress Investment Group’s $1.05 billion purchase of Wheeling & Lake Erie, the 982-mile regional railroad that operates through Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
The STB approved the acquisition application on November 26, and it will take effect on December 26. Wheeling will become part of Fortress’s Transtar operation, which runs seven different short lines across the country, including Union Railroad Company, which interchanges with W&LE. The transaction also includes the Akron Barberton Cluster Railway, which operates on 84 miles of track around Akron, Ohio.
The Wheeling & Lake Erie was established in 1990 after acquiring former Norfolk Southern routes, some of which belonged to the original W&LE that operated from 1877 until it was leased to the Nickel Plate Road in 1949. The railroad maintains a fleet of EMD locomotives in a Denver & Rio Grande Western-inspired livery.
In a press release announcing the approval, the STB stated that the regulator received no comments opposing the merger. The one customer served by both Union and Wheeling submitted a comment supporting the consolidation.
—Justin Franz
The post Feds Approve Sale of Wheeling to Fortress appeared first on Railfan & Railroad Magazine.
Denver RTD on Nov. 25 announced that it is introducing Tap-n-Ride, a new fare payment option that provides a quick, secure and convenient way for customers to pay their fare at any validator.
Customers simply need to tap a Visa or Mastercard credit, debit, or prepaid card—or use a Visa or Mastercard loaded into a mobile wallet—directly on a bus or rail validator and ride. Mobile wallet payment options include Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, and are available in a mobile phone or smart watch. RTD plans to add American Express and Discover card options to its Tap-n-Ride program in early 2026.
(Denver RTD)With Tap-n-Ride, customers, RTD says, can forgo using a ticket vending machine (TVM), having cash on hand, visiting a sales outlet, buying a mobile ticket, or preloading fare into their MyRide account. While all other existing fare payment methods will remain available for customers, Tap-n-Ride provides an additional, convenient fare payment option. Tap-n-Ride functions similarly to the agency’s MyRide card process.
“The introduction of Tap-n-Ride provides an experience that is easy to navigate, equitable, and accessible for everyone who relies on RTD,” said Debra A. Johnson, RTD’s General Manager and CEO. “This new fare payment option is focused on removing barriers and offering customers a seamless, straightforward experience where they can simply tap and ride. With fare capping available, customers can feel confident they’re always getting the best fare on each and every trip.”
More information is available here.
SkylineSince the second segment of HART’s Skyline opened to the public on Oct. 16, weekday ridership numbers have routines surpassed 10,000 daily, according to data provided to Aloha State Daily by the City and County of Honolulu.
According to the Aloha State Daily report, there were three Mondays—Oct. 20, Oct. 27 and Nov. 10—where the number of riders dipped just below that threshold: 9,816, 9,936 and 9,998 respectively.
Veteran’s Day, which was Tuesday, Nov. 11, had the lowest weekday ridership tally since Oct. 16, with 7,966.
Opening day of segment 2 had the highest weekday count so far, with 11,897 riders, followed by Wednesday, Nov. 19, with 11,298. Even more turned out for a fare-free weekend on Oct. 18 and 19.
“The Department of Transportation Services is incredibly pleased to see our communities embrace Skyline as a new alternative way to get around,” DTS Deputy Director Jon Nouchi said in a statement provided to Aloha State Daily. “We are now seeing average weekday ridership surpass 11,000 passengers, a figure that is triple what we carried during the operation of Segment 1.”
According to the Aloha State Daily, in September, daily ridership counts ranged from 1,842 to 7,519. Prior to the second section of the rail route opening last month, monthly ridership numbers this year had been as low as 89,167 in June and as high as 119,513 in September.
In October, ridership totaled 241,373.
Here are the weekday counts from Oct. 16 through Nov. 21, provided by the city:
LA Metro recently announced that combined registrations for its LIFE and GoPass programs, which provide free rides and discounted passes to low income, student and fire-impacted Angelenos, has exceeded 1,000,000 since 2021, “marking a major milestone in the transit agency’s efforts to make transit more equitable and accessible,” according to a Van Nuys News Press report.
“In total, these programs have provided low-income residents, fire-impacted Angelenos and students from participating school districts with more than 92 million free rides and 14 million rides on discounted passes,” according to the report.
“Growing these programs have been a major focus for our team over the last few years, so it’s very satisfying to see how far we’ve come in a relatively short period of time,” said LA Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins. “Transportation is the number two household expense, behind housing, so these free rides through GoPass and LIFE are changing lives in a really meaningful way. Thank you to all our LIFE and GoPass riders for choosing Metro to get around the region, and we’ll continue to identify ways to make these programs easier and more accessible to everyone who depends on us.”
The post Transit Briefs: Denver RTD, Skyline, LA Metro appeared first on Railway Age.
David James DeBoer, best known for his work in the railroad intermodal space, died Nov. 17, 2025 in Monterey Bay, Calif. He was 87.
DeBoer began his career in transportation at the New York Central Railroad. He later spent time at Trans World Airlines before joining the Federal Railroad Administration Office of Policy and Economics to work on the formation of Conrail following the Penn Central bankruptcy. Following that, he established the Rail Service Planning Office at the Interstate Commerce Commission. DeBoer eventually joined the Marketing Department at the Southern Pacific in 1978 and later became Assistant Vice President of SP’s intermodal division. Intermodal dominated the remainder of his career. In 1984, DeBoer left SP to help establish Greenbrier Intermodal, eventually becoming President of the division.
DeBoer represented the United States in international rail congresses in Bologna, Italy and Moscow, Russia, where he gave papers on U.S. Intermodal progress. He was also a writer. He wrote a monthly column on intermodalism for Modern Railroads (which Railway Age acquired in 1992) and later for Progressive Railroading under the pseudonym of Paul V. Carr. He authored “Piggyback & Containers, A History of Rail Intermodal on America’s Steel Highway,” which became a text for the industry.
The son of James Frederich DeBoer and Marian Elaine Teal, DeBoer was born in Kalamazoo, Mich. He grew up in Battle Creek, and was a graduate of Battle Creek Central High School in 1956. He attended Albian College and the University of Michigan, where he received his BA in 1960 and his MBA in 1963. DeBoer is survived by his wife of 66 years, Sandra Ogden DeBoer, a daughter, Kathleen Hurd of Vancouver, Wash., a son James Phillip DeBoer of Kutztown, Pa., a son Christopher David DeBoer of Walnut Creek, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and his sister, Karen DeBoer Potts of Lake Jackson, Tex.
“I knew Dave when he was at Greenbrier,” recalls Tom Simpson, who retired as President of the Railway Supply Institute (RSI) and also ran its predecessor, the Railway Progress Institute (RPI). “He chaired the short-lived RPI Committee on Intermodalism. Under that guise, he and I rented a car and toured rail lines in the Chicago area looking for solutions to the rail-truck-rail interchanges that slowed intermodal traffic in Chicago. We went so far as meeting with the mayor’s office to plead our case—alas, to no avail. Dave and I would also tour the IANA (Intermodal Association of North America) conference in Atlanta and amuse ourselves with the experimental equipment on display. It was all lots of fun.”
The post Dave DeBoer, 1938-2025 appeared first on Railway Age.
North American rail volume on nine reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads came in at 31,955,940 carloads and intermodal units for the 47-week period ending Nov. 22, 2025, the AAR reported Nov. 26. Cumulative volume in the U.S. was 23,225,929 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 2.0% from the same point last year; in Canada, 7,619,166 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.3%; and in Mexico, 1,110,845 carloads and intermodal units, down 5.6%.
For the week ending Nov. 22, 2025, total U.S. rail traffic was 516,110 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.9% from the same week last year, according to the AAR. Total carloads came in at 234,592, up 2.0%, and intermodal volume was 281,518 containers and trailers, down 3.2%.
Four of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2024. They included coal, up 4,795 carloads, to 62,956; nonmetallic minerals, up 2,379 carloads, to 32,282; and grain, up 2,253 carloads, to 25,893. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2024 included petroleum and petroleum products, down 1,187 carloads, to 10,587; chemicals, down 1,092 carloads, to 32,699; and miscellaneous carloads, down 1,068 carloads, to 8,875.
For the first 47 weeks of this year, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 10,462,354 carloads, up 1.8% from the same point last year; and 12,763,575 intermodal units, up 2.1% from last year.
North American rail volume for the week ending Nov. 22, 2025, on nine reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads totaled 343,457 carloads, up 1.9% compared with the same week last year; and 365,425 intermodal units, down 2.0% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 708,882 carloads and intermodal units, down 0.1%.
For the week ending Nov. 22, 2025, Canadian railroads reported 96,121 carloads, up 1.5%, and 70,202 intermodal units, up 1.5% from the same week in 2024.
Mexican railroads reported 12,744 carloads for the week ending Nov. 22, 2025, up 1.5% from the same week last year, and 13,705 intermodal units, up 7.4% from last year.
The post AAR: North American Rail Volume Up Through Week 47 appeared first on Railway Age.
Orders for new railcars in 2025’s third quarter amounted to 3,071. We’re not facing a financial crisis, or a COVID lockdown, but orders are behaving as though we’re in a crisis. This is a travesty with potential harm to the industry over the next few years.
Carloads have been resilient, railcar scrapping remains elevated, cars in storage are stable, utilization remains elevated, orders for new railcars are anemic, railcar prices are higher, and the fleet is shrinking—and lease price renewals are proving sticky above 20%! What’s going on?
Lessors love scarcity and hate surplus. With most car types in short supply, pricing power shifts to lessors. But without carload growth, that pricing power eventually disappears. As Paul Titterton, Executive Vice President at GATX North America, reflected at Rail Equipment Finance 2025 in March and at the GATX 1Q25 earnings call: “We continue to believe in what we’ve been calling the supply-led market thesis and the self-correcting market thesis, which is basically to say … that it is relative to history, expensive to build and expensive to finance new railcars, and that has been a constraint on new car production” The industry is in a supply driven cycle triggering shortages of certain car types and stronger pricing power for lessors.
In December 2022, I predicted a sustained period of higher railcar prices and lease rates. Now, three years later, my prediction has become reality. How much longer will it last, what is driving higher lease rates, and what impact will this trend have on the industry?
Shrinking North American FleetThe North American railcar fleet has contracted roughly 3% between 2020 and today, from a high of 1,675,511 to 1,635,097, a net decline of 40,414. Railcar scrap rates remain elevated, driven by attractive scrap prices and railcar demographics. It is anticipated that 188,000 railcars will age out over the next five years. If railcars built between 1993 and 2004 that have been loaded to 286K GRL but were designed to 263K specs start fatiguing out, the number of scrapped cars may go much higher. If orders for new railcars don’t pick up soon, the fleet may shrink by 60,000-80,000 railcars over the next three to five years, dipping well below 1.6 million in the North American fleet—all this in the face of growing carload demand:
Orders for new railcars for the past two years have been well below replacement levels of 35,000-42,000 railcars annually:
The order spike in 3Q22 reflects the GATX/Trinity long term supply agreement for 5,000 railcars annually.
From 3Q23 through 4Q24, deliveries of new railcars were steady at 10,000/quarter. However, since 4Q24, deliveries have trended down to 7,500/quarter. With anemic orders and elevated deliveries, the overall backlog has fallen precipitously. At the end of 3Q22, the railcar backlog was 61,415, while today the backlog is down to 25,637. Unless orders pick up, carbuilders will need to scale down operations significantly very soon.
Reinforcing this message, Paul Titterton said during the GATX 1Q25 earnings call: “If you look at the ARCI (RSI American Railway Car Institute Committee) numbers for the past couple of quarters, we’re on an annualized run rate of around 20,000 car orders per year, which is well below the replacement rate, well below what we’ve seen in history. That is supportive of our business.”
New Railcar PricesRailcar builders have been disciplined on pricing and margin, driven by pressure from the investment community. To illustrate: when Greenbrier announced 3Q25 earnings on 7/1/25 that beat estimates, the share price shot up 22% the next day! It has since retreated, driven by the order trough. Combined with higher input costs, particularly steel and components, new railcar prices remain elevated. Higher prices for new railcars increase the value of older railcars, to the benefit of lessors in terms of asset values and higher lease prices. Higher interest rates further add to the cost of new railcars.
Carloads Remain Steady, With Upside PotentialFrom a recent AAR publication, U.S. carloads have grown 2.1% year-to-date. In contrast to truckloads, rail carloads have proven to be far more resilient. Coal and grain have contributed significantly to rail’s overall performance. A couple of years ago I postulated that the decline of coal would slow down, and when that time came, we would begin to see net carload growth for the first time in almost 20 years. The “Pivot to Growth” is being led by coal carload increases, and growth in grain, intermodal and possibly construction-related products (i.e. lumber, aggregates) if housing starts rebound. All other commodities, including motor vehicles, have been steady.
Railcars in StorageThere are currently 330,085 railcars in storage, 35% of which, or 110,000, are tank cars. The second largest car type in storage is covered hoppers, representing 29% of stored cars, or 103,000. Coal cars, including hoppers and gondolas, represent another 62,000 cars, or 17% of stored railcars. Together, these three classifications represent 81% of stored railcars. The question becomes: Will these cars ever return to service given the changes in their respective markets as well as better, more productive designs? The real number of stored railcar candidates to return to service is likely much lower than 317,000. This supports tightness in railcar availability.
Railcar Ownership Changes Have Shifted Toward LessorsOver the past 30 years, railcar ownership has shifted to lessor-owned fleets as railroads devote their capital toward infrastructure and locomotives:
Source: TrinityRail 1Q25 investor presentation.As railcar ownership has shifted toward lessors, there has been tremendous reorganization and rationalization within the lessor community, as exemplified by the recent acquisition of the Wells Fargo fleet by GATX/Brookfield Infrastructure Partners: A new joint venture of GATX Corp. and Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Wells Fargo’s rail operating lease portfolio of approximately 105,000 railcars for $4.4 billion. Initial joint venture equity ownership will be GATX (30%) and Brookfield Infrastructure (70%), with GATX having the option to acquire 100% of the joint venture equity over time. With the GATX/Brookfield JV acquisition of the Wells Fargo fleet, GATX market share of the lessor-owned fleet will increase from 13% to 25%.
Source: GATX investor presentation re: Wells Fargo asset acquisition, 5/30/25Going forward, there will likely be fewer, larger lessors who will yield more control and discipline over railcar supply and availability. Gone are the days of upstart leasing companies who speculate recklessly, driven largely by 0% rates.
Lease Price TrendsBoth GATX and TrinityRail offer tools for tracking the directionality of lease prices. GATX utilizes its LPI (Lease Price Indicator), while TrinityRail offers its FLRD (Future Lease Rate Differential) chart:
Source: TrinityRail 1Q25 investor presentationTrinityRail reported a 17.9% increase in its FLRD in the 1Q25 earnings report, while GATX reported a 24.5% increase in the same period. GATX has offered the LPI for years, yielding insight into historical lease price trends in response to market dynamics:
As reflected above, the railcar leasing industry has weathered its share of prolonged ups and downs. What we’ve seen over the past couple of years is a re-pricing of the “COVID Era” leases, reflected in 20%-plus changes in lease rates. Absolute lease rates, on the other hand, have proven relatively flat.
Going forward, there is high probability that lease rate renewal pricing will remain elevated, given the consolidation in leasing companies, further disciplined supply and continued elevated railcar retirements and scrapping. These factors all contribute to a sustained favorable lease price environment. But is all this good for the overall freight rail industry?
Anemic orders for new railcars aren’t good. Railcar ownership has shifted squarely toward lessors, who have learned that railcar tightness results in higher lease rates. Why add to supply and possibly risk lease price pressure? With the fleet trending toward sub-1.6 million railcars, will the industry be able to support any uptick in carloads?
Railroad carloads have proven resilient, with a few growth opportunities imminent. When railcars aren’t available to prospective shippers, or the railcar that is delivered is a piece of junk, that growth opportunity disappears. Furthermore, running 20-plus-year-old equipment detracts from overall performance through higher track and wheel costs, higher fuel costs, lower reliability and higher risk of failure (remember East Palestine?) Railcars produced today are far superior to those produced more than 20 years ago. Delaying innovative designs detracts from overall railroad performance. Above all, the rail industry won’t be able to grow if good railcars aren’t available. It’s time to start rebuilding the fleet!
The post Anemic Railcar Orders an Industry Travesty appeared first on Railway Age.
NS on Nov. 24 reported presenting a $100,000 grant to the Chicago Police Foundation, which works with the Chicago Police Department “to identify needs and secure innovative resources for the city.” The railroad’s contribution, through its Safety First Grant Program, “supports the foundation’s mission to provide resources that supplement the Chicago Police Department’s capabilities, ensuring officers have the tools and technology needed to serve Chicagoans safely and effectively.”
For example, the drone and vehicles purchased “will help prevent theft before it happens, saving local businesses, law enforcement, and residents time and money,” according to NS.
“Having great corporate citizens like Norfolk Southern and their leadership work with the Chicago Police Foundation in support of the CPD for equipping our department with the latest technology and supporting the well-being of our officers is a model to be followed,” said Rick Simon, Chairman of the Chicago Police Foundation Board.
“We’re proud to support the Chicago Police Department by providing the tools they need to protect both the city and the officers who serve it,” NSPD Regional Superintendent Eric Oliver said. “We recognize the dedication of Chicago’s officers and are honored to help deliver resources that make a real impact—from advanced drone technology to vehicles that strengthen mobility and response.”
(Courtesy of NS)Meanwhile, NS is “spreading holiday cheer” with a new collection of in-house designed merchandise, which is available in the official Norfolk Southern Company Store.
Highlights include:
Also available: the 2026 NS calendar.
“Railroads have always been a part of holiday traditions, from delivering gifts to inspiring generations of train enthusiasts,” said Emily Murray, NS Assistant Director, Creative and Brand. “Our holiday collection is a way for fans to celebrate that connection and share it with loved ones.”
CSXCSX on Nov. 24 celebrated its Rocky Mount terminal via social media, sharing a specially produced video (above). In the past 12 months, crews there have handled more than 89,000 railcars for loading, unloading, and other operations, and managed 300,000-plus railcar arrivals and departures, readying assets for their next destination, according to the railroad.
“This historic freight-classification yard has been operating in the same location in North Carolina since the early 1900s and continues to set the standard for excellence,” CSX reported. “Thank you to our Rocky Mount team for your hard work and for powering what’s possible. You are a vital part of our #ONECSX family!”
BNSF (Courtesy of BNSF)“Something new is happening at BNSF-served customer NEW Cooperative,” the Class I railroad reported via social media on Nov. 25. “The co-op, which operates rail-served facilities across Iowa, recently expanded its Osceola location by adding a dry fertilizer facility to its existing grain shuttle train-loading loop track.” The addition, BNSF said, includes a dry fertilizer dump pit, conveyor system, and a large fertilizer warehouse. Since October, the facility has been unloading potash, phosphate and sulfate fertilizers through the new system.
“For now, NEW Cooperative is unloading single-car shipments of dry fertilizer, but as volumes grow, some of those movements could be converted to unit trains in the future,” BNSF reported. “Thank you, NEW Cooperative, for your continued trust in BNSF.”
UP UP teams monitor “high-definition feeds showing near, far and 180-degree panoramic views—technology designed to give crews unmatched visibility and elevate safety across the rail network.” (Courtesy of UP)UP’s new point protection technology is said to give crews “a modern, high-tech view of their surroundings—boosting safety, precision and confidence during train movements.”
The railroad, in a Nov. 25 article published on its website, reported that advanced cameras on locomotives stream high-definition, wide-angle video directly to the crew at a yard in Livonia, La. The system, it said, delivers “near, far and 180-degree panoramic views around the knuckle and down both sides of the track—even at crossings.”
(Courtesy of UP)“It’s a technological leap that blends simplicity with sophistication,” said Brian Partlow, UP Director, Tech. “The new system eliminates potential blind spots caused by a locomotive’s structure, helping crews make safe decisions in real time.”
It also includes safeguards to maintain visibility, according to UP. “The live video feed confirms the cameras are working properly, while built-in latency detection alerts users within a second if there is delayed video,” the railroad reported.
“Think of it like lane assist in your car,” added Brenten Starr, UP General Director, Engineering. “It’s an added safeguard that boosts precision to strengthen protection for everyone.”
“This is how we move forward,” Partlow summed up. “We test, we learn, we evolve—and we keep making rail operations safer for our employees, our communities and the customers who rely on us for dependable service.”
The post Class I Briefs: NS, CSX, BNSF, UP appeared first on Railway Age.
Hitachi Rail on Nov. 26 (World Sustainable Transport Day) published its 2025 Sustainability Statement, reaffirming a commitment to “leading the sustainable development of the mobility sector by driving innovation, reducing environmental impact, and promoting responsible practices across its operations and partnerships.”
This follows the April launch of a 149-page sustainability report and strategy, PLEDGES, by Hitachi, which operates globally in four sectors—Digital Systems & Services, Energy, Mobility, and Connective Industries—and the Strategic SIB Business Unit for new growth businesses.
Hitachi PLEDGES (Courtesy of Hitachi)“With sustainability at the core of its business strategy, Hitachi developed a group-wide strategy, ‘PLEDGES,’ consisting of seven strategic pillars that underpin Hitachi’s sustainability efforts, along with the targets it aims to achieve over the next three years,” reported Hitachi Rail, whose integrated business offering includes rail transport vehicles, signaling systems and digital technology, service and maintenance activities, as well as turnkey solutions worldwide. “The ambitious targets include a 75% reduction by 2027 (versus 2019) in greenhouse gases at its operational sites (Scope 1 and 2).”
Hitachi Rail’s 108-page Sustainability Statement covers Fiscal Year 2024, which included the closing of its Thales Ground Transportation Systems acquisition, increasing its global footprint to more than 50 countries and its workforce from 15,000 people to nearly 24,000 people worldwide.
Among the Statement highlights, according to Hitachi Rail:
“Guided by the “strong belief that valuing diversity and fostering an inclusive culture strengthens the business, drives innovation, and enables the company to better serve its customers and communities, in FY24 Hitachi Rail continued to advance its commitment to inclusion and equity through dedicated programs and initiatives,” the company noted. “Across FY24, employee engagement increased by nearly five percentage points, year on year. Based on its founding philosophy to ‘Contribute to society through the development of superior, original technology and products,’ Hitachi has been addressing social issues over its 110-year history. This philosophy is reflected in its new management plan, Inspire 2027, which aims to deliver value to society and enhance corporate value by focusing on social issues and further leveraging Hitachi’s strength in IT, OT, and products. With the global competitive landscape rapidly changing, Hitachi believes in sustainability as a foundation of competitiveness.”
According to Hitachi Rail, its 2025 Statement aligns with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and “unveils a renewed Double Materiality Assessment (DMA) approach under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), supported by extensive stakeholder engagement.” This methodology, it noted, “integrates financial performance, risk management, and operational activities, ensuring compliance and best practice through a comprehensive evaluation of material ESG topics.”
“Hitachi Rail is a business with a clear social purpose and our 2025 Statement underlines that sustainability is at the core of our growth,” said Giuseppe Marino, Group CEO of Hitachi Rail. “By embedding the PLEDGES strategy at the core of our operations and decision-making, we are positioning our business to meet global challenges and deliver on our mission: the sustainable mobility transition.”
DOWNLOAD THE HITACHI RAIL SUSTAINABILITY STATEMENT AND HITACHI SUSTAINABILITY REPORT BELOW: hitachirailfy24sustainabilitystatement2025Download en_sustainability2025Download Further Reading:The post Hitachi Rail Releases 2025 Sustainability Statement appeared first on Railway Age.
A Nov. 24 letter to the Surface Transportation Board co-authored by 64 U.S. trade associations, chambers, and businesses—from the chemical and agribusiness sectors to the automotive dealer, plastics, building, vinyl, and pet food sectors—urged the Board to “thoroughly scrutinize” the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger proposal “to ensure it does not undermine the integrity of our nation’s transportation network or disrupt the supply chain.”
(Graphic Courtesy of UP)The letter is one of many filed recently from groups expressing their opinions about and/or their intent to participate in the STB proceeding concerning the transaction that would combine the two Class I’s networks under common ownership and form a U.S. transcontinental.
The STB Office of Chief Counsel entered the letter from the undersigned into the public record Nov. 25, 2025. Railway Age reproduces it in full below.
“On behalf of the undersigned trade associations, chambers and businesses representing vital sectors of the U.S. economy, we write to express strong concerns regarding the proposed merger between Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railway.
“Our industries collectively represent millions of American workers that depend on freight rail as an important link in the supply chain. Without it, American consumers can’t affordably access the goods and services they rely on every day. Reliable and affordable freight rail service is essential to maintaining U.S. manufacturing strength, supporting energy security, and ensuring reliable supply chains.
“History has shown that increased rail consolidation leads to fewer choices, higher transportation costs, service disruptions, and reduced economic competitiveness. Today, just four Class I railroads [UP, NS, BNSF, and CSX] control more than 90% of freight rail traffic. The proposed UP/NS transaction would be the largest rail merger in history and would put control of more than 40% of rail traffic in the hands of a single railroad. It would further weaken the small amount of competition that currently exists in the railroad industry. Past rail mergers have triggered major breakdowns in the supply chain and increased costs for businesses and consumers alike.
“Given the potential for widespread economic harm, it is essential that the Surface Transportation Board proceed with great care. The creation of a transcontinental railroad must not come at the expense of competition, service reliability, or the broader health of the U.S. supply chain.
“We respectfully urge the Board to thoroughly scrutinize this merger proposal to ensure it does not undermine the integrity of our nation’s transportation network or disrupt the supply chain.
“Sincerely,
“Agribusiness Association of Iowa
“Agribusiness Council of Indiana
“Agricultural Retailers Association
“Alabama Chemistry Council
“Alliance for Automotive Innovation
“Alliance for Chemical Distribution
“American Chemistry Council
“American Coatings Association
“American Foundry Society
“American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers
“AmericanHort
“Associated Industries of Vermont
“Builders Association of Minnesota
“Can Manufacturers Institute
“Chemical Industry Council of Illinois
“Chemistry Council of New Jersey
“Chlorine Institute
“Communications Cable and Connectivity Association
“Council of Producers & Distributors of Agrotechnology
“Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce
“EPS Industry Alliance
“Essential Minerals Association
“Freight Rail Customer Alliance
“Georgia Chemistry Council
“Household and Commercial Products Association
“Illinois Farm Bureau
“Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association
“Institute of Makers of Explosives
“Kentucky Association of Manufacturers
“Maine Forest Products Council
“Maine State Chamber of Commerce
“Manufacturers Association of Maine
“Massachusetts Chemistry & Technology Alliance
“Minnesota AgriGrowth Council
“Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association
“Minnesota Crop Production Retailers
“Minnesota Farmers Union
“Minnesota Forest Industries
“Minnesota Grocers Association
“Montana Agricultural Business
“Montana Chamber of Commerce
“National Industrial Transportation League
“New York State Chemistry Council
“Nonwoven Fabrics Industry
“North Carolina Agribusiness Council
“North Dakota Association of Builders
“North Dakota Chamber of Commerce
“North Dakota Petroleum Council
“Ohio Chemistry Technology Council
“Pennsylvania Chemical Industry Council
“Performance Racing Industry
“Pet Food Institute
“Pine Chemicals Association International
“PLASTICS Industry Association
“Rail Passengers Association
“South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Industry
“Specialty Equipment Market Association
“Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance
“Treasure State Resources Association of Montana
“Vinyl Institute
“Wayzata West Metro Chamber
“West Virginia Manufacturers Association
“Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
“Wisconsin Agri-Business Association”
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Railway Age and Railway Track & Structures on Oct. 15-16 hosted the third-annual in-person Women in Rail Conference with a packed lineup of influential women and their allies, who shared experiences, celebrated achievements, and discussed the future of the freight, passenger, and transit rail industry.
Conference registration opened on Oct. 14, with badge pick-up sponsored by Genesee & Wyoming and a continental breakfast sponsored by UTLX. (Photograph Courtesy of Amsted Rail)Close to 300 people attended the event, which was filled with dynamic panels, a awards luncheon for the publications’ Women in Rail and Women in Railroad Engineering honorees, and networking opportunities—all at a new, larger venue, the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg, just outside of Chicago. Also included this year: a tour of Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s (CPKC) Bensenville Yard.
Annie Adams, Chief Human Resources Officer, NS (Courtesy of Willie D. Mills)The 2025 Women in Rail Conference featured headliner Annie Adams of Norfolk Southern. Joining her on stage over the course of two days of educational sessions were: Jennifer Hamann of Union Pacific; Herman E. Crosson of Anacostia Rail Holdings; Jean Savage of Trinity Industries, Inc.; John S. Morris III of Metra; Kate Bourgeois of Mississippi Export Railroad; Sarah Watterson of Brightline West; Scott Sandoval of Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc.; and Cherise Myers of American Public Transportation Association. These and many other trailblazers work to ensure that more women and young professionals join the industry and move up the passenger and freight rail ladders.
Railway Age and RT&S editors held informal “fireside chat”-style conversations with decision-makers from across the industry, covering everything from career and life trajectories to strategies for leadership, building an effective team, and managing crises to advice on salary negotiation, self-branding, and maintaining a culture of belonging. Among the other moderators were Lisa Tackach of Railroad Construction Company, Inc., and the League of Railway Women; Barbara Wilson of Railroad Financial Corporation; and James T. Riley of the Railway Supply Institute.
Following is a photographic roundup of the event:
Railway Age and RT&S Publisher Jonathan Chalon (pictured above) and RT&S Managing Editor Jennifer McLawhorn (pictured top, right) opened the 2025 Women in Rail event, welcoming the nearly 300 attendees and setting the stage for a packed two days of educational sessions. (Also shown are Railway Age’s Executive Editor Marybeth Luczak, pictured top left, and Senior Editor Carolina Worrell. pictured top, center). (Photographs Courtesy of Willie D. Mills, top; Amsted Rail, bottom).
NS’s Annie Adams, Chief Human Resources Officer (speaking, above), headlined Women in Rail providing insights on recruitment trends, career development, and her professional journey in a “fireside chat” conversation with Railway Age’s Marybeth Luczak and Carolina Worrell and RT&S’s Jennifer McLawhorn. “One message I hope resonated: careers aren’t always linear,” Adams shared after the event. “Some of the most rewarding growth comes from stepping into something new and betting on yourself. NS is a great place to do just that, and I’m proud to champion our railroad and our people every chance I get. Thanks for having us, Railway Age!” (Photograph Courtesy of Willie D. Mills)
One out of every six rail employees is a veteran. Railroading’s Heroes, moderated by Railway Supply Institute President James T. Riley (far right, above), addressed the connection between the military and railroads and the role it plays in companies’ recruitment and development practices—from the field to the C-Suite. Jean Savage, CEO and President of Trinity Industries, Inc. (second from right); Quilesha Hodges, Assistant Terminal Superintendent, Women’s Network Mentorship Chair at BNSF (center); John S. Morris III, Chief Financial Officer of Metra (second from left); and Herman E. Crosson, Chief Safety & Compliance Officer, Anacostia Rail Holdings discussed how having a military background helps them and other freight and passenger railroaders lead and succeed. (Photograph Courtesy of Bhavya sai Vaishnavi Seetamsetti, Project Manager, Horrocks)
Jennifer Hamann (second from right, above) has served Union Pacific for 33 years. Now Executive Vice President and CFO and a 2023 Railway Age Women in Rail award winner, she took part in the three-part Leadership Journeys session in which top railroaders in different industry segments shared career twists, accomplishments and challenges, and how their backgrounds have influenced their leadership styles. Her co-presenters on the freight side of the business were Kate Bourgeois, President and CEO of Mississippi Export Railroad (second from left; a 2022 Railway Age Women in Rail award winner); Jenni Benton, Senior Vice President Commercial at Patriot Rail (far left; a 2023 Railway Age Women in Rail award winner); and Kimia Khatami, Director of Transload Strategy and Operations for CPKC (a 2025 Railway Age 25 “Fast Trackers” Under 40 award winner). Going beyond their résumés, they talked openly about what keeps them up at night and how they deal with challenges; what they look for when hiring; and how they are building a strong culture at their respective companies. (Photograph Courtesy of UP)
The Leadership Journeys session also featured engineering and consulting representatives, with Rachel Burckardt, Senior Vice President/Senior Project Manager-Northeast Lead, Freight Rail National Business Line at WSP USA (left), and Lariza Stewart, Senior Project Manager, Rail, KCI Technologies, Inc. and Chair – AREMA Committee 2 (right). They told attendees about why joining this segment of the industry has been a good career move and what they wished someone had told them before they started, plus what technologies or changes they see shaping its future.
Rounding out the Leadership Journeys session were Janice R. Thomas, Deputy Executive Director, External Affairs/Chief of Staff at Metra (pictured above), and Sarah Watterson, President of Brightline West (pictured top, on screen via Microsoft Teams). They highlighted not only their backgrounds and the commuter and high-speed rail markets, but also how they deal with adversity and the importance of women and their allies lifting each other up. The Leadership Journeys talks were impactful, touching many in the audience.(Top Photograph Courtesy of Lisa Tackach; Bottom Photograph Courtesy of Willie D. Mills)
(Photograph Courtesy of Rachel Burckardt) (Photograph Courtesy of NARBW)At the Conference Luncheon Sponsored by CN, we recognized the outstanding honorees of the Railway Age 2024 Women in Rail and RT&S 2025 Women in Railroad Engineering award programs. Nine of Railway Age’s recipients (pictured top with awards judge Barbara Wilson, far right) and seven of RT&S’ recipients (bottom) took part in the celebration and were presented with specially designed plaques. (Photograph Above Courtesy of Carolina Worrell)
Pictured, right, with Janice R. Thomas of Metra, who served as a Leadership Journeys featured speaker, are Gina Drinkwater, Shop Superintendent at Metra (left), and Jere Alwin, Signal Design Manager of Metra (right), who were presented with awards as part of the 2024 Railway Age Women in Rail and 2025 RT&S Women in Railroad Engineering programs, respectively.
“#NOPB [New Orleans Public Belt] proudly celebrates Ari Ferrand Goodwin SHRM-CP, CAPM [pictured right], our Director of Organizational Development, for being named one of the Railway Age 2024 Women in Rail! Ari’s leadership and dedication to fostering inclusivity and driving professional growth across our organization embody the spirit of innovation and excellence that moves our industry forward. Her recognition is a testament to her impact — not only within the rail community but also in creating a workplace where every employee can thrive. Congratulations, Ari, on this well-deserved honor!” (Caption and Photograph Courtesy of New Orleans Public Belt Via Social Media)
(Photograph Courtesy of Carolina Worrell)Industry mentors led the Commanding the Track: Your Leadership Toolkit session. The topics addressed were:
• How to be an effective leader, with 29-year railroad industry veteran Karen Claussen, Vice Chair, Gulf & Ohio Railways, Inc. and SVP, Knoxville Locomotive Works (pictured above).
• How to manage a crisis, with Henrika Buchanan, Senior Vice President, National Practice Consultant, Transit & Rail Market Sector, HNTB. A 2024 Railway Age Women in Rail Award honoree, she is pictured (top right) with Carolina Worrell. (Photograph Courtesy of Lisa Tackach)
• Building a productive team, with Kari Gonzales, President and CEO, MxV Rail. A 2023 Railway Age Women in Rail Award honoree, she is pictured (far right) with Marybeth Luczak. (Photograph Courtesy of MxV Rail)
• Fast-tracking your career, with Cassandra Mullee, Vice President Network Operations, CN. A 2022 Railway Age 25 “Fast Trackers” Under 40 Award honoree, she is pictured below with Jennifer McLawhorn. (Photograph Courtesy of Marybeth Luczak)
[T]he right toolkit doesn’t just elevate your leadership; it empowers your entire journey. It’s a true privilege to be part of this conference. Throughout my journey in rail, I’ve been honored to receive recognition through several industry awards, but the real reward has been learning, growing, and now sharing the leadership tools that helped me get here.”
—Kari Gonzales, MxV Rail
How to successfully market yourself was the focus of Executive Edge: Branding, Negotiation and Presence. Experts Anna Guzman, Vice President – HR Business Partner, Wabtec (second from right); Cherise Myers, Senior Director of Workforce Development, APTA (far right); Ashley Nelson, Chief Human Resources Officer, AITX (center); and Kari Wagner, Vice President Commercial Strategy, The Greenbrier Companies (second from left) led the informative and crowd-pleasing discussion, providing winning advice on developing an executive presence and asking for a raise, and building a network, a skills portfolio, and a personal brand. Never shying away from questions, they tackled how to navigate the potential of being called “too aggressive” or “calculating” when going after promotions; AI-based candidate selection; imposter syndrome; and much more. (Photograph Courtesy of AITX)
Wrapping up the education sessions on Oct. 15 was Allyship to Action: Maintaining a Culture of Belonging moderated by Barbara Wilson, Railroad Financial Corporation Senior Advisor and one of Railway Age’s Women in Rail Award judges. Panelists discussed the importance of communication and engaging trainees, front-line employees, managers, and labor unions, plus upholding a culture of respect at California’s Metrolink regional/commuter rail agency (Paul Hubler, Chief Strategy Officer); Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc. (Scott Sandoval, Assistant Vice President, Engineering, American Region); and The Indiana Rail Road (Joe Gioe, former President and CEO President and CEO). (Photograph Courtesy of Willie D. Mills)
A networking reception, sponsored by R.J. Corman, closed out Day One. As a bonus, author Chris Enss (far left) was on hand to share highlights from her latest book, “Iron Women,” celebrating women’s contributions to the rise of the rail industry. In addition, attendees visited the booths of conference sponsors and supporters like Anacostia Rail Holdings, Amsted Rail, and the Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Railway Business Women, which turned 100 this year! (Photograph Courtesy of NARBW)
Day 2 brought together Dr. Karen Philbrick, the Mineta Transportation Institute’s Executive Director and a 2024 Railway Age Women in Rail Award recipient (third from left); Amy Krouse, Vice President Communications for the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (third from right); and Vianey De la Mora García, Director General of Asociación Mexicana de Ferrocarriles (second from right), for the “Inclusive Growth and Emerging Talent” session. With the Railway Age and RT&S editors, they explored workforce trends and how organizations across the North American freight and passenger rail sectors are breaking down barriers and creating more accessible pathways for emerging talent. (Photograph Courtesy of Jonathan Chalon)
Taking the stage for our “Trackside Impact: Environment and Community” session were Kayden Howard, Senior Vice President, Health, Safety, and Environmental Programs, OmniTRAX (second from left); Sean Strong, Vice President of Environmental, Watco; and Brett Guarino, Project Manager, CSX Construction Engineering (2025 RT&S Women in Railroad Engineering Award winner; middle right). They covered how the industry is lowering carbon emissions through innovation, strengthening stakeholder engagement, and leading construction projects that deliver lasting, positive impacts, with moderator Lisa Tackach, Head of Marketing, Railroad Construction Company, Inc., and President, League of Railway Women. (Photograph Courtesy of Marybeth Luczak)
Christina Booth-Jackson, Vice President of IT for R.J. Corman and a 2024 Railway Age Women in Rail Award recipient (second from right), contributed insights on implementing IT systems that drive efficiency and allow employees to work smarter during the High-Tech Career Development and Industry Innovations panel. She was joined by Stacey Matlen, Senior Vice President of Innovation at The Partnership for New York City (second from left), which teams with startups to solve public transportation challenges for the largest transit agencies in North America. Leading the conversation were Carolina Worrell (far left) and Jennifer McLawhorn from Railway Age and RT&S, respectively. (Photograph Courtesy of R.J. Corman)
Sergeant Douglas Balk, Central Division Supervisor, Criminal Investigations at the Amtrak Police Department (left), and Moriah Whiteman, Director of Education and Training at Operation Lifesaver Inc. (right), reinforced the importance of rail safety during a special session with Marybeth Luczak of Railway Age. Most important, they discussed how attendees can get involved to spread the message by becoming authorized OLI volunteers. Following the training process, including online classroom work, these volunteers conduct free programs on rail safety education across large and small communities and participate in public awareness campaigns like “See Tracks? Think Train! Week,” an annual event across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico that includes Operation Clear Track for law enforcement and first responders.
Today, we welcomed visitors from Railway Age and RT&S magazines’ annual Women in Rail conference to our Bensenville Yard outside Chicago. Conference participants got an onsite overview of the terminal’s operations and our ongoing multi-year yard reconfiguration project, a massive… pic.twitter.com/f0lKQHNd3x
— CPKC (@CPKCrail) October 16, 2025Conference attendees ended Day Two with a special tour sponsored by RailPros. They visited Bensenville Yard, Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s primary classification yard in Chicago. Located just south of O’Hare International Airport, Bensenville is a key logistics hub for the Class I railroad’s intermodal operations. It is also home to an auto compound, built as part of the yard reconfiguration project that started in 2022. Our sincere thanks to our guides: CPKC’s Larry Lloyd (AVP for US Government Affairs); Wes Gendi (Director of Industrial Development South); Jake Rinnels (General Manager of Operations), and Josh Pennington (Superintendent of Operation). (All Photographs Courtesy of Marybeth Luczak)
Attendees from all walks of the industry participated in the Railway Age/RT&S Women in Rail Conference and shared their pictures via social media. We showcase a handful below. Thanks to all for joining us! Mark your calendar for next year: Oct. 6-7, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg, Ill. The Railway Age 2025 Women in Rail and RT&S 2026 Women in Railroad Engineering award honorees will be recognized.
Norfolk Southern“UTLX and Procor were delighted to take part in the Women in Rail conference where we built connections with and heard from incredible women who are shaping the future of rail by bringing innovation, resilience, and leadership to the industry. As a sponsor of the event, the UTLX and Procor team repped in a big way! We thank Railway Age & Railway Track & Structures for hosting such an important event. To every woman breaking barriers, driving change, and lifting others along the way: your impact goes far beyond the rails. Let’s continue to build a more inclusive, empowered industry – together.” (Caption and Photograph Courtesy of UTLX and Procor Via Social Media)
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