Our country’s railroads support every business sector, and smart policy can ensure they continue to operate efficiently. (Partner Content)

When perusing a car lot for the right vehicle, you may not think about trains. Why would you? Well, because if not for freight trains, your options would be limited, and the car that fits your budget might not be…

Global business today has never been more competitive, as barriers to the exchange of goods, knowledge and capital continue to decrease. In this new and smaller world, the success of a business is often determined by speed, efficiency and reliability.

The U.S. freight rail industry is among the most successful comeback stories in American history.

The freight rail industry was partially deregulated in 1980. To say that it was a catalyst that transformed the industry is an understatement, says Robert Gallamore, a nationally recognized expert on railroad and intermodal economics, technology and safety.

By the late 1970s, more than 20 percent of America’s freight rail network was owned by bankrupt railroads. An entire industry stood on the brink of collapse.

Although you probably don’t think much about how things we use every day get to where they need to be, America’s railroads have. It’s their job to keep up with the rising global demand for goods, delivering them safely, on…

On an otherwise uneventful Sunday in June, leaders in Washington, D.C. began to panic. The sixth-largest company in the nation had slipped into bankruptcy. Its collapse threatened the stability of an entire industry and the health of the nation’s economy.

Today, America’s freight rail system is the envy of the world. Thirty-five years ago, it was in shambles, and many of the nation’s railroads were near bankruptcy. In one telling measure of the industry’s condition — and a metaphor for…

A healthy freight rail industry is vital to the nation’s economic recovery – and with America’s changing economy now the new normal, a strong and robust freight rail network is needed to meet the country’s transforming business challenges head on.…

On both sides of the U.S.-Canada border, we are solemnly reflecting on the one-year observance of a terrible tragedy.  On July 6, 2013, 47 people were killed when a train hauling crude oil derailed and exploded in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec. Investigators…

Over the last few years, newly tapped sources of crude oil have transformed energy production in the United States. In communities like Williston, North Dakota, thousands of new jobs have been created and millions of barrels of domestically produced oil…

From the chlorine used to purify drinking water to the car in your garage, America’s freight railroads transport some of the most important products in our economy, and have invested billions of dollars to ensure that they are transported safely.…

At a very basic level, railroading today seems similar to railroading 150 years ago: it consists of steel wheels traveling on steel rails. This apparent similarity, however, masks the widespread application of modern technology and numerous ongoing safety initiatives that…

How CSX Corporation is meeting the freight demands of tomorrow By Michael Ward The 31,000 employees of CSX Corporation are defining how tomorrow moves. With the economy gaining momentum and the nation committed to a sustainable future, America’s freight railroads…

By Janette Hong How CN is meeting the freight demands of tomorrow ’s agenda of Operational and Service Excellence — aimed at finding the best balance between high levels of operating efficiency and safety, and improved customer service – has…

Since 2008, freight railroads have been working closely with the federal government and passenger railroads to implement positive train control – the largest and most complex safety system in the history of the railroad industry. When complete, this cutting-edge technology…

How do you construct a freight rail network that is the envy of the world? From the tracks to the ties to the spikes, click through to learn how railroads have built and maintained America’s modern rail network. Railroad track:…

“I knew nothing about the railroad other than it ran on rails,” said Kimberly Vaughn. Yet after a friend encouraged her to apply for a job as an Environmental Specialist with CSX, Kim suddenly became one of two women working…

By Janette Hong How Florida East Coast Railway is meeting the freight demands of tomorrow (FEC) continues to expand our capacity in order to meet future freight demands. Our attractive freight mix and efficient truck-like transportation solutions are keys to…

1. The “Beer” Conductor After a hard day at work, most people like to relax with a frosty beer in hand. But for some freight rail workers, taking care of your beer is their full-time job. In a rail yard…

By Janette Hong How Norfolk Southern is meeting the freight demands of tomorrow  (NS) is deploying groundbreaking technology on its road locomotive fleet to reduce fuel use and operating costs. Our consistent investments in network capacity, innovative technology, and reliable…

Supporting the world’s largest economy is no small task. Every day, thousands of customers rely upon American freight railroads to safely and efficiently transport everything from the food on your table to the energy resources that power your home. Learn…

Identifying a repair before its needed, timing the delivery of cargo down to the hour and coordinating the movement of millions of rail cars between more than 570 railroads across a 140,000-mile network: to some it may seem like an…

One million carloads of paper, lumber and forest products, 1.6 million carloads of corn, wheat and other farm products, 6.3 million carloads of coal, and 12.3 million carloads of intermodal freight – this is just a fraction of the volume…

By Janette Hong How Kansas City Southern is meeting the freight demands of tomorrow Companies around the world are looking to North America to develop new markets and improve the bottom line. With the increasing popularity of cross-border freight transportation…

In the digital age, speed and efficiency are everything. Emails are delivered in the blink of an eye, supply chains are managed using just-in-time strategies, algorithms adjust GPS navigation systems in hundredths of a second and products are purchased with…

Coffee beans, cement and cell phones – what do these products have in common? For most Americans, seemingly little. Yet together with virtually every good and commodity bought and sold today, they are united by a network that operates behind…

By Janette Hong How Union Pacific is meeting the freight demands of tomorrow Delivering on our strategy to create customer value by working safely, delivering excellent service, driving efficiency, generating strong shareholder returns and reinvesting in our railroad is how…

By Janette Hong How BNSF Railway is meeting the freight demands of tomorrow has tremendous opportunities ahead to meet the freight demands of tomorrow. I am confident that, as always, we’ll face the future with the tough-minded optimism that has…

By Janette Hong An Interview with Joni Casey The Intermodal Association of North America (IANA) represents more than 1,000 freight stakeholders including railroads, steamship lines, motor carriers, ports, marine terminal operators and third-party logistics providers among many others. The association’s…

By Janette Hong How Genesee & Wyoming is meeting the freight demands of tomorrow short line and regional freight railroads provide a vital link between thousands of communities and the American rail network. Our 101 railroads provide service in 41…

Among the low-slung warehouses of Kokomo Indiana, a series of white and silver silos rise towards the sky. To visitors, Kokomo Grain could be just another landmark of the American Midwest. To Indiana farmers, this grain elevator is much more.…

By Janette Hong From the shoes you wear to the food you eat – virtually every good and commodity sold in America is transported by freight railroads. Yet that’s not all. Despite carrying millions of tons of consumer products each…

By Janette Hong In small towns and big cities across the United States freight trains can be seen moving products to market. The sheer volume of goods moved is staggering – billions of tons of freight are moved by railroads each year. In…