Railroad News

The planned Howard Street Tunnel expansion project in Baltimore has received a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) as part of the project review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced yesterday.

The project will expand the 126-year-old Howard Street Tunnel to accommodate double-stacked container trains traveling to and from the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore, increasing efficiency and capacity.

Northwest Grains International LLC last week broke ground on an agricultural transload operation in Dillon County, South Carolina.

The $2.5 million transload facility will serve agricultural producers and handle containerized soybeans, lumber, logs, peanuts, cotton, cotton seed and yellow peas for export through the Port of Charleston via the rail-served Inland Port Dillon, according to a South Carolina Ports Authority press release.

Terminals operated by Total Distribution Services Inc. (TDSI), a CSX subsidiary, received the Association of American Railroads' (AAR) "Terminal of the Year" award in both the origin and destination categories.

TDSI Strawberry Yard in Louisville, Kentucky, earned the Origin Terminal of the Year award with a 99.69% audit score.

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) yesterday announced it rejected CSX’s proposed acquisition of Pan Am Systems Inc. and its short-line subsidiaries because the Class I’s application was considered "incomplete."

The board found that the application did not include all of the information necessary for purposes of a "significant" transaction under its regulations, STB officials said in a press release.

CSX Corp. yesterday announced decreases in first-quarter 2021 revenue and net income compared with the same period a year ago due to difficult operating conditions during the quarter.

The Class I posted Q1 net earnings of $706 million, or $0.93 per share, compared with $770 million, or $1 per share in the same period last year. Revenue for the quarter decreased 1% to $2.81 billion, as intermodal and other revenue growth was more than offset by declines in merchandise, coal and fuel surcharge revenue.

CSX Corp. announced yesterday it has closed the first phase of a comprehensive $525 million rail agreement with the commonwealth of Virginia.

The transaction is part of Virginia’s previously announced multibillion dollar rail-transportation initiative to improve service and infrastructure in the state.

Opposition to CSX's proposed acquisition of Pan Am Railways is lining up, according to recent filings with the Surface Transportation Board (STB). 

This week, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, various state lawmakers and the Vermont Rail System were among those expressing concerns about the impact the acquisition would have on rail competition in New England. 

The Maryland Department of Transportation and Maryland Port Administration (MDOT MPA) have released the environmental assessment (EA) for the reconstruction of the CSX-owned Howard Street Tunnel in Baltimore.

A public comment period on the assessment runs through March 30. The project consists of vertical clearance improvements along CSX's Interstate 95 corridor to allow trains transporting double-stacked containers to travel between Baltimore and Philadelphia.

CSX Corp. yesterday reported fourth-quarter 2020 net earnings of $760 million, or 99 cents per share, compared with $771 million, or 99 cents per share, in the previous year's same quarter.

The Q4 2020 net income included a $48 million charge, or 5 cents per share after tax, related to debt retirement.

CSX Corp. yesterday reported third-quarter 2020 net earnings declined 14% to $736 million, or 96 cents per share, compared with $856 million, or $1.08 per share, in the same period a year ago.

Revenue for the quarter fell 11% to $2.65 billion, as intermodal volume growth was more than offset by declines in coal and merchandise volumes, as well as lower fuel surcharge revenue.

Following heavy rains stemming from Hurricane Delta, a CSX train derailed yesterday, causing a fire and hazmat situation outside Atlanta.

Two CSX employees were transported to a local hospital with minor injuries, according to a statement from Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services. 

CSX last week published its 2019 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report, which highlights the railroad's sustainability actions on safety, environment, people, communities and governance.

The report addresses CSX's "record-setting" safety performance, achieving 2020 emissions reduction targets ahead of schedule, and CSX becoming the first Class I to operate at a fuel efficiency rate of less than one gallon of fuel per 1,000 gross ton miles for a quarter.

CSX has awarded a contract to Metso for the design, supply and installation of a rail-car dumper system that will be used to unload coal at the Curtis Bay Export Terminal in Baltimore.

The Metso Twin Cage Tandem Rotary Car Dumper System will include two complete dumper barrel assemblies, a complete hopper system with grizzlies, a unit train positioner operation and installation. The system is expected to be operational in October 2021, Metso officials said in a press release.