ANALYSISRAILFREIGHT:NORTHAMERICA
Keepingfreight
ontrack
Our North American correspondent Perry A. Trunick finds mixed
may require repeated use of a power unit, and
the activity at a larger railroad’s freight
fortunes on the continent’s railways. The US government is classification yard may preclude the
investing and rail freight volumes are recovering, but there is
locomotive staying with the project load.
evidence that project cargo is in decline on the tracks.
The short line railroads can be an
important link for project cargoes, Manger
pointed out. Not only do they serve as origin
or destination carriers, but they often have
istance plays a big part in North Class I railroad is the largest revenue class. more flexibility when it comes to loading and
D
American rail moves. The rule of The seven North American Class I railroads unloading. According to Manger, the short
thumb is anything moving less than include two Canadian railroads and represent line often has space in its yard for loads to be
500 miles (800 km) is better going only one percent of the railroads, but handled during loading and unloading. The
by road. However, Scott Manger, 70 percent of the revenue and 70 percent of lower volumes of traffic moving through the
operations manager for BNSF Logistics, said the track, according to the Association of yards may also allow a power unit to stay with
shorter distances may be competitive by rail American Railroads (AAR). There are over the load to shift the cars as the cargo is loaded
because of the sheer size and weight of a cargo, 300 local and linehaul railroads, with at least or offloaded. This can be particularly
and the complexities of multi-jurisdictional 350 miles (563 km) of track each. important when a project load is moving on a
motor carrier moves. There are also cargoes Port rail connections do pose some dedicated train, or intact as a multi-car move.
that are just too big for the road and must move challenges. The larger Class I railroads may Even before addressing these network
by rail. have restrictions on where and how oversize issues, getting on the train can present issues.
US railroads are a mix of large and small cargoes are loaded or unloaded, including Specialised cars are often in short supply, or
carriers. The terms that describe rail stipulations that the process must not block a must be scheduled and chartered well in
companies are based on revenue size, so a mainline track. In addition, multi-car loads advance of a move. Turbine components
Project cargo being moved by
Specialized Rail Transport (SRT).
www.heavyliftpfi.com March/April 2010 87
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