CPKC

With an expected December 1 date for the application regarding the historic $85 billion proposed merger between Class I railroad carriers Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern, there was no shortage of opinions regarding the deal at the RailTrends conference.

While it has not crossed the finish line yet, the proposed Class I railroad merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern is ostensibly moving along, with shareholders for each company nearly unanimous in voting in favor of the deal, according to respective statements issued by each company today.

Earlier this month, activist investor Ancora Holdings LLC penned a letter to the Board of Directors at Jacksonville-based Class I railroad carrier CSX, in which it stated that CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs has put the company in the position of having to play “catch up,” following the recently-announced merger between Union Pacific (UP) and Norfolk Southern (NS).

Green Bay, Wis.-based freight transportation and logistics services provider Schneider is on track to roll out a new intermodal service offering, which will offer continuous freight rail service between Mexico- and Texas-based points in the Southeast, with service set to commence next month.

CPKC and CSX will establish a direct Class I-to-Class I interchange at or near Myrtlewood and connect shippers in Mexico, Texas and the Southeast U.S, with MNBR continuing to provide local service to customers between Meridian and Myrtlewood.

The push comes as coverage has risen from 5% to 90%, but the remaining 10% still lack this essential benefit.

While high tensions between Class I railroad carriers CN and Canada Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) remain intact, following the potential for a full-blown work stoppage, which was ostensibly resolved, for the time being, after the railroads respectively received offers from the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), calling for imposing binding arbitration between them and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC), freight rail activity north of the border has resumed.

Roughly 18 hours after Class I railroad carriers Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and CN respectively locked out their collective nearly 10,000 employees represented by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) at 12:01AM ET on August 22, an announcement by the Canadian Minister of Labour Steven MacKinnon paved the way for freight trains to soon be rolling again north of the border.

As expected, Class I railroad carriers Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and CN respectively locked out its employees that are represented by the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) at 12:01 AM ET today.  TCRC represents nearly 10,000 workers at CN and CPKC. 

Following the release of an intermodal embargo schedule for United States-bound intermodal shipments last week, Montreal-based Class I railroad carrier CN said on Sunday, August 18 that it has issued a notice to the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) to formally advise TCRC of its plan to lockout Canadian TCRC-represented employees on Thursday, August 22 at 12:01 A.M., “unless an agreement or binding arbitration is achieved before that time.”

The potential for a freight railroad strike north of the border remains intact, following respective statements recently made by Class I railroad carriers Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and CN.

Following a decision made last Friday, August 9 by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), in which it determined that no services need to be maintained during a railway strike or lockout in order to protect Canadian public health and safety, Class I railroad carriers Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and CN respectively stated that there is an increased chance of a walkout on August 22.

Ottensmeyer served as the final President and CEO of Kansas City Southern from 2015 until April 14, 2023, upon the completion of the combination of Canadian Pacific and KCS that created CPKC. And from 2008 to 2015, he was Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at KCS and served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at the railroad from 2006 to 2008.

Over 9,000 rail workers poised to walk off job, disrupting critical transportation routes used by various industries.

STB Chairman Martin Oberman said he will not seek reappointment, at the end of his five-year term, which expires on December 31, and will continue to serve several months into next year, which is within his one-year holdover period.