Town close to BHM Irondale yard has crossing blocked off an on for 8 days.
Another Norfolk Southern train stalls on the tracks in Trussville (msn.com)
Reported elsewhere rider on late #20 2 days ago that line from Meridian- Slidel had numerous freight parked. Caused more delays to 20. Over 7 hours late. Time for serious STB intervention ?
Seems weird they can't just cut it at the crossings. 8 days! Wow.
Still in training.
Curious coincidence?
News story reprinted in the Mass Bay Railroad Enthusiasts "Callboy," which I got today:
CSX, NS say Golf Coast passenger service would "devastate" freight operations.
The article is edited from a Newswire piece: https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/csx-ns-say-gulf-coast-passenger-service-would-devastate-freight-operations/
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
blue streak 1 Town close to BHM Irondale yard has crossing blocked off an on for 8 days. Another Norfolk Southern train stalls on the tracks in Trussville (msn.com) Reported elsewhere rider on late #20 2 days ago that line from Meridian- Slidel had numerous freight parked. Caused more delays to 20. Over 7 hours late. Time for serious STB intervention ?
The STB is already on it: https://www.railwayage.com/regulatory/stb-to-ns-address-service-issues-shipper-complaints/
NS' STB rail service stats have tanked since mid/late October: (https://www.stb.gov/reports-data/rail-service-data/#railroads-tab-content-1-7).
Average system speed is down close to 4 mph (-19%) and yard dwell times have ballooned from 21.7 hours to 27.9 hours. The average speed for intermodal trains is barely over 22 mph, which is pathetic. Weekly average number of trains holding per day has increased from 31 to 87. That last number might be a bit inflated due to the effect of the Thanksgiving holiday.
In and around Decatur, Illinois, low priority grain and pig iron trains have been tied up in sidings for days in some cases. High priority intermodal and autoparts trains are running 12-18 hours off schedule. Main problem in the Decatur terminal seems to be a lack of crews.
tree68 Curious coincidence? News story reprinted in the Mass Bay Railroad Enthusiasts "Callboy," which I got today: CSX, NS say Golf Coast passenger service would "devastate" freight operations. The article is edited from a Newswire piece: https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/csx-ns-say-gulf-coast-passenger-service-would-devastate-freight-operations/
It's worth noting that yesterday the STB ruled that CSX must allow AMTK personnel to go in their Mobile yard for the purpose of determining where to have a layover track for the proposed AMTK trains.
ns145 blue streak 1 Town close to BHM Irondale yard has crossing blocked off an on for 8 days. Another Norfolk Southern train stalls on the tracks in Trussville (msn.com) Reported elsewhere rider on late #20 2 days ago that line from Meridian- Slidel had numerous freight parked. Caused more delays to 20. Over 7 hours late. Time for serious STB intervention ? The STB is already on it: https://www.railwayage.com/regulatory/stb-to-ns-address-service-issues-shipper-complaints/ NS' STB rail service stats have tanked since mid/late October: (https://www.stb.gov/reports-data/rail-service-data/#railroads-tab-content-1-7). Average system speed is down close to 4 mph (-19%) and yard dwell times have ballooned from 21.7 hours to 27.9 hours. The average speed for intermodal trains is barely over 22 mph, which is pathetic. Weekly average number of trains holding per day has increased from 31 to 87. That last number might be a bit inflated due to the effect of the Thanksgiving holiday. In and around Decatur, Illinois, low priority grain and pig iron trains have been tied up in sidings for days in some cases. High priority intermodal and autoparts trains are running 12-18 hours off schedule. Main problem in the Decatur terminal seems to be a lack of crews.
NS's PSR's
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
They slashed things a few years back implementing PSR. This is the worst meltdown that I have personally seen on NS since 2014. At least back then they were having trouble moving record amounts of traffic. Now they can't seem to move the regular complement of trains.
Over the weekend NS dug out the last 2 trains parked west of Decatur, IL and sent them east. Train operations appear to be getting back to some semblance of normal. Will need to keep an eye on the STB rail service data to see if things are actually improving or not.
Self-inflicted wounds account Precision Scheduled Railroading. Can't grow the business, so to keep stock analysts happy NS decided to cut expenses, including labor, and cut too deeply. Furloughed TY&E employees are not coming back (something that is affecting BNSF and other Class 1s too).
A major meltdown in rail service around the country is on the verge of occurring account corporate greed. Should work to the brotherhoods' benefit during negotiations for a new national contract.
Same circus, different clowns.
RRs have been playing this same stupid cliff-hugging game since accountants took over management. They think falling off the cliff is an acceptable cost of doing business. I seriously question their ability when one extra train to run creates chaos.
Monday the line was so congested that both Crescents were so late at ATL and NOL that the Crescents took crew delays there Tuesday. That was a repeat for Sunday into Monday.
So the Alabama State Port Authrity which is supposed to help the people dont wan the good people of Alabama riding passenger trains? Could it be that their traffic is oil and gas and auto imports??
It was reported elsewhere that KCS is upset with NS not taking trains off the interchange track at Meridian, MS in anything like a timely manner. Supposedly KCS has given NS an ultimatum saying NS has two hours to put a crew on the train and either send it on its way to Atlanta or pull it into NS's small yard in Meridian. If they can't do that KCS crews will pull it back to their yard and NS will have to get it from there.
JayBeeIt was reported elsewhere that KCS is upset with NS not taking trains off the interchange track at Meridian, MS in anything like a timely manner. Supposedly KCS has given NS an ultimatum saying NS has two hours to put a crew on the train and either send it on its way to Atlanta or pull it into NS's small yard in Meridian. If they can do that KCS crews will pull it back to their yard and NS will have to get it from there.
Back during the post Katrina days with CSX's NO&M subdivision shut down and CSX detouring traffic via Birmingham and the Meridian Speedway to New Orleans (with CSX Crews, once they got qualified) the operation was anything but smooth, with CSX frequently having to recrew the detour trains while on the NS.
What in the world is going on with the Cresecents NOL <> ATL?. For the last 2 days they have been within less than 10 minutes late. Today 20 has left BHM on time anniston 6 late and 19 is approaching Slidel a couple minutes late. Still time to delay to NOL and ATL and will be checking. CSX just waiting to delay 20 an hour or more at ATL CP Howell
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