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Railway Age, 3/20/20

 

“Saving America”

 

Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief

 

 

A Union Pacific locomotive engineer based in the Pacific Northwest who had just received his notice of exemption from travel restrictions proudly told Railway Age Contributing Editor Bruce Kelly, “We’ve gone from building America to saving it.” This UP field employee in Train & Engine Service has embraced his railroad’s slogan, “Building America,” and his heartfelt statement takes it to a higher level—from motto to mantra.

 

That, dear readers, is what this industry is all about, and it goes beyond the role railroads have as a provider of essential services, freight and passenger. Indeed, it illustrates the resiliency, hope and solidarity that the world needs in order to deal with and vanquish the COVID-19 pandemic. It also illustrates that our industry will continue to do what it does best, moving products and people, while Wall Street weeps and wails, and hedge fund billionaires shaking with fear over trading in their Rolex watches for rattling tin cups filled with plugged nickels plead with Capitol Hill—under the self-delusion of genuine concern—to shut the nation down for 30 days, lest their stock portfolios evaporate. (Yeah, Mr. Ackman—remember him?—I’m talkin’ about you.)

 

But let’s not kid ourselves. The situation is dire. The world hasn’t faced a health crisis like this in 102 years, when the 1918 Flu Pandemic (“Spanish Flu”) infected 500 million people—  .  .  .

 

SNIP

 

The underlying message here is that, regardless of pandemics and other “acts of God,” our industry will stay on the move. To do our jobs, we’ll have to add surgical masks, latex gloves, microbial wipes, bars of soap and bottles of hand sanitizers to the steel-toed safety shoes, safety glasses, reflective vests and hard hats we wear as Personal Protective Equipment. We’ll care for ourselves and for our fellow railroaders, but we’ll also care for the communities we serve. We’re ready to be pressed into service to deliver humanitarian aid, or turn rolling stock into rolling medical facilities that can be transported to anywhere our tracks go. We can deliver doctors and nurses and first-responders, as well as medical supplies. We’ve done it before, and we’ll do it again, whatever it takes.

 

 

[CNJRoss]

Rail Group on Air, 3/30/20

 

 

Podcast Special: The Coronavirus and the Rail Industry

 

Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William Vantuono and RT&S Editor-in-Chief Bill Wilson offer insight on the federal stimulus package, how the freight industry is dealing with COVID-19, and more. 

 

LISTEN NOW

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CNJRoss]

UPRR 4/3/20

 

 

From the Factory to Rails to your Store's Shelves

 

 

The average U.S. household (2.6 people) uses 409 regular-sized toilet paper rolls per year, according to manufacturer Georgia-Pacific.

 

It's a household essential that's become as rare as finding the hottest toy at Christmas. Toilet paper flies off store shelves as quickly as it's stocked, but Union Pacific is working with its customers to move pulp, the raw material tissue mills need for production. It's one of many paper products that's seeing an uptick in demand as communities hunker down.

 

"The increased demand is a short-term bump in response to the COVID-19 outbreak," said John Ivester, director-Industrial Products, Marketing and Sales. "We're working with our customers on both ends of the supply chain, shipping pulp in boxcars and finished tissue paper via intermodal."

 

The toilet paper market is essentially split between commercial and consumer use, and the two products aren't made the same way. As people shift to staying home full-time, Georgia-Pacific, the maker of Angel Soft and Quilted Northern, says the average U.S. household (2.6 people) will increase daily consumption by approximately 40%. The change is impacting how the supply chain works.

 

In addition to toilet paper, approximately 39 million tons of paper goes into manufacturing boxes every year.

 

"You don't really think about it, because the focus is on the product on the shelf," Ivester said.

 

Ivester says Union Pacific is seeing a "short-term bump" in paper for boxes as online sales and the demand for essential items to restock store shelves rises. The railroad typically hauls the paper in boxcars from mills in the South, Southeast and Pacific Northwest to major cities where box plants are located. Finished boxes are then trucked to online retailers, big box chains, produce packers and others, within about a 100 mile radius, to be loaded and shipped to the end user.

 

Major cities have multiple box plants.

 

"What's really great is about 93% of the boxes are recycled," Ivester said. "Often, Union Pacific will move the recycled boxes by boxcar from the recycler to the mill for production of the paper used to make boxes."

 

While Union Pacific continues playing a critical role in keeping supply chains moving, one of its top paper customers predicts the current rush for every day paper products could be beneficial for consumers. International Paper CEO Mark Sutton recently told CNBC, "We're building efficiencies in and making sure products are available, and I believe you'll see a better stock over time for some products."

 

Consumers nationwide hope that better stock includes supplies for the toilet paper aisle.

 

 

[CNJRoss]

Classic Trains 'Mileposts' blog via Railway Age 4/4/20
 

As 1918 Shows, Railroads Have Been Through This Before

 

Editor’s Note: In 1918, the world was dealing with a deadly coronavirus pandemic, the “Spanish Flu.” Longtime Trains Editor and Publisher Kevin P. Keefe, now retired and a columnist for Classic Trains, sent me his April 2, 2020 “Mileposts” blog, in which he extensively references Railway Age. It is reposted here with permission, with some added photos. “It’s great to have a 170-year-old magazine around!” he said in his note to me. Actually, it’s 164, but who’s counting? Thanks for the shout-out, Kevin. – William C. Vantuono.

 

 

 

All the worrisome news on the coronavirus front seems unprecedented, and railroads aren’t getting a pass. Railroaders are still out there on the job, delivering freight and hauling passengers, but they are performing in an increasingly difficult environment.  

 

That’s most visible on the passenger and transit side, where empty trains and draconian schedule reductions have rendered busy main lines eerily quiet. Here in Milwaukee, we’re down to two daily trains between here and Chicago, down from the customary seven, and that’s nothing compared to what’s happening to Amtrak and transit service in the Northeast and in California.

 

Service interruptions are less apparent on the freight side, but the so-called pandemic curve looks like it will catch up there, too.  .  .  .

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

Railway Age 4/3/20

 

Answering the Call: BNSF Keeps Supplies Moving in Times of Crisis

Written by BNSF Railway Corporate Communications

 

 

 

Editor’s Note: The following story was posted on the Rail Talk area of the BNSF website. It is shared here in its entirety, with permission. We think it presents a useful example of what the rail industry is doing as an essential service in the national supply chain, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. — William C. Vantuono

 

BNSF, like all Class I interstate freight railroads, is designated as part of the nation’s critical infrastructure by law, Presidential Policy Directive and U.S. Department of Transportation. The continued operation of BNSF is necessary for delivery of food, fuel, medicine and other supplies that are vital to the nation’s ability to respond to the current pandemic emergency. As such, BNSF employees should be considered exempt from any local, state and/or federal restrictions on travel or work outside the home imposed in connection with pandemic control measures.

 

We don’t have to wait for the history books to tell us we’re living in a public health crisis like we have never seen. While the COVID-19 narrative is still being written, one important chapter is about BNSF’s and the nation’s freight railroads’ role in keeping our country’s supply chain secure.

 

“This is a very serious and somber time,” said BNSF President and CEO Carl Ice. “Some of the very things that are necessary and have to be available to help combat the present situation move on our railroad.”

 

From source to shelves, we’re working to make sure you and your families get the goods you need.  .  .  .

 

 

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

Rail Group on Air 4/7/20

Rail Group On Air  Special Podcast Series – The Coronavirus and the Rail Industry: KCS President and CEO Pat Ottensmeyer and EVP and COO Jeff Songer

 

In this podcast, Pat Ottensmeyer and Jeff Songer describe how KCS’s dedicated work force is responding to the crisis, and the steps the railroad is taking to protect them as they endeavor to keep rail freight traffic moving. Sponsored by The Greenbrier Companies.

 

LISTEN NOW

[CNJRoss]

Trains 'Newswire' 4/6/20

Class I railroads use videos to update coronavirus response

 

BNSF, Canadian National, Union Pacific produce virus updates

 

 

Three Class I railroads have released videos addressing their response to the coronavirus pandemic.

 

BNSF Railways’ video, available here,  .  .  .

 

SNIP

 

Canadian National’s video,  .  .  .  , is available here.

 

SNIP

 

Union Pacific’s video, available here,  .  .  .

 

More here.

 

[CNJRoss]

Friends of BNSF email 4/9/20

 

 

 

 

Answering the Call: BNSF Keeps Supplies Moving

We don’t have to wait for the history books to tell us we’re living in a public health crisis like we have never seen. While the COVID-19 story is still being written, one important chapter is about BNSF’s and the nation’s freight railroads’ role in keeping our country’s supply chain secure.

“This is a very serious and somber time,” said BNSF President and CEO Carl Ice. “Some of the very things that are necessary and have to be available to help combat the present situation move on our railroad.”

From essential goods to the energy that powers homes and hospitals, BNSF employees are working around the clock to transport the products we all need.  Learn how our employees are showing up to work every day to keep the supply chain moving, now on Rail Talk.

Railroaders Receive Public Support During Pandemic

Members of the public have taken to social media to thank and praise doctors, nurses, grocery store workers, truckers – and of course, railroaders for showing up to work every day to help the public get through the crisis. And some have even publicly displayed signs to thank railroaders for delivering medical supplies and essential goods in a time of urgent need. Here’s our favorite example, found alongside our network near Mammoth Springs, Arkansas.

Appreciate railroaders? We hope you’ll let them know you know they’re out there keeping the supply chain moving. Please post a message to your Facebook, Twitter, Linked In or Instagram account and thank them with hashtag #ThankaRailroader

 

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Our Customers and Country Depend on Norfolk Southern to Deliver

 

Apr 9, 2020

Norfolk Southern Corp

 

In a video message to employees, Karol Lawrence, vice president customer operations, describes how the department is ensuring the health and safety of Norfolk Southern employees while performing critical business functions necessary to keeping our trains running and serving the needs of our customers and of our country.

 

Our employees, Lawrence said, are stepping up to meet the challenges of these unprecedented times. “Your hard work and commitment is a testament to the character necessary to keep the steel wheels rolling,” says Lawrence.

 

[CNJRoss]

Railway AgeI 4/9/20
 

“My Dad Is Essential”

 

 

Lliyah and Khyson Pha, whose dad, Somnang, is a Union Pacific track machine operator.

 

Somnang “Sam” Pha is a Union Pacific track machine operator and BMWED (Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters) member presently working near Arlington, Ore., out of Blue Springs, Mo. Sam and his wife Kristina have four children, Lliyah, Khyson, Zayden and Isaiah. Kristina sent these photos to Union Pacific Senior Director Corporate Communications and Media Relations Raquel Espinoza, who has shared them with permission.

 

 

The photos and Lliyah’s drawing, Raquel says, provide “a look at essential workers through the lens of a child who watches dad depart from home to work on the railroad, ensuring Americans continue to have access to food and other vital products during this challenging time.” Railway Age, in the midst this awful pandemic, is happy to publish them, to provide some hope and encouragement, and to focus a spotlight on the thousands of railroad workers all across North America who are doing their best to keep their railroads functional and safe.

 

 

“Lliyah wanted to make a post about railroad workers during this difficult time, to support her dad and bring awareness to our forgotten essential railroad workers,” says Kristina. “Her dad travels to highly affected areas every time he leaves for work.  .  .  .

 

Continue here.