Hershey Transportation Solutions

10/08/2026

WASHINGTON — U.S. rail traffic experienced another week of solid improvement over 2025 levels for the week ending Oct. 3, with overall volume up 5.1% compared to the same week a year ago. Traffic for the week was 529,712 carloads and intermodal units. That includes 230,711 carloads, up 2.4% from t...

10/07/2026

You probably didn't know: Railroads helped standardize time in America.

Before the 1880s, many communities set their clocks according to the sun, meaning local time could vary from town to town.

As railroads expanded, that created a challenge. Trains traveling across long distances had to navigate dozens of different local times, making scheduling difficult.

In 1883, railroads introduced standardized time zones, creating a system that eventually became the standard we still use today.

Pretty remarkable for something most of us check without a second thought.

10/06/2026

U.S. railroads are on the move! Our Policy and Economics team reports total U.S. rail traffic up 4.8% for the week ending September 23, 2026, compared with the same week last year.

Key highlights this week:

🪨 Metallic Ores and Metals: + 9.5%

🛢️ Petroleum and Petroleum Products: + 9.4%

🪵 Forest Products: + 7.7%

📦 Carloads: +3.0 % year-over-year 🚛 Intermodal: +6.3% year-over-year

Link in comments ⬇️⬇️

10/06/2026

Check out Railway Age’s October 2026 issue: Now available digitally, it showcases the 2027 Railroad Financial Desk Book, mainstreaming HFC (hydrogen fuel cell) passenger rail, and 17 unanswered questions on Amtrak’s restructuring: https://www.railwayage.com/news/now-on-line-railway-age-october-2026-digital-edition/

10/06/2026

10/06/2026

After a six-year hiatus, Union Pacific's Living Legend No. 844 is returning to the rails. The legendary steam locomotive will join Big Boy No. 4014 for Union Pacific's historic holiday tour this November, marking the first public appearance for No. 844 since the pair traveled together in 2019 to cel...

10/03/2026

Independent analyst Rick Paterson, who closely follows Class I railroad publicly reported performance data, has compiled a 13-week history of manifest and local service. The Surface Transportation Board began requiring the railroads to report the information weekly beginning July 8. The data, an out...

10/03/2026

BNSF completed capacity projects at yards in Galesburg, Ill., Winslow, Ariz., and Memphis, Tenn., 19 cars of a BNSF train derailed in downtown Minot, N.D., and Amtrak’s new Airo trainsets were set to enter Cascades service with upgrades over earlier Siemens Venture cars. Also this week: officials ...

10/03/2026

America's manufacturing success has always depended on strong connections between suppliers, factories, and customers.

Following World War II, freight rail helped fuel the manufacturing boom that built modern America, moving the steel, lumber, cement, chemicals, and energy products needed to expand factories and communities across the country.

Today, rail continues to be a vital partner for manufacturers, transporting raw materials, parts, and finished products while connecting businesses to ports, distribution centers, and markets throughout North America. From automobiles and construction materials to food products and consumer goods, freight rail keeps supply chains moving and American manufacturing strong.

This , we celebrate the industries, workers, and transportation networks that keep America building.