b'6American Journal of Transportation ajot.comCG Railway launches rail ferryCGRailway(CGR)hassince 2001. The trip across the announcedthelaunchofGulfcurrentlytakesapproxi-the first of two new rail fer- matelyfivedays,orhalfthe ries.Partofajointventuretime required for the overland between subsidiaries of Gen- route. The new, 590-foot-long esee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W)ferriesaredesignedtocarry and SEACOR Holdings Inc,135 railcars each, up from 115 CGRoperatesaU.S.Classrailcars on the existing ferries, III freight railroad transport- with an expected top speed of ingapproximately10,00014 knots, up from seven knots. annual carloads of diversifiedWith their additional capacity, commodities across the Gulfand faster speed enabling more of Mexico. sailingspermonth,thenew The newly launched vesselvessels increase CGRs poten-is expected to begin operationstial annual carload capacity by in the second quarter of 2021,40 percent.withthesecondnewvesselTheseinnovativenew expectedinthethirdquarter.vessels are purpose-built to pro-They will replace CGRs twovide increased reliability, speed existingvessels,whichhaveandfuelefficiencyandwill transported over 200,000 rail- materially expand the number cars in more than 1,400 sailingsof annual railcar spaces we can betweenMobile,Alabama,(LAUNCHEScontinued andCoatzacoalcos,Mexico,on page 15)ingtowardreducingtheirto eliminate emissions. Also, emissionsbycarryingmorebecause the use-life of trucks freightpertrainandreduc- is much shorter than rail loco-ing unnecessary movements.motives, the trucking industry They have also deployed fuelcandeployenvironmentally-management systems that cal- friendly technologies quicker culate the most fuel-efficientandeasier,leadingtothe speed for trains over a givenpossibilitythatrailscarbon route,andzero-emissionadvantageovertrucksmay cranesfortransferringcon- not last much longer.tainers between ships, trucks,It is probably too much to and trains. Canadian NationalaskforanyNorth American (CN) even ordered 50 electriccorporation or industry group trucks for customer deliveriesto man the environmental bar-and BNSF is testing electricricades for motives other than vehicles for drayage and ter- profit. But the decline in coal (Association of American Railroads) minal use.use was foreseeable, and the Thetruckingindustryisrailroadsmayhavebeentoo (COUNTcontinued from(GREENINGcontinuedyear.CanadianPacific(CP)also investing in low-emissionlaterecognizingthattrend, page 4) from page 4) announced in December thatandzero-emissiontechnolo- sotheyendedupdefending spread,thelettersaid.Theroads are working to reduceit will retrofit an older loco- gies.Walmart,forexample,amoribundenergysource railroadsrespondedbyout- theircarbonfootprintsbymotive with a hydrogen fuelwhichownsafleetof6,000at the expense of their green lining their efforts to maintaininvestingincleanertrans- cell.PacificHarborLinetractorsand5,600refriger- reputation.Accordingtothe servicelevels,particularlyportationtechnologiesand(PHL), a short line that servesated trailers, aims to eliminateMoodysreport,evenwith inbringingbackfurloughedtakingotherstepstolowerthe ports of Los Angeles andemissions by 2040 by electrify- healthy growth in intermodal crew members. theiremissions.BNSFisLong Beach, will test a loco- ing its transportation fleet anddemand,therailroadsareat Crew shortfalls may haveusinga2018grantfrommotivepoweredbylithium- using low-impact refrigerants.risk that portions of their net-been temporary, but the rail- theCaliforniaAirResourceion batteries, being developedIts arguable that the truck- works will become underuti-roads have also been focusedBoard (CARB) to develop abyProgressRail,aunitofing industry is in a better posi- lized, and will have to embark on cost cutting and productiv- battery-electriclocomotive,Caterpillar, later this year.tiontodeployresearchandon a quest for new sources of ity measures, and these mayfirst tested in January of thisRailroads are also work- development funds in its questfreight and revenue.have taken a toll on intermo-dal service. NS has increased train weight 9% above train lengthincreasesinrecent months,accordingtoShaw. CSX grew train lengths 13%, whileKansasCitySouthern grew train lengths 16%, in the third quarter of 2020. Single Source Solutions S3Lengtheningtrainsmay presentanopportunitytoLearn how our S3 can empower your intermodal streamlineoperations,buttransportation program. Its the Single Source trip plan compliance (TPC),Solution that will pay dividends for you from a common key performanceports and rails to warehouse and distribution indicator,hassufferedoversolutions nationwide.the last year. 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