The following was written by former UTU Director of Public Relations Frank N. Wilner. “Here’s looking at you, kid,” is a cherished line from the movie Casablanca, but when the looking is through a hidden camera lens in the locker room or even visibly trained on crewmembers inside a locomotive cab, well, you won’t hear [...]
3d quarter rail profits wrap-up
October 24, 2012
BNSF reported a 22 percent increase in profit for the third quarter 2012 versus third quarter 2011, citing improved intermodal (trailers and containers on flat cars) and automotive traffic. BNSF’s third quarter 2012 operating ratio of 68.3 percent was a significant improvement over the 71.7 percent for third quarter 2011. Operating ratio is a railroad’s [...]
Wrap up: Major rails’ 1st quarter 2011 profits
May 2, 2011
Most major North American freight railroads reported strong earnings for the first quarter 2011 versus first quarter 2010. Following is a wrap-up for the quarterly earnings reported by the railroads to the investment community. Not included is BNSF, which is privately held and does not report its financial results to the investment community. Mention is [...]
KCS first-quarter profit nearly doubles
April 22, 2011
Kansas City Southern’s first-quarter 2011 profit was almost double that of the first quarter 2010, the railroad reported April 22. This followed an 82 percent increase in profit for calendar-year 2010. The employee headcount remains constant at 6,080. The railroad did not indicate whether it would be increasing its headcount in 2011. The KCS first [...]
Railroads 2010: How sweet it was
January 28, 2011
How did major railroads perform in 2010? Reviewing their calendar-year and fourth-quarter profit statements, one wouldn’t know they were operating in the midst of a nationwide recession. Profits soared, stock dividends were raised and operating ratios improved. (Operating ratio — a railroad’s operating expenses expressed as a percentage of operating revenue — is considered by [...]
