Tag: CSX

CSX names rail industry veteran Mike Cory Chief Operating Officer

September 10, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Jacksonville, Florida, September 8, 2023 – CSX Corporation (NASDAQ: CSX) announced today the appointment of Mike Cory, a seasoned railroad executive with more than 40 years of operations experience, as the company’s executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Formerly executive vice president and chief operating officer for the Canadian National (CN) Railway, Cory has provided transportation consulting services since retiring from the CN in 2019.

Cory began his railroad career in 1981 as a laborer in the CN locomotive shops in Winnipeg, Canada. Over the years, he rose through the ranks as a superintendent, general superintendent, director of service design, network operations superintendent and general manager of operations for the Michigan sub-region. He also broadened his business perspective by holding customer service and marketing positions. In 2006, he began his ascent through a series of senior leadership roles, including vice president of network operations, senior vice president of the Eastern region and senior vice president for the Western region. He was named executive vice president and chief operating officer in 2016.

At CSX, Cory will lead a strong team of operations professionals – led by Ricky Johnson, Senior Vice President of Operations, and Casey Albright, Senior Vice President of Network Operations and Service Design – who have helped transform the company into a safety and service leader among North American Class I railroads. He will continue to strengthen the company’s operating model across the network while fostering a ONE CSX culture that values and engages front-line employees.

CSX also today announced that Kevin Boone, previously executive vice president of Sales and Marketing, is named executive vice president and chief commercial officer. The new title recognizes Boone’s breadth of existing responsibilities across CSX’s broad customer base and growing offering of supply chain solutions. Boone previously led the company’s finance organization before transitioning to sales and marketing in 2021. He joined CSX in 2017, following a successful 17-year career in the investment industry.

CSX and SMART-TD Partner to Deliver Enhanced Conductor Training

July 31, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Jacksonville, Florida, July 31, 2023 – CSX (NASDAQ: CSX) and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers — Transportation Division (SMART-TD) announced they are partnering to extend CSX’s conductor training program to five weeks from the previous four-week regimen to provide new hires with additional hands-on experience prior to beginning on-the-job training (OJT).

The extra week of training at the CSX Training Center in Atlanta will focus on performing tasks in a field setting to increase trainees’ exposure to railcar switching scenarios, radio communication, securement of equipment, brake tests and other fundamentals of the conductor’s role. Hands-on application of these skills begins in the third week of training, and the additional week will reinforce trainees’ comfort level by providing multiple opportunities to perform the tasks while operating on first and second shifts.

CSX developed the extended training program in consultation with the SMART-TD, which represents its train crew employees. After completing their five weeks at the Atlanta Training Center, new conductors begin up to five months of OJT at their hiring location, where they learn the physical characteristics and job assignments of their designated territory.

CSX Corporation Declares Quarterly Dividend

July 13, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Jacksonville, Florida – July 12, 2023 – CSX Corporation (NASDAQ: CSX) announced that the Company’s Board of Directors approved a $0.11 per share quarterly dividend on the Company’s common stock. The dividend is payable on September 15, 2023, to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 31, 2023.

About CSX and its Disclosures

CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company. It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural, and consumer products. For nearly 200 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nation’s economic expansion and industrial development. Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nation’s population resides. It also links more than 230 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and farming towns alike. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at www.csx.com.

CSX Files Expanded Application to Acquire Pan Am Railways

July 7, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

CSX Corp. (NASDAQ: CSX) has announced that it submitted an amended and supplemented application to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) as part of the previously announced agreement to acquire New England’s Pan Am Railway’s Inc. (Pan Am). The amended application provides all of the additional details of the proposed transaction requested by the STB in their May 26, 2021 ruling.

The combination of CSX and Pan Am provides benefits to many stakeholders in New England, as evidenced by the over 80 letters of support that shippers, elected officials and business organizations have submitted to the STB. CSX has also worked to reach agreements with other rail operators and organizations in the region to ensure that the transaction results in enhanced competition and a strengthened rail network in the Northeast.

The proposed transaction would result in significant investments in the region’s rail infrastructure. Over the next five years, CSX would invest to upgrade and modernize the Pan Am system, which will make the New England rail network more efficient and safer for operations, communities and passenger rail.

New England will also benefit from CSX’s track record as leader in environmental performance. CSX will operate Pan Am with a smaller, more reliable and more fuel-efficient fleet, significantly reducing fuel consumption and improving rail’s environmental footprint in the region.

CSX’s operating model will benefit passenger and commuter carriers in New England as well as shippers as the company commits to maintaining or improving existing passenger service that operates on Pan Am. CSX has a long-standing history of working cooperatively with Amtrak and other passenger rail partners as evidenced by the significant improvement in contractual on-time performance with Amtrak since CSX has implemented its new operating model.

Headquartered in North Billerica, Massachusetts, Pan Am owns and operates a highly integrated, nearly 1,200-mile rail network and has a partial interest in the more than 600-mile Pan Am Southern system. Pan Am’s network across New England has access to multiple ports and large-scale commodity producers. The transaction will expand CSX’s reach in Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts while adding Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine to its existing 23-state network.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is subject to regulatory review and approval by the Surface Transportation Board.

CSX Corporation Announces Increase to Quarterly Dividend

February 12, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – CSX Corp. (NASDAQ: CSX) today announced that the Company’s Board of Directors has authorized an 8 percent increase in its quarterly dividend, from $0.26 to $0.28 per share. The new $0.28 quarterly dividend is payable on March 15, 2021 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 26, 2021.

About CSX and its Disclosures

Amtrak Names William Flynn as CEO and President

March 2, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

WASHINGTON – Amtrak announced that it has named William J. Flynn as its next Chief Executive Officer and President. Flynn, a seasoned business leader with four decades of transportation and logistics experience, will begin his role on April 15, 2020. Flynn succeeds Richard Anderson, who joined Amtrak as CEO in July 2017. Anderson, who fulfills his three-year commitment to the company this year, will remain with Amtrak through the end of the year as a senior advisor to Flynn.

Flynn, 66, has been a successful leader across multiple modes of transportation, including rail, maritime and aviation. Most recently, he served 13 years with Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc., which serves the global air freight, military charter and passenger charter markets, as President and CEO and Board Chairman. He also held senior roles with CSX Transportation, Sea-Land Services, Inc., and GeoLogistics Corp.

“Bill is the right executive to lead us into the future,” said Amtrak Board Chairman Tony Coscia. “We’ve never been stronger as a company than we are today. We are modernizing the customer experience and delivering our service to more people. Bill has a consistent track record of growing and improving complex transportation businesses. We are confident he will build upon the strong foundation of record-setting growth and improvement set by the Board, Richard and the entire Amtrak team.”

In fiscal year 2019, Amtrak set new records in ridership, revenue and earnings. In 2020, Amtrak is on pace to achieve operational breakeven for the first time in the company’s 49-year history. Additionally, Amtrak is investing billions in capital assets and is undertaking the largest fleet renewal in company history, with new high-speed Acela trains entering service on the Northeast Corridor next year.

“Amtrak’s future is incredibly bright and I’m excited to join the team,” said Flynn. “Amtrak service is vital to millions of Americans across the nation and by improving the customer experience, driving safety, and strengthening our partnership with states and other stakeholders, we can do much more for the American people. Tony, Richard and Amtrak’s dedicated employees have done an amazing job modernizing the company for the 21^st Century. It’s a privilege to join them in continuing this work and advancing something as important as Amtrak’s mission.”

“I congratulate the Board on selecting Bill to lead Amtrak into its 50th year and beyond,” said Anderson. “Bill brings deep expertise across all aspects of transportation and a true passion for the customer. As the company refleets our equipment, expands our services and advances key infrastructure projects like the Gateway Program, it will require the steady leadership and relentless drive for improvement that I know Bill can provide.”

SkyWest Rewards Investors With Dividend Hike & New Buyback

February 7, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

In a regulatory filing, SkyWest SKYW announced that its board of directors has approved a new share repurchase program worth $250 million. Also, the regional carrier raised its quarterly dividend by 20%. Notably, this St. George, UT-based carrier has been consistently rewarding its shareholders for quite some time.

Twin Shareholder-Friendly Moves

This Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company hiked its quarterly dividend to 12 cents per share (annualized 48 per share), representing a 20% improvement from the previous payout of 10 cents per share (annualized 40 cents per share). The new dividend, which has been approved by the company’s board of directors, will be paid on Apr 4, 2019 to its stockholders of record as of Mar 29. The dividend yield based on the new payout and the Feb 6 closing market price is approximately 0.9%.

Click the link below for the full story!

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/skywest-rewards-investors-dividend-hike-121412826.html

Genesee & Wyoming Q4 Earnings Top Estimates, Rise Y/Y

February 7, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Genesee & Wyoming Inc.’s GWR fourth-quarter earnings (excluding 6 cents from non-recurring items) of $1 per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 90 cents. The bottom line also improved 29.9% on a year-over-year basis. Results were aided by an impressive performance at the North American segment.

Operating revenues inched up 0.7% year over year to $575.6 million, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $569.9 million. Freight revenues accounting for bulk (69.7%) of the top line rose 2.3% to $401.22 million. Meanwhile, freight-related revenues contributing to 24.8% of the top line slid 2.2% to $142.55 million. The balance came from ‘other revenues’.

Click the link below for the full story!

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/genesee-wyoming-gwr-q4-earnings-123012876.html

Union Pacific Profit Beats Estimates

January 24, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

(Reuters) – Union Pacific Corp (UNP.N), one of the biggest U.S. railroads, on Thursday reported higher-than-expected quarterly profit and said efficiency gains will bolster profits in 2019.

Shares in the company, which connects 23 states in the western two-thirds of the United States by rail, rose 3.3 percent to $159.37.

Its operating ratio – a measure of operating expenses as a percentage of revenue and a key metric for Wall Street – improved 1.1 points to 61.6 percent in the fourth quarter from the same period last year, the company said.

A lower ratio means more efficiency and higher profitability.

“We expect (2019) operating margins will increase as a result of solid core pricing gains and significant productivity benefits,” Chief Executive Lance Fritz said in a statement.

The Omaha, Nebraska-based company this month hired former Canadian National Railway Co (CNR.TO) executive and turnaround expert Jim Vena as its chief operating officer and said its operating ratio would fall below 60 percent by 2020.

Vena worked with Hunter Harrison, who led the revival of two Canadian railroads and died in 2017 after a short stint as CEO of CSX Corp (CSX.O), which recently set a 2019 target for a sub-60 percent operating ratio.

Union Pacific is cutting jobs, consolidating businesses and selling a corporate retreat to drive costs lower.

On a conference call on Thursday, Vena said “everything is on the table” as Union Pacific looks for further efficiency gains.

“I know the railroad has a vision in place to get to a 55 operating ratio already, and we’ll be working aggressively towards that goal,” Vena said.

Net income fell to $1.55 billion, or $2.12 per share in the fourth quarter, from $7.28 billion, or $9.25 per share, a year earlier when the company received a boost from changes in U.S. tax laws.

Freight revenue in the quarter rose 6 percent, lifting total operating revenue to $5.76 billion from $5.45 billion. Net core pricing was up 2.5 percent from the year-ago quarter.

Analysts, on average, expected a profit of $2.06 per share and revenue of $5.74 billion, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

Terminal dwell, the amount of time rail cars sit idle in a terminal, was 26.7 hours for the quarter, an 18 percent improvement versus a year ago.

Union Pacific and Berkshire Hathaway-owned (BRKa.N) BNSF are the largest U.S. freight rail operators with annual revenue of more than $20 billion each.

(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles and Rama Venkat in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber, Steve Orlofsky and Will Dunham)

Image from http://www.up.com

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