Hurricane Katrina, Rita, and Wilma News

This archive page links to railroad news related to Hurricane Katrina and the New Orleans area recovery. For all current rail news, please see RailServe.com's RailNews Home Page.

Wednesday, November 16

• Tri-Rail moves for faster hurricane rebound (Palm Beach Post)
  Miami commuter railroad to develop plan for faster hurricane recovery.

Monday, November 7

• Hurricane Wilma - Full Silver Service Restoration (Amtrak)
  Silver Star, Silver Meteor, and connecting buses fully restored by November 9.

Friday, November 4

• Hurricane Wilma - Florida Service Restoration Plan (Amtrak)
  Amtrak updates service of Silver Star and Silver Meteor routes following hurricane.

Tuesday, November 1

• Amtrak resumes Sunset Limited passenger service through Houston (AP)
  Los Angeles to New Orleans service resumes; still suspended east of New Orleans.
• Vindication of the "Robber Barons" (SitNews)
  Railroads' quick recovery to Hurricane Katrina did not fail New Orleans.

Wednesday, October 26

• KCS Announces Impacts to Third Quarter Earnings (KCS)
  Third quarter earnings will be impacted by tax settlement and hurricanes.

Friday, October 21

• Hurricane Wilma - Florida Service Disruptions (Amtrak)
  Amtrak's Auto Train and Silver Service routes cancelled through Monday.

Thursday, October 20

• GWI Operations in Mexico Impacted by Hurricane Stan (GWR)
  Genesee & Wyoming's Mexican subsidiary damaged by hurricane.

Wednesday, October 12

• Sunset Limited won't be back in town for months (Tallahassee Democrat)
  Amtrak won't restore Sunset Limited route east of San Antonio for at least six months.
• Amtrak resumes service (Hattiesburg American)
  Crescent and City of New Orleans routes resume service to New Orleans.

Saturday, October 8

• Amtrak Trains to Roll Out of New Orleans on October 9 (Amtrak)
  Crescent and City of New Orleans routes resume service to New Orleans.
• Norfolk Southern CEO sees storms boosting Q3 costs (Reuters)
  Hurricanes results in higher expenses and capital spending for Norfolk Southern.

Friday,  October 7

• Amtrak service from New Orleans to Gainesville resumes (AccessNorthGa.com)
  Full Crescent and City of New Orleans routes to be restored this weekend.
• In Spite of Hurricanes, September U.S. Rail Freight Traffic Up (AAR)
  Freight railroads registered a 2.5% increase in September as compared to last year.

Thursday, October 6

• Transit Could Play Stronger Role in Emergencies (Engineering News-Record)
  Officials say rising fuel prices and hurricanes highlight changing role of mass transit.
• UP completed a four-year project to install 18,000 crossbuck warning signs.

Tuesday, October 4

• Norfolk Southern Reopens New Orleans Intermodal Terminal (NS)
  NS reopens New Orleans terminal closed since Hurricane Katrina.

Friday, September 30

• Rail Freight Traffic Up from Year Ago (AAR)
  US rail freight volumes continue climb following Hurricanes Rita and Katrina.

Tuesday, September 27

• Union Pacific Provides Initial Assessment of Hurricane Rita Impact (UP)
  UP restores most service along Gulf Coast, expects minimal earnings impact.

Friday, September 23

• Railroads prepare for Hurricane Rita (AP)
  Union Pacific and BNSF are relocating railcars and gathering repair supplies.
• Texas Eagle, Sunset Limited - Temporary Revised Service Plan (Amtrak)
  Amtrak revises Texas service through the weekend due to Hurricane Rita.
• Challenge awaits railroad crews in clean up after Katrina (AP)
  In the 39 miles of damaged CSX rail line between New Orleans and Pascagoula, there are six major bridges out.

Thursday, September 22

• A Record Week for U.S. Railroads (AAR)
  Total freight volume and intermodal volume set records after Hurricane Katrina.
• Hurricane Rita Evacuees Ride Train on BNSF Railway (BNSF)
  450 evacuees ride a special Trinity Railway Express train from Houston to Dallas.
• U.S. railroads limit shipments as Rita churns (Reuters)
  Railroads halt grain, chemicals, and other commodities to the Texas Gulf Coast.
• KC Southern stops rail shipments to Texas (Kansas City Business Journal)
  Kansas City Southern embargoes rail shipments bound for four stations in Texas.

Wednesday, September 21

• Trinity Railway Express on Galveston emergency mission (Star-Telegram)
  Fort Worth-Dallas commuter train sent to Houston-Galveston area to help evacuation.

Tuesday, September 20

• Rails still reel from Katrina (Fleet Owner)
  CSX, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific continue restoration efforts along Gulf Coast.

Monday, September 19

• Burlington Northern's Southern Demand (Reuters)
  BNSF sustained minimal hurricane damage, and reconstruction may spur demand.

Friday, September 16

• Canadian National Stays on Track (Business Week)
  CN's Gulf operations escaped hurricane; CEO sees big boost from reconstruction.
• Cost of rail cars through the roof (Minot Daily News)
  Fuel prices, Hurricane Katrina, and crop sizes raise grain shipping costs.
• Rail Freight Traffic Up from Year Ago (AAR)
  US freight traffic maintains record levels despite Hurricane Katrina, with volume up 6.3%.

Thursday, September 15

• Rail cars pose hazards: No leaks so far, but data still sketchy (The Advocate)
  Department of Environmental Quality concerned about railcars hit by hurricane.
• Back on track? (Mobile Register)
  Rail operations in the Mobile vicinity are mostly back on track.
• CSX Updates Storm Impact on Gulf Coast (CSX)
  Railroad says it is effectively rerouting traffic; estimates storm damage at $250 million.
• Union Pacific Railroad Helps With Katrina Recovery (UP)
  UP transports recovery supplies, assists employees, and matches employee donations.

Tuesday, September 13

• Norfolk Southern Restores Rail Service to New Orleans (NS)
  NS repairs 5.8-mile bridge and operates first train into New Orleans since storm.
• CN Rail restores direct service to New Orleans (Reuters)
  Canadian National restores service and does not expect significant financial impact.

Monday, September 12

• Amtrak, Nagin Argue Over Rescue Train (NewsMax)
  New Orleans mayor denies that Amtrak offered to evacuate residents.
• Amtrak Works to Restore Service to Louisiana and Mississippi (Amtrak)
  Amtrak updates status of City of New Orleans, Crescent, and Sunset Limited routes.
• Louisiana requests info on rail cars in area (EPA)
  Louisiana Dept. of Environmental Quality asks 17 railroads for railcar assessment.

Friday, September 9

• In Spite of Katrina, Rail Traffic Up for Week, Month (AAR)
  Freight volume rose last week, despite impact from Hurricane Katrina.

Thursday, September 8

• CSX has resumed 'limited service' (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
  Limited service restored on one-third of a 148-mile line east of New Orleans.
• Burns asks railroad to suspend fuel surcharges (AP)
  Senator asks BNSF to suspend fuel surcharges in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Wednesday, September 7

• Norfolk Southern Supports Hurricane Recovery Efforts
  NS provides $1 million for community recovery efforts and matches employee donations.

Tuesday, September 6

• Port of New Orleans open, but in need of fuel (MarketWatch)
  Idled river traffic means shipping steel imports by rail or truck.

Sunday, September 4

• Finally rescued: Exhausted refugees arrive by Amtrak (Daily Advertiser)
  First Amtrak evacuation train arrives from New Orleans Saturday with 350 passengers.

Saturday, September 3

• Amtrak to help evacuate hurricane victims (Clarion Ledger)
  First train evacuates New Orleans residents to Lafayette, LA on Friday night. Continued round-trips will be made, with a second train joining the effort Monday.
• Amtrak trains to aid in New Orleans evacuation (Reuters)
  Special twelve-car train brings food and water, evacuates residents to Lafayette.
• Amtrak revises service to New Orleans until further notice
  City of New Orleans to terminate in Jackson, MS; Crescent to terminate in Meridian, MS; Sunset Limited to terminate in San Antonio, TX.
• Union Pacific Gears Up For Hurricane Relief (AP)
  UP begins hauling relief supplies into the hard-hit Gulf Coast.
• Photos of Katrina damage to CSX New Orleans yard (UTU)
  Photos of hurricane destruction at CSX's railyard in New Orleans.
• Union Pacific, BNSF Rail Lines Get Back on Track (Omaha World-Herald)
  Freight railroads reopen tracks to New Orleans after inspections, repairs.
• CSX, UP to assist workers hurt by Katrina (UTU)
  Railroads establish programs for employees impacted by hurricane and service changes.
• BNSF Railway Makes $1 Million Contribution, Offers Transportation Help
  BNSF donates $1 million and offers rail transport to aid hurricane victims.

Thursday/Friday, September 1-2

• Amtrak planning evacuations for New Orleans residents (Clarion-Ledger)
  Stranded residents may be evacuated by rail to the west and north of New Orleans.
• Railroads, grain elevators wait in Katrina's aftermath (AP)
  More than half of US grain exports go through New Orleans where shipping terminals remain closed; it remains unknown whether railroads can pick up the added load.
• KCS Reopens Main Line Between Meridian and Jackson, Miss (KCSI)
  Kansas City Southern reopens critical route and works with peers to improve capacity.
• CSX Reroutes Rail Traffic Around Storm Area, Outlines Impact (CSX)
  The most severe impact is on the 100-mile route between Pascagoula and New Orleans.
• CSX Most Exposed In Transport Sector To Katrina (Forbes)
  Merrill Lynch analyst says CSX is the most exposed to hurricane impact.
• Amtrak revises service to New Orleans through Tuesday
  City of New Orleans, Crescent, and Sunset Limited routes impacted by storm.

Wednesday, August 31

• Railroads hit by Katrina restore limited service (Reuters)
  Freight railroads begin restoring service to areas hit by Hurricane Katrina.
• Norfolk Southern Post-Katrina Operations Returning To Normal (NS)
  Rail operations in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi are returning to normal.
• Amtrak revises service to New Orleans through the weekend
  City of New Orleans, Crescent, and Sunset Limited routes impacted by storm.