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January 13, 2026. Edition #185. BEYONCE & TALYOR & ZENDAYA

Beyoncé and Jay-Z influence music, Taylor and Travis own Sunday nights, and Zendaya and Tom rule the red carpet. But freight rail and America? They’re the ultimate power couple.

We’re excited that 2026 marks 199 years of North American freight rail and 250 years of America. In the months ahead, we’ll share stories connecting the past, present, and future of freight rail—how it built America, how it runs today, and the innovations shaping tomorrow.

Let’s kick off by looking at how Class I railroads are keeping America’s economy on track in 2026. 👇

—The Signal Editors

What’s Coming This Year

CSX reopened the expanded Howard Street Tunnel in fall 2025. This removed a major East Coast bottleneck and paved the way for double-stack container trains through Baltimore. Final bridge clearances and corridor upgrades are scheduled to wrap up in early to mid-2026. This will enable full, unrestricted double-stack service along the I-95 freight corridor. It will unlock significant new capacity on one of the nation’s busiest rail routes. 

Developed with rail technology partner ZTR, Union Pacific’s project tests hybrid switch locomotives that combine diesel and battery power, with onboard recharging during operation. The design is expected to cut fuel consumption by up to 80% in certain switching applications. Following proof-of-concept testing in 2024–2025, the pilot concludes in 2026 as additional units enter active yard service.

Map showing the 130-mile route from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to Barstow, CA, highlighting the future logistics hub project. (Courtesy BNSF)

BNSF is advancing construction of a major new intermodal hub near Barstow, California. It is targeted for late-2026 completion and positioned to become one of the world’s largest intermodal terminals.

The facility will dramatically expand freight-handling capacity on the Southern California–Chicago/Heartland corridor. It will relieve congestion and improve fluidity for both import/export and domestic intermodal traffic. BNSF estimates the project will support approximately 20,000 direct and indirect jobs. These will span the rail hub, adjacent logistics park, and related industries.

CN’s 2025–2026 Grain Transportation Plan outlines a new way to empty grain hoppers. The plan dispatches them directly from Vancouver rather than redistributing from Prairie hubs. This shift improves planning, visibility, and network throughput. Supported by enhanced customer dashboards, the Plan targets 27 to 29.5 million tons of grain moved during the 2025–2026 crop year.

CPKC Site Ready Program locations. (Image Courtesy of CPKC)

CPKC has certified its first nine “Site Ready” locations across North America. The sites convert underutilized land into rail-served industrial sites ready for immediate development. The program accelerates customer construction—such as transload and distribution facilities—and drives long-term freight growth as sites start moving from certification into build-out.

A rendering, provided by the Georgia Ports Authority, of the Blue Ridge Connector terminal to be served by Norfolk Southern rail.

Norfolk Southern is set to open the Blue Ridge Connector inland port in Gainesville, Georgia, in 2026. This is a major freight-focused initiative designed to strengthen intermodal connectivity between Northeast Georgia and the Port of Savannah.

The facility will include 18,000 feet of track and handle up to 200,000 container lifts annually. It will significantly expand capacity for consumer goods, heavy equipment, food, and forest products. By shifting freight from highways to rail, the project will improve supply chain efficiency. It will reduce congestion and support sustainability goals while driving economic growth in the region. 

Another Look Ahead

AAR President and CEO Ian Jefferies recently joined the American Railroading Podcast to discuss highlights of 2025 and what he’s most excited for this year. This includes the Surface Transportation Reauthorization legislation that is due by the end of September.

This Month in Rail History

January 8, 1863: A Railroad Transforms America

Construction began on the Central Pacific Railroad, forming the western portion of a rail network that would unite the country. The line’s completion slashed travel times and reshaped the economy.

Built with public land grants and government-backed bonds, it’s a reminder of how far the industry has come. Today, freight railroads invest more than $23 billion annually in their privately owned networks. This ensures the legacy that began 160 years ago continues to power America’s economy.

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