UP: Five Can’t-Miss Rail Industry Magazines

Five Can’t-Miss Rail Industry Magazines

When it comes to reliable railroad resources, these are the best of the best

These five magazines are here to help you stay up-to-date on the rail industry.

Are you a seasoned railroader looking to keep up on the latest industry news? Or are you new to rail and curious about how it all works? Whether you’re a long-time railroader, are investigating rail as an option, or fall somewhere in between, these magazines are the definitive sources to consult to learn what’s going on in the industry.

International Railway Journal (IRJ)

https://www.railjournal.com/

The IRJ is the world’s first globally-distributed magazine for the railway industry. Launched in 1960, it began monthly publication in January 1961. IRJ journalists are industry insiders who travel the world to give readers information on the latest developments in rail transport.

IRJ web resources:

Financial
Passenger
Freight
Fleet
Infrastructure
Policy
Technology
Regions

Railway Age

https://www.railwayage.com/

Railway Age editors ask questions and get answers from the sources that matter most from across the industry: management, labor, suppliers, government, and the financial community. They use knowledge of the past, stay in tune with current issues, and look ahead to raise industry issues and seek solutions for their readers.

Railway Age web resources:

News
Freight
Passenger
Mechanical
M/W
C&S
Safety
Finance
Regulatory
Analytics
Interchange

Railway Track & Structures (RT&S)

https://www.rtands.com/

RT&S is dedicated to providing engineering and maintenance-of-way coverage – everything related to track and structures.

RT&S web resources:

News
Freight
Passenger
C&S
Track Structure
Track Maintenance
Safety/Training
Regulatory

Progressive Railroading

https://www.progressiverailroading.com/

Published 12 times per year, Progressive Railroading provides information on trends, technology and industry news related to the North American Railroad industry.

Progressive Railroading web resources:

News
Trending
Job Postings
Products
Education & Events
Magazine

Trains Magazine

http://trn.trains.com/

Trains Magazine has been covering a wide range of railroading topics since 1940, from railroad news, insight, and commentary on today's freight railroads, passenger service, transit, locomotives, technology, preservation, fan opportunities, and more. This diverse content is developed for everyone from the railroad enthusiasts to seasoned professionals.

Trains Magazine web resources:

Magazine
News
Railroads
Blogs & Forums
Photos & Videos
Locomotives

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Want to learn more? We’re also happy to answer your rail industry questions. Simply get in touch!

Upcoming Webinar - Nearshoring: Best Practices for Shipping to and from Mexico

On Thursday, May 16 at 1:00 p.m. CT, Union Pacific is hosting a 1-hour webinar on nearshoring, a business strategy that involves companies shifting manufacturing and production operations to Mexico, closer to main markets in the U.S. If this is something you’re interested in, you can use this link to register.

How to Ship Sustainable Aviation Fuel

In the next three decades, more than 35 billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) will be produced in the United States. It’s part of a government program, called the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Grand Challenge, that is designed to help airlines decarbonize. The rise of renewable fuels, including SAF, makes it critical for producers and receivers to have a supply chain in place to meet upcoming fuel demand.

The Rise of Sustainable Aviation Fuel

In 2022, the U.S. government shared the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Grand Challenge. This government-wide approach works within the industry to reduce costs, enhance sustainability, and expand production to 3 billion gallons per year of domestic SAF. By 2030, the U.S. must achieve a minimum of a 50% reduction in life cycle greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) compared to conventional fuel. By 2050, 35 billion gallons of annual SAF production must be reached.

What Is Nearshoring and How Does Transportation Support It?

In the 1990s, offshoring became a trend among U.S. companies. With more affordable labor available abroad (primarily in China), some entities relocated factories to lower production costs and increase profits. Offshoring relies on shipping those products back overseas for sale in the United States.

For decades, this model was working. Then came the pandemic, and the resulting supply chain disruptions (especially for overseas shipments) began to poke holes in offshoring strategies. With products stuck overseas sometimes for months on end, the drawbacks of offshoring started to outweigh the benefits.

Lessons learned from the last few years have prompted some companies to bring operations back to North America, specifically to Mexico. Establishing production facilities closer to end markets minimizes the impacts of potential supply chain disruptions while keeping costs in check. This is the genesis of the nearshoring trend.