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Perspectives & Updates

Want to get a better sense of what’s happening at Greenbrier?

Barge launches, conference highlights, trade shows, white papers, community activities, industry commentary, awards and recognition, or employee profiles, it’s all here at Perspectives & Updates.

Additionally, our annual company review video is available on our financial information page for those wishing to get a high-level overview of our recent performance.

  • Greenbrier’s Diverse Railcar Portfolio Serves a Broad Range of Commodity Industries

    Fri, Jan 20, 2017 04:10 PM PST

    Greenbrier’s Diverse Railcar Portfolio Serves a Broad Range of Commodity Industries

    Diverse products such as automobiles, industrial chemicals, lumber, steel and smartphones reach their destination by means of different railcars. Dynamic demand changes across these industries underscore the importance of having a broad range of well-engineered rail equipment and services.

    As the needs of industrial shippers become more complex, shipper-focused railcar design must increase. At Greenbrier, we aim to manufacture for the future and build features into our railcars for maximum safety and efficiency.

  • Rail Car Hire: The Basics

    Mon, Jul 11, 2016 08:20 AM PST

    Rail Car Hire: The Basics

    A crucial, but poorly understood, aspect of Greenbrier's railcar management capabilities is our car hire processing business.  Car hire occurs when an equipment owner “rents” out a railcar to be used by railroads, and the railroads then compensate the equipment owner based on factors such as time and mileage.  This is an old practice dating back to the beginning of the railroad industry and has allowed railroads to make the most efficient use of capital equipment as it travels around the continent.  

  • Freight Rail Industry in Middle East Gulf Countries Poised for Growth

    Fri, Jun 24, 2016 01:00 PM PST

    Freight Rail Industry in Middle East Gulf Countries Poised for Growth

    In the same way the United States’ economy has benefited from the expansion of the rail network, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries plan to broaden their economies by building a connected rail network over the next several years. Comprised of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar, the GCC is expected to add approximately 5,000 miles of track to the existing network, a 500% increase in capacity.

  • The Automotive Railcar Market An Introduction

    Thu, Apr 7, 2016 09:00 AM PST

    The Automotive Railcar Market An Introduction

    In 2015 auto producers sold a record 17.5 million cars and light trucks in the U.S, a 5.7% increase over 2014. The surge in demand was a result of both lower gas prices and a steadily improving economy from the 2008 recession. Barring an unforeseen recession or geopolitical shock to global oil markets, these trends should continue to be a tailwind for the North American auto industry. Strong auto sales are good news for the rail industry since auto manufacturers use rail to move parts to their plants and to deliver finished vehicles to market.

  • Video: Greenbrier Launches Second Articulated Kirby Barge

    Tue, Mar 8, 2016 09:06 AM PST

    Video: Greenbrier Launches Second Articulated Kirby Barge

    On January 23rd, 2016, we launched our second articulated Kirby barge at our flagship manufacturing plant, Gunderson, in Portland, Oregon.  A little rain didn't deter crowds from coming out to see this impressive barge, measuring more than one and a half football fields long and one of the largest ever built in Greenbrier's history.

  • U.S. Legislative Update for the Freight Rail Industry: FAST Act & 2016 Omnibus Appropriations

    Thu, Feb 4, 2016 12:01 PM PST

    U.S. Legislative Update for the Freight Rail Industry: FAST Act & 2016 Omnibus Appropriations

    For the first time three years, Congress passed a funding and authorization bill to govern United States federal surface transportation spending. In December, the FAST Act (“Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act”) passed and was signed followed immediately by the Fiscal Year 2016 Omnibus Appropriations Bill later in the month. Both pieces of legislation have important implications for the freight rail industry. Here’s our analysis.