America's Railroads

Home / America's Railroads / Technology

AMERICA'S RAILROADS - ENGINEERED FOR THE FUTURE
Technology Makes Trains Safer, More Productive.

Steady Improvements Contribute to Nation's Growth

Rail is the safest way to move the nation's freight over land. In 2007, the nation's Class I railroads hauled 31.5 million carloads of raw materials and finished goods weighing 1.9 billion tons - the second highest tonnage ever - while continuing to improve the industry's safety record. According to FRA data, the rail employee casualty rate in 2006 was the lowest in history, having fallen 81 percent since 1980. Railroads today have lower employee injury rates than other modes of transportation and most other major industry groups, including agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and private industry as a whole.

Today, freight railroads are a vital force in the national economy, moving more freight than ever via a network of over 140,000 miles serving every major port and metropolitan area. On average, shipping by rail costs 54 percent less today in inflation-adjusted dollars than it did in 1981.

This record is the result of steady investment in new technology, equipment and facilities. Since 1980, railroads — a far more capital-intensive industry than other major industries — have invested more than $375 billion in infrastructure and equipment. In 2006, railroad net investment in plant and equipment was $662,000 per employee, more than eight times the average of $84,000 in all U.S. manufacturing.

Further, after 9/11 railroads worked quickly with federal security agencies to develop and implement a risk-based security plan for the nation’s freight rail network, including a 24/7 operations center recognized for excellence in industrial security by the Department of Defense. The plan also includes new security training for rail employees in addition to the intensive safety training they already get.

Technology has been a major contributor to this solid record of success — from trackside detectors that spot problems on passing railcars using optics, lasers and acoustic identifiers to ground-penetrating radar that identifies unseen problems below the railbed.

Technology Advancements for Tomorrow's Success

Now, U.S. freight railroads are developing train control technology that will significantly improve the safety of freight operations. This new technology will help prevent train collisions and improve productivity. Best of all, it will reduce accidents caused by human error, the most common cause of train accidents. The new technology will meet all the safety requirements of the Federal Railroad Administration and will:

• Warn train operators in advance if the train needs to slow down, is about to exceed the distance required to come to a complete stop or is about to go beyond its approved travel area.
• Stop the train before it goes through a stop signal, exceeds the speed limit or goes outside its approved travel area, in the event the train operator does not respond to warning signals. As a result of this innovation, trains can operate with as few as one crew member on board.
• Use satellite or wireless positioning technology to give dispatchers the precise location of trains at all times - an important feature for security as well as safety.

Implementing this new technology will require major capital investments.  Major U.S.-based freight railroads plan to use this new technology in areas that currently use electronic signaling. In addition, railroads plan to use it in some areas that currently do not have electronic signaling.

Our mission is to take the nation’s freight rail network to the next level of safety and success.