Network-wide technology deployment is essential to freight rail.
Private investment among private Class I railroad carriers remains high, averaging roughly $27 billion annually in the past five years. This spending allows the industry to serve its vast and diverse customers, test and deploy technologies — including some $11 billion on positive train control (PTC) — and upgrade the network infrastructure and equipment. Our freight rail network is a world leader in safety and service — and a host of innovations are making this possible.
Certainly, PTC is essential to this mission, bolstering safety by helping stop a train before certain types of human-caused accidents occur. But the next iteration of PTC will also have the potential to increase efficiencies and improve productivity. Enhancing the PTC network over time may enable railroads to run more trains more often, essential in meeting increased freight demand.
But PTC is not the only technology in play, as we are also looking to unmanned drones and a nationwide network of wayside detectors using technology like radar and ultrasound to allow railroads to evaluate infrastructure conditions and inspect equipment with greater precision and frequency. Technologies increasingly enable the industry to identify problems before they arise, reducing the impact of human error and going beyond human limitations. Better safety means better service for our customers — as railroads are working to meet the demands of a world that is changing not by the year, but by the minute.
Suffice to say, railroads increasingly rely on technology to achieve optimal outcomes. As policymakers and the public continue to navigate the rapidly changing landscape, we hope they realize how committed our industry is to be a leader in the transformation.