Norfolk Southern is committed to making rail the safest and most preferred transportation choice for our customers. As part of this mission, we recently hosted the Rail Coalition of Advanced Safety Technology (RailCAST) meeting at our training facility in McDonough, Georgia. The two-day event, held in early August, brought together a broad range of stakeholders, including representatives from Class I railroads from the U.S. and Canada, federal regulatory agencies, and labor leaders.  

RailCAST, an initiative launched in collaboration with the Association of American Railroads, serves as a forum for industry experts to explore advancements in wayside signal technology. This coalition focuses on enhancing safety inspections and supporting the growth of freight business both domestically and internationally.

“Through RailCAST, we are bringing together critical stakeholders who are united by a shared dedication to safety,” said Jamie Williams, Chief Mechanical Officer. “NS is proud to facilitate this crucial dialogue, which is essential for advancing safe, reliable, and resilient rail service.”

Previously, technology advanced at the individual rail carrier based on the need of a particular organization. RailCAST is a different approach that leverages the knowledge base of industry experts to drive alignment and speed to market with new technology. RailCAST represents an industry first where all stakeholders can drive technology through learning and collaboration.

The first day of the summit featured a tour of our training center and digital train inspection portal in nearby Jackson, Georgia. The second day included in-depth sharing of experiences and discussions on topics such as data-driven condition-based maintenance for railcars, wheel temperature and brake health, Canadian inspection portals, and process controls.

RailCAST underscores NS’ commitment to leveraging advanced technology and expert insights to enhance the future of rail safety and efficiency.