Railroad Leaders
Come Together to Address Sustainability
Norfolk Southern,
BNSF Railway, and GE Transportation host 3-day discussion with industry
leaders
FORT
WORTH, TEXAS - Sept. 2, 2014 -- Norfolk Southern , BNSF Railway and GE Transportation are
partnering to address sustainability in the rail industry. At the fourth annual
Railroad Sustainability Symposium that
begins today, sustainability and business leaders representing railroad
operators, manufacturers, shippers and environmental stakeholders, including
non-governmental organizations, will discuss ways to
continue driving the industry toward a cleaner future.
The symposium was
established in 2011 when Norfolk Southern and GE Transportation recognized an
opportunity to increase the dialogue about energy conservation and sustainable
practices within the industry. This year, participants and speakers from more
than 25 companies will attend, including Canadian National, Maersk, UPS,
Wal-Mart, the Worldwide Wildlife Fund, the Environmental Defense Fund, The Arbor
Day Foundation and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. They will share
insights on such issues as supply-chain sustainability, safety and
next-generation locomotives.
Among the speakers
will be Deb Frodl, the global executive director of GE ecomagination, Ecomagination is GE's
commitment to develop innovative solutions for today's environmental challenges.
She will outline GE's strategic vision for a more sustainable future. "At
ecomagination, we strive to develop solutions that both improve the environment
and provide sound economic results," Frodl said. "The symposium offers an
incredible opportunity for the brightest minds in the industry to gather,
discuss and learn from each other so, together, we can continue this positive
trajectory toward a more sustainable future for transportation."
Sustainability and innovation are at the
forefront of the rail industry, and railroads are the most sustainable forms of
long-distance land freight transportation. Rail provides tremendous benefits by
reducing our country's overall transportation emissions and carbon footprint.
That's why Norfolk Southern and BNSF have taken the lead in this dialogue.
"Norfolk Southern is proud to
continue its journey to fully integrate sustainability into all aspects of its
business and operations, and looks forward to gaining keen insights from the
best practices of industry and NGO participants at this symposium," said Blair
Wimbush, chief sustainability officer for Norfolk Southern.
From
its pioneering efforts to dramatically improve fuel and energy efficiency, to
focused efforts to ensure a safe and engaged workforce committed to sustainable
business practices, Norfolk Southern is determined to maintain a leadership role
in forging a new corporate paradigm where economics, society and environment
converge to produce desirable outcomes that sustain its business.
An
example of conservation capitalism is Norfolk Southern's "Trees and Trains"
campaign. The campaign will produce significant ecosystem benefits from the
reforestation of 10,000 acres in the Mississippi Delta, while generating carbon
credits that Norfolk Southern can use to recoup its investment.
"For decades, BNSF has had an
organization-wide commitment to sustainability and our efforts to improve the
green advantages of our locomotive fleet are investments that push the envelope
of what is already the most sustainable option for land freight transport," said
John Lovenburg, vice president of environmental for BNSF. "We have the newest
and cleanest locomotive fleet in the nation. Of our nearly 7,300 locomotives
more than 3,300 are new and more than 2,800 have been remanufactured since
2004."
Since 1980 BNSF has improved its fuel
efficiency more than 100 percent, moving each ton of freight nearly 500 miles on
a single gallon of diesel fuel. Every year BNSF provides its customers with
custom reports documenting the emissions they avoid by shipping via rail vs.
over-the-road modes. Carbon footprint reductions of more than 30 million metric
tons of CO2 each year have been achieved by customers hauling products through
BNSF's rail system. That is equivalent to taking six million cars off the road,
which would result in an emissions reduction equal to 3 billion gallons of fuel.
GE Transportation is
also a key driver in this movement. GE has been developing technology that
improves emissions and fuel efficiency. GE Transportation's engineers have
developed the Evolution Series Tier 4 locomotive that reduces emissions by over
70 percent, meeting the Environmental Protection Agency's new Tier 4 standard.
Additionally, on board thousands of locomotives today is a technology called
Trip Optimizer that improves fuel efficiency. It functions as an intelligent cruise
control for trains, adjusting the
speed to optimize fuel usage. Lastly, GE Transportation is testing the NextFuel
Retrofit Kit, which works with liquefied natural gas. These innovations reflect GE's broader
ecomagination strategy to employ measurable breakthroughs that create
sustainable outcomes. Already, ecomagination has helped reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by 32 percent since our 2004 baseline and by 2015, GE plans to double
research and development investment to $10 billion by 2020.
About
Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern
Corporation (NYSE:
NSC) is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk
Southern Railway Company subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 route miles in
22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the
eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail
carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the
East and is a major transporter of coal, automotive, and industrial
products. Please learn more
about sustainability at NS by visiting www.nssustainability.com.
About BNSF
BNSF Railway is one of North
America's leading freight transportation companies operating on 32,500 route
miles of track in 28 states and two Canadian provinces. BNSF is one of the top
transporters of consumer goods, grain and agricultural products, low-sulfur
coal, and industrial goods such as petroleum, chemicals, housing materials, food
and beverages. BNSF's shipments help feed, clothe, supply, and power American
homes and businesses every day. BNSF and its employees have developed one of the
most technologically advanced, and efficient railroads in the industry. We work
continuously to improve the value of the safety, service, energy, and
environmental benefits we provide to our customers and the communities we serve.
You can learn more about BNSF at www.BNSF.com.
About GE
Transportation
At GE Transportation, we're
in the business of realizing potential. We're a global technology leader and
supplier to the rail, mining, marine, stationary power and drilling industries.
Our innovations help customers deliver goods and services with greater speed and
greater savings using our advanced manufacturing techniques and connected
machines. Established more than a century ago, GE Transportation is a division
of the General Electric Company that began as a pioneer in passenger and freight
locomotives. That innovative spirit still drives GE Transportation today. It's
the engine of change that puts us at the forefront of innovation and technology,
where we continue to realize new potential and keep our connected world moving
forward. GE Transportation is headquartered in Chicago, IL, and employs
approximately 12,000 employees worldwide. For more information, please visit http://www.getransportation.com.
Media Contacts:
Jessica Taylor, GE
Transportation
Tel: 202-412-3924
(mobile)
Email: Jessica.Taylor@ge.com
Amy Casas, BNSF
Railway
Tel: 817-867-6139
Email: amy.casas@bnsf.com
Rick Harris, Norfolk
Southern
Tel:
404-529-2310
Email: rick.harris@nscorp.com