VitalRail

Why is VitalRail Needed?

Though North America enjoys perhaps the world's most productive freight rail system, the industry’s $115 billion annual revenue is in stark contrast with the freight trucking industry’s $1 trillion yearly revenue.

Railroads offer irreplaceable space, energy, and capital efficiencies. Increasing freight rail service will contribute cascading benefits to all stakeholders:

• A one-mile-long train moves the same goods as a 27-mile convoy of trucks
• Its energy efficiency allows it to move that freight on one-quarter to one-half of the fuel required and the resulting emissions

VitalRail serves at the heart of CAPSI as a comprehensive strategy for enhancing the productivity of our industrial systems by expanding freight rail service.

There has never been a greater need or more opportunity for capitalizing railroad development to address transportation efficiency and environmental challenges. Rather than the emotional critiques and general calls for a so-called rail renaissance, VitalRail is informed by the real challenges and benefits of growing an industry as integral as railroads.

At the same time, we need more from railroad companies than they can accomplish on their own. Fortunately, railroads do not need a government bailout, and they outperform many other industries. That stability—combined with rail technology’s inherent efficiencies—delivers a high return on investment when the involved stakeholder groups work together.

Join Us!

Lets work together right now. Go to Participation Options to enter this world of positive change collaboration. The OTNA Staff look forward to meeting you.

VitalRail Stakeholders

Collaboration among stakeholders is fundamental to achieving the tremendous growth opportunity for:

• Railroads
• Rail-related companies
• The industries and communities they serve

VitalRail engages 14 interdependent stakeholder groups:

• Class I, II, and III railroad leaders
• Investors, banks, and economic developers
• Rail employees, customers, suppliers, and citizens
• Transportation planners, land developers, realtors, and site selectors
• Researchers, other transportation services and modes, and government leaders

Learn more about VitalRail Stakeholders.

IntelliConference Series

VitalRail begins with the most important IntelliConference Series dialogues for expanding North America’s freight rail service. These IntelliConferences were conceived using the input of key participants in each domain. These topics are fluid, not static, and can change based on input from stakeholders. IntelliConference and IntelliSynthesis is the anchor methodology we use to advance these dialogues and goals.

• Rail Growth Capitalization
• Rail Regulatory Excellence
• Rail Business Culture Transformation
• Rail Management – Rail Labor
• Containerized International Freight
• Revitalizing the Rail Carload System
• Rail Energy Efficiency
• Freight Transportation Land Use
• Rail Technology Adoption
• Rail Trucking Coordination

VitalRail Value Proposition

Expanding freight rail service is crucial for sustainable industrial growth across North America.

As the continent pursues reshoring and reindustrialization, railroads need to serve as the backbone of supply chain transportation. Like high-speed internet, robust rail service is fundamental to community prosperity; its absence creates economic barriers and environmental costs. However, neither marketplace dynamics nor vested interest lobbying lead to smart supply chains. For North America’s future prosperity, they must be reconceived with the thoughtful input of all stakeholder groups.

The challenge is not a lack of intelligence; there are many smart and committed people in industry, government, and the community. What we have been lacking are the effective forums and methods for gathering this intelligence into smart policy, programs, and marketplace improvements. CAPSI provides that platform.

Learn more about the VitalRail Value Proposition.

VitalRail FAQs

Go to the VitalRail FAQs page to get your early questions answered.