CSX Investments and Policy Enhancements Drive Multi-year Safety Improvement Trend
March 07 2023 - 12:49PM
CSX (NASDAQ: CSX) has achieved record safety performance in recent
years through a rigorous and comprehensive approach that includes
investments in infrastructure and technology; a growing workforce;
fluid network operations; and a safety culture that emphasizes
employee training and coaching.
“CSX understands that safety is the foundation of our business,
which depends upon our ability to work collaboratively as a ONE CSX
team to deliver customers’ freight safely, reliably and
sustainably,” said Joe Hinrichs, president and chief executive
officer. “Everything we do at our company is centered around our
recognition that the safety of our employees and the communities
where we operate is paramount.”
Since CSX began transforming its operating model in 2017, the
company has achieved new levels of safety and operating
performance. It is the leader among Class I railroads with the
fewest train accidents and the lowest average rate of Federal
Railroad Administration injuries since 2019. At the same time, CSX
has established itself as the industry leader in service
performance metrics, affirming that network fluidity and safety go
hand in hand.
CSX’s rise as the industry’s safety and service leader has been
driven by multiple factors, including:
Investments in technology and
infrastructure
- CSX has consistently increased its
annual investment on core infrastructure and will spend $1.7
billion out of a total $2.3 billion capital budget on track, bridge
and signal projects in 2023. Over the five-year period from 2017
through 2021, the company spent $500 million more on core
infrastructure than in the previous five-year period and has
continued to increase spending each year.
- CSX has already updated several hot
bearing detectors (HBDs) across its rail network with connectivity
to facilitate remote monitoring. The company has also over the past
three years been updating the HBDs to second-generation technology
that is more effective in detecting overheated rail car wheel
bearings, and consistently inspects the units every two weeks to
ensure optimal performance. The HBDs are deployed every 15.1 miles
along key routes and 16.2 miles along all CSX routes. The company
is proactively preparing to install 53 additional detectors over
the course of 2023, extending coverage to ensure that HBDs are in
place every 14.3 miles along its key routes and 14.9 miles along
all CSX routes.
- CSX has been updating its acoustic
bearing detectors (ABDs) over the past several years to
second-generation technology to assist with safety inspections. The
railroad currently has nine units in place and is in the process of
installing 12 additional ABDs, which analyze the acoustic signature
inside the bearing to help identify potential issues.
- CSX has installed three automated
train inspection portals (TIPs) on high-volume main lines to
perform 360-degree inspections on moving trains using
high-resolution imaging technology and advanced image analysis.
TIPs are able to detect defects as the train is in motion.
- CSX uses autonomous track
assessment cars (ATACs) to gather critical data on track conditions
and send the data in near real-time for assessment and, if
necessary, expedited track repair. ATACs are constantly travelling
in trains across the entire network.
- CSX has an extensive drone safety program that uses unmanned
aerial vehicles to perform a wide range of tasks, including aerial
mapping of yards, facility inspection, storm response, accident
investigation and law enforcement.
Growing the workforce and improving quality of life for
train crews
- CSX has successfully conducted a
recruitment and hiring campaign for train crew members. Last year,
the company hired more than 2,000 conductors and continues to
onboard new employees to meet increasing demand for rail
services.
- CSX led the industry in
implementing several changes to improve quality of life for
operations employees, including updated attendance policies that
are more flexible and agreements with rail labor unions on paid
sick leave.
Safety-focused policies and practices
- CSX uses an industry-leading best
practice for monitoring the condition of hot bearings and is
actively participating with other major carriers in sharing best
practices on standards for tracking and analyzing trends in bearing
condition. CSX established its best-in-class method of analysis in
2007, and has continually honed the approach over time. The
practice has helped the railroad significantly reduce incidents.
CSX incurred only one minor bearing-related incident in 2022.
- CSX utilizes advanced risk
assessment technology annually to determine the shortest and safest
routes to transport goods categorized as hazardous.
- CSX holds hazardous materials
training events for first responders, contractors and local
government officials. In 2022, the company conducted 40 training
events attended by more than 3,600 individuals.
- CSX will participate in the FRA
Confidential Close Call Reporting System and already has multiple
well-established company initiatives to encourage safe behaviors
and reporting of safety issues. The programs offer various options
for submitting information to make it convenient for employees,
including email, voicemail and web forms.
As CSX continues to prioritize the safe transport of critical
freight across the nation, the company is committed to maintaining
its focus on proactively taking measures to protect its employees,
communities and customers.
About CSX
CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation
company. It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload
services and solutions to customers across a broad array of
markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural,
and consumer products. For nearly 200 years, CSX has played a
critical role in the nation's economic expansion and industrial
development. Its network connects every major metropolitan area in
the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nation's
population resides. It also links more than 240 short-line
railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major
population centers and farming towns alike.
Contact:
Matthew Korn, CFA, Investor Relations
904-366-4515
Bryan Tucker, Corporate Communications
855-955-6397
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