ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has launched a Rail Emissions Report tool that, in an industry first, uses fuel burn data directly from locomotives.
“Fuel burn can be applied to each shipment based on the weight as it travels across the Norfolk Southern network,” a railroad spokeswoman says. “Combining fuel burn with other estimates for yard and local service, empty repositioning, and idling, Norfolk Southern can provide customers with visibility into the full lifecycle of moving a shipment across the company’s 22-state rail network.”
The Rail Emissions Report provides customers with comprehensive data on the positive environmental impact of shipping by rail, including total carbon dioxide emissions, fuel consumption, and train miles traveled, the railroad announced on Thursday. The fuel burn data can be corroborated as frequently as every 15 minutes using locomotive data.
Mode of transportation is one of the most powerful levers shippers have to reduce their carbon footprint, and rail is the most sustainable way to move freight over land. Each year, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid 15 million metric tons of emissions.
“Sustainability is a shared priority for Norfolk Southern and our customers,” NS Chief Marketing Officer Ed Elkins said in a statement. “One of the best ways to help our customers reduce their carbon footprint and make their supply chain more efficient is by helping them understand the environmental benefits of shipping by rail. The ability to access data and insights from tools like the Rail Emissions Report will enable Norfolk Southern and our customers to create a more sustainable future, together.”
More than 25% of NS customers have publicly announced goals for carbon reduction. The Rail Emissions Report provides customers with visibility into the full lifecycle and carbon footprint of moving a shipment across the NS system. These insights will help customers make informed decisions about transporting their goods and develop strategies to both reduce their emissions and meet decarbonization goals.
“By equipping our customers with detailed emissions data, we’re not only helping them make informed supply chain decisions in order to reach their own sustainability goals, but we’re also demonstrating our commitment to transparency and sustainability,” NS Chief Sustainability Officer Josh Raglin said in a statement. “Through our new Rail Emissions Report tool, Norfolk Southern can provide our customers with a comprehensive picture of their rail emissions and partner with them to address climate change.”
NS says the Rail Emissions Report tool builds on the updated carbon calculator that the railroad launched last year. NS was the first railroad to offer a carbon calculator when its first system debuted in 2008.
But they still can’t tell the REAL CUSTOMERS when their car will arrive with any usable accuracy. Focus on what matters, not this pablum.