Registration is now available for the March 18 Talking Freight Seminar.

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Date/Time: March 18, 2020 1:00 – 2:30 pm ET

 

Topic: A Primer on the Operational Characteristics and Impacts of Precision Scheduled Railroading

 

Registration: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/fpd/talking_freight/index.htm

 

Description and Presentations: Within the last five years, most U.S. Class I railroads have begun to implement Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) techniques to attempt to make their services more consistent schedule-wise.  Pioneered by the late Hunter Harrison, the former CEO at Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, and CSX, PSR changes how freight trains operate on a carrier’s network.  In contrast with traditional freight railroad scheduling, in which carriers utilize large rail yards and hub and spoke systems to shift rail cars between trains at yards and often build unit trains that contain the same general products in each rail car, with PSR point-to-point service with train consists of mixed products are emphasized and trains operate on a set schedule, rather than being dispatched when a sufficient number of rail cars have been filled.  PSR’s implementation has been met with mixed reactions by the railroad industry; transport speed has increased, but some shippers, particularly those who manufacture or ship lower value goods, are concerned the new scheduling method makes it difficult for them to transport goods in a cost-effective manner.

 

Though PSR is becoming a standard operational practice in the freight railroad industry, it is still not well understood by many transportation professionals, particularly those who work for government agencies.  This webinar will discuss Precision Scheduled Railroading by explaining what it is, why and how carriers have implemented it, and the pros and cons of PSR from a rail shipper perspective.

 

The Operational Nuts and Bolts of Precision Scheduled Railroading

This presentation will provide a detailed overview of what Precision Scheduled Railroading is and the goals of PSR from a freight rail carrier perspective.

SPEAKER:

• Carl Van Dyke, TransNetOpt

 

PSR and the Digital Transformation of Rail Yard Planning

This presentation will discuss how freight rail yard operations are being transformed by the combination of Precision Scheduled Railroading and digital technologies.

SPEAKER:

• Jeremiah Dirnberger, Wabtec Corporation

 

Precision Scheduled Railroading Challenges and Opportunities from a Shippers’ Perspective

This presentation will examine the benefits and drawbacks of Precision Scheduled Railroading from a freight rail shipper’s perspective.

SPEAKER:

• Pete Swan, Penn State-Harrisburg

 

 

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If you have not yet participated in Talking Freight, I encourage you to do so. These monthly seminars, sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration, are held via web conference, which means that you view the PowerPoint presentations over the Internet while listening to the presenters over your computer or the telephone. There is no cost involved and you do not have to leave your desk to participate. More information about Talking Freight is available at http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/fpd/talking_freight/index.htm Links to past presentations and recordings are available on http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/freightplanning/talking.htm.

 

Talking Freight seminars are eligible for 1.5 AICP Certification Maintenance Credits (for AICP members). In order to receive credit, you must attend the full seminar and login to the seminar with your full name or type your full name into the chat area during the seminar if you are in a room with a group of people. Visit the AICP web site for more information about AICP Certification Maintenance Credits.

 

In addition, those who are interested can obtain a certificate for 1.5 PDH hours.

 

If you have any questions about the webinar content, please contact Chip Millard, FHWA Freight Office, at 202-366-4415 or [log in to unmask]. If you have any questions about the technology aspects of the webinar, please contact Jennifer Symoun, Toxcel, 703-754-0248, [log in to unmask].

 

 

Jennifer Symoun, PMP | toXcel

Business Manager and Director, Communications and Outreach

Office: 703-754-0248 (x8208)

[log in to unmask] | toxcel.com