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How CSX Keeps the Railroad Storm Safe


September 5, 2024 – As one of the nation’s largest freight transportation companies, CSX is committed to ensuring the safety and reliability of its operations, particularly in the face of severe storms. 

“Storms like the recent Hurricane Debby, which caused considerable service delays in some locations, have a significant impact on our network that can be unavoidable,” said Mike Cory, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “In the face of such severe events, our first thought goes to the safety of our employees, customers, and communities.” 

For that reason, CSX maintains a comprehensive plan that prioritizes safety before, during, and after severe weather events. The company has focused on strengthening its safety culture through initiatives like SAFE CSX, a company-wide program aimed at enhancing safety practices and awareness.

The company has also made significant investments in training, infrastructure, and technology to ensure its railroaders are well-prepared to handle adverse weather events. This proactive approach is critical for preventing accidents and injuries, as well as for maintaining smooth and efficient operations even in challenging conditions.

Kevin Boone, CSX Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, explained, “A cornerstone of CSX's operational strategy is our commitment to customer collaboration and that extends beyond just transporting their goods. It's about partnership and ensuring that their cargo is protected and delivered seamlessly, even in the face of severe weather. Through close collaboration and advanced planning, we strive to maintain the highest levels of service and reliability, safeguarding our customers' interests every step of the way."

How We Prepare

To prepare for major weather events, CSX stages all necessary equipment in key locations for quick deployment, allowing for a swift response to potential disruptions caused by severe storms. Additionally, CSX secures rail yards in the paths of storms to protect customers’ goods from significant wind gusts and evaluates routing options to ensure continuous delivery even if parts of railroad lines are impacted.

Winter storms, especially, pose significant challenges, requiring resilience in outdoor infrastructure and equipment. CSX takes special precautions to ensure both its team and customers are winter-ready—and to help customers maintain safe rail properties for workers. The company provides video and printable guides on keeping rail assets clear of snow and ice.

For the 2024 winter season, the CSX mechanical team has taken a data-driven approach to improve the reliability of its locomotive fleet and address drifts covering tracks, moisture freezing in airbrake hoses, and frigid temperatures on steel rails. By analyzing historical data, the team identified opportunities to eliminate out-of-service events during winter conditions. This allowed the railroad to make specific engineering modifications to internal air sources and air routing within its high horsepower locomotive fleet, which are expected to significantly enhance locomotive performance in harsh winter environments.

In addition, the CSX engineering team has an extensive fleet of work equipment designed to keep main tracks clear of snow and swiftly remove snow from yards, terminals, and switching leads, ensuring safe and quick restoration of operations. Leveraging data and weather criteria, they conduct thorough network inspections to maintain safe and reliable operations even during severe winter conditions.

Future Upgrades

CSX continuously explores innovative solutions to mitigate the impact of severe storms on all its operations. For example, CSX has tested two new switch heaters in its Buffalo Terminal area that show great promise in maintaining switch functionality during extreme cold. It has also invested in approximately 918 generators to ensure operational continuity in case of widespread power outages.

From a research and development perspective, the company is also focused on enhancing the effectiveness of switch heaters. CSX is currently working to reduce the size of the heaters while maintaining their efficacy, optimizing space and resources without compromising performance.

“Innovation is a key part of our strategy for how we face severe weather,” said Cory. “By continuously exploring new approaches and technologies, as well as optimizing our existing systems, we remain resilient and adaptable in the face of any weather-related disruptions.”

CSX’s comprehensive storm preparations highlight its commitment to maintaining operational excellence amid severe storms. These proactive measures not only safeguard the company’s infrastructure but also ensure the continued reliability of transportation services for its customers. By prioritizing safety, ensuring equipment readiness, and investing in innovative solutions, CSX is well-equipped to handle the challenges that severe weather presents. 

While safety and preparation are at the core of CSX's operational strategy, the unpredictability of Mother Nature poses unique challenges. "Our goal is to maintain operational excellence during severe weather, but we must recognize the elements beyond our control," said Boone. “Still, safety is our most important responsibility, even in the toughest of conditions. Each storm offers an opportunity to learn and refine our strategies, ensuring we are better prepared for future challenges."

CSX is committed to transparent and timely communication and proactively notifies customers of its storm monitoring efforts. The CSX Customer Solutions team is also available by phone at 1-877-ShipCSX (1-877-744-7279) for any questions or issues, and customers can access shipment status information anytime through the ShipCSX web portal

Before severe weather moves in, start moving with the freight rail company that’s prepared to deliver a seamless service experience – learn more about CSX services at MoveWithCSX.com