NS
NS on Dec. 9 reported the recipients of its annual Thoroughbred Sustainability Partner Awards, recognizing customers and suppliers that are leaders in three categories:
- Energy Efficiency: This award honors “corporate programs that achieve significant energy efficiency savings.” The winners for 2024 are: HCL Technologies Limited; Outokumpu Stainless USA; Steel Dynamics, Inc.; Wabtec Corporation; and Yang Ming Marine.
- Innovation: This award recognizes “innovations that have significantly contributed to a more sustainable future.” ACS Railroad Solutions, POET, Progress Rail, Schneider, and World Wide Technology were selected to receive it in 2024.
- Environmental Stewardship: This award celebrates “efforts that promote stewardship of the environment.” The honorees are: COSCO Shipping Lines, Fastenal Company, J.B. Hunt Transport, and Ocean Network Express.
A cross-departmental team from NS reviewed applications and looked for “measurable progress during 2023,” according to the Class I railroad. Honorees were selected based on their program’s “novelty, relevance and impact.”
“Railroads are an essential part of a low-carbon supply chain,” NS Chief Marketing Officer Ed Elkins said. “Each year, NS helps our customers avoid approximately 15 million metric tons of emissions and reduce congestion and wear on public highways. In doing so, we are always inspired by our customers’ matched efforts to create a greener supply chain. Our Thoroughbred Sustainability Partner Awards recognize their incredible achievements and underscore our shared commitment to lowering our nation’s overall carbon footprint.”
“Taking strides to reduce our environmental impact goes beyond our own initiatives; it involves actively supporting our partners in reaching their sustainability targets as well,” added NS Chief Sustainability Officer Josh Raglin. “This year’s 14 honorees stand out as trailblazers in environmental leadership. Recognizing their accomplishments is pivotal as we collectively work towards building a better, more sustainable planet.”
In a related development, UP last month recognized 16 companies with its 2024 Sustainability Partner Award.
Meanwhile, NS employees came together to support communities and combat housing insecurity across the railroad’s 22-state network as part of its “Giving November” campaign. The Class I reported that last month, 67 volunteers dedicated 450-plus hours to organizations like Habitat for Humanity and the Atlanta (Ga.) Midtown Assistance Center. Also, NS’s 2:1 match program amplified employee contributions to nonprofits combatting housing insecurity; combined, nearly $1 million was donated to 51 nonprofits in 14 states.
“One of the standout moments of the month was our Thanksgiving turkey distribution event, where eight NS volunteers dedicated their time to help ensure families in need could celebrate the holiday with a warm meal,” according to NS, which also teamed with City of Refuge, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that helps individuals and families transition out of crisis, to provide $350,000 in funding to support the construction and equipment needs of its new welding training center.
“Giving November highlights the power of collaboration and compassion within the NS family,” said Kristin Wong, Director of the NS Foundation and Community Impact. “From substantial financial contributions to hands-on volunteer work, our team is committed to making a real difference in the lives of our neighbors. Together, we are building stronger, more resilient communities.”
Separately, NS’s Ft. Wayne Terminal in Indiana is advancing a “Speak Up” culture, and the railroad recently debuted the TAG (Tennessee, Alabama, & Georgia Railway) Heritage locomotive.
CSX
CSX Senior Vice President Arthur L. Adams Jr. and the Sales and Marketing team earned the 2024 Excellence in Partnership Award from Saint Paul Commodities (SPC) in Minnesota, the railroad reported via social media. The award recognizes CSX’s “vital role in SPC’s operations” and “outstanding collaborative spirit,” according to SPC Vice President of Operations Anthony Pellegrino.
“As one of the cornerstones of SPC’s supply chain, CSX provides seamless rail delivery of fats and oils to the market, ensuring efficiency and reliability in our logistics,” Pellegrino reported in a Dec. 5 LinkedIn post. “Their partnership extends beyond transportation, playing an instrumental role in the development of our Selma, N.C., Blending Terminal, which is projected to be fully operational by May 2025. The award reflects SPC’s deep appreciation for CSX’s steadfast support, innovative problem-solving, and unwavering commitment to mutual success.”
SPC’s Pellegrino, Director of Rail Operations Mariann Helmin, and Rail Operations Specialist Cathy Fabisch recently presented the Excellence in Partnership Award to members of the CSX team, including Arthur L. Adams Jr.; Kenneth James Jr., Senior Director of Regional Sales; and Lauryn King, Regional Sales Manager.
UP
UP was among the 35 organizations and 14 individuals from North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific that received Digital Engineering Awards from ISG (Information Services Group) and L&T Technology Services (LTTS), with media partner CNBC-TV18. “Their contributions are redefining technology, sustainability, and the future of engineering across the key segments of Mobility, Sustainability, and Tech,” according to the three companies that recently co-hosted the awards ceremony in Dallas, Tex.
More than 230 companies in the transportation, automotive, industrial products, manufacturing, energy, aerospace, medtech, and telecommunications industries were nominated. The judging, based on “innovation, delivery precision, tangible business impact, and sustainable value creation,” was conducted by Prof. Jim Austin, Wharton Business School and Brown University; Prof. (Dr.) Marcos Kauffman, Coventry University; Neelu Sethi, Brinks Inc.; Vanessa Eriksson, GiTN (Girls in Tech Nordics); and Steve Hall, Prashant Kelker, and Gaurav Gupta of ISG.
Awards were given across two segments—“Engineering the Change” and “Engineer at Heart”—to honor “extraordinary achievements at both the enterprise and individual level,” ISG, LTTS and CNBC-TV18 said.
Part of the “Engineering the Change” segment, UP received the Digital Transformation of the Year award for its Physics Train Builder (PTB) program. PTB “represents a significant advancement in train safety and operational efficiency,” ISG, LTTS and CNBC-TV18 reported. “It simulates the complex physics of freight train operations, offering precise recommendations for train car placement and locomotive usage to ensure optimal and safe train builds. The tool models over 2,000 trains daily across UP’s expansive 32,000-mile network, significantly improving safety by preventing derailments and optimizing train length. Following the implementation, there were zero buff derailments in the first year of use— highlighting the PTB’s potential impact on safety and operational costs … It also contributes to reducing break-in-twos and train stalls, allowing for longer trains and improved logistics. By elevating rail safety standards and operational capabilities and delivering a potential ROI in excess of 1900%, the PTB is recognized as in the category of the Digital Transformation of the Year.”
For a list of all winners for 2024, click here.
Additionally, UP announced via social media that its President, Beth Whited, has been featured in Omaha Magazine’s B2B Omaha edition for December (see above).
“There’s been good news for female CEOs in America in the last couple of years,” reported the magazine, which is based in the Nebraska city where UP has its headquarters. “Since 2023, the number of female CEOs at Fortune 500 companies has been over 10%, according to Forbes. That’s up from 8% in 2022. The women on this new issue have pushed businesses forward in incredible ways, as all are incredible leaders—whether their title is CEO, executive director, or board chair.”
Read the full article, “Beth Whited: Union Pacific’s First Female President is Leading with Purpose,” above or by clicking here:
Whited headlined the 2024 Railway Age / RT&S Women in Rail Conference last month, highlighting her more than 35-year career in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Whited has led multiple functions across UP, spanning Strategy, Marketing and Sales, Sustainability, Finance, Investor Relations and Workforce Resources; was a founding member of UP’s LEAD (Lead, Educate, Achieve, Develop) women’s initiative; and is a 2021 Railway Age Women in Rail Honoree. In a “fireside chat” with Railway Age Executive Editor Marybeth Luczak, Railway Age Senior Editor Carolina Worrell and RT&S Managing Editor Jennifer McLawhorn, she encouraged attendees to never be afraid to ask for what they want, and to not fear a challenge or dismiss the potential that comes from tackling a problem.
CPKC
CPKC is running its annual Holiday Train through Canada and the U.S. from Nov. 21 to Dec. 20 to spread holiday cheer and raise money, food, and awareness to support food banks across its network. This year, the train will visit Saint John, N.B., for the first time; provide 167 free, live music shows in seven provinces and 13 states from the brightly decorated train’s stage; and include performers James Barker Band, Clerel, Tyler Shaw, Shawnee Kish, Magic!, Sofia Camara, American Authors, KT Tunstall, Tiera Kennedy, Seaforth, Alana Springsteen, and The Lone Bellow. CPKC donates to the local food bank at each stop and encourages all attendees to make a monetary or “heart-healthy” food donation. For the schedule, click here.
Since its inaugural journey in 1999, the CPKC Holiday Train has raised more than $24.3 million and collected approximately 5.3 million pounds of food for community food banks in Canada and the U.S., according to the railroad, which was formed in 2023 by the merger of Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern (KCS).
“The Holiday Train unites people in the spirit of the season as it travels across Canada and the United States, while generating critical support for our neighbors in need through the program’s support of local food banks,” CPKC President and CEO Keith Creel said when the railroad announced the train schedule in October. “We are pleased to again send this magical train on a four-week trip across our network spreading holiday joy as we collect food and raise money to fight food insecurity. We look forward to again seeing all the smiles and cheers from people young and old coming together in the spirit of giving.”
CPKC will also run the former KCS’s festive six-car Holiday Express train, which will visit 13 communities in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi and support local food banks. Its events are also free, and attendees are encouraged to make monetary or food donations. Click here for the schedule.
Additionally, the railroad will operate Tren Navideño, which includes two decorated boxcars, a flat car with a nativity scene, an Alto Total caboose, a Mexican Revolution commemorative caboose, and an eco-friendly locomotive—all adorned with holiday lights. Since 2010, this train has visited 22 communities for special events across Mexico, according to CPKC. Funded by contributions from employees and sponsors, the train aims to brighten the holiday season in underprivileged communities in Mexico. This train’s events are not open to the general public.
