December 5, 2005
Norfolk Southern and New York Air Brake Agree to Deploy New Train
Technology
NORFOLK, VA – Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and New York
Air Brake Corporation today announced an agreement to begin deploying a
locomotive computer system to improve the fuel efficiency and safe
handling of trains in long-haul operations.
The system, developed by New York Air Brake (NYAB) and known as LEADER®
(Locomotive Engineer Assist Display and Event Recorder), provides
locomotive engineers with real-time information about a train’s
operating conditions. It consists of an on-board computer that
calculates and displays the optimum speed at which to operate the
train, depending on the topography and curvature of the track to be
encountered, the train’s length and weight and other operating
conditions.
NS tested LEADER in a 2003 pilot project involving 15 locomotives
running coal trains between Winston-Salem, N.C., and Roanoke, Va. The
two-year pilot was a cooperative effort involving General Electric, New
York Air Brake, Norfolk Southern and the Federal Railroad
Administration.
“The project proved that LEADER could reduce fuel consumption and
minimize in-train dynamic forces,” said John Samuels, Norfolk Southern
senior vice president Operations Planning and Support. “In 2006 we will
begin installing the technology on NS’ road locomotive fleet.”
“Norfolk Southern has been an outstanding partner in helping validate
the fuel savings and other benefits provided by LEADER through
exhaustive field trials” said J. Paul Morgan, NYAB President. “We are
delighted with Norfolk Southern’s decision to begin installation of
LEADER on its road locomotive fleet in 2006.”
LEADER ultimately will be an integral part of the Optimized Train
Control (OTC) system, a positive train