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==== Introduction ====
VitalRail is unprecedented in its industrial policy scope. We have positioned this comprehensive set of initiatives for expanding freight rail service to North America’s industrial systems and communities. Expanded rail service is crucial to the continent’s economic and environmental sustainability. There is no technological replacement on the horizon for railroads' efficient movement of heavy weight over land. To meet this moment, VitalRail facilitates the multi-stakeholder investments and system-wide optimization that individual sectors or actors cannot achieve on their own. Now is the time to orchestrate the stakeholder collaboration needed to resolve long standing issues and realize this tremendous infrastructure development opportunity.
VitalRail serves at the heart of CAPSI as a comprehensive strategy for enhancing the productivity of our industrial systems by expanding freight rail service. The need and opportunity for railroad development to address transportation efficiency and environmental challenges has never been greater. Rather than the emotional critiques and general calls for a "rail renaissance," VitalRail is informed by the real challenges and benefits of growing an industry as integral as railroads.  


While North America enjoys perhaps the world's most productive freight rail system, the industry’s $115 billion annual revenue starkly contrasts with the freight trucking industry’s $1 trillion yearly revenue. Yet rail offers irreplaceable space, energy, and capital efficiencies. Growing freight rail service will contribute cascading benefits to all stakeholders. Consider the impact of space efficiency on highway capacity: a one-mile-long train moves the same goods as a 27-mile convoy of trucks. And rail's energy efficiency allows it to move that freight on 1/2 to 1/4 the fuel and emissions.
'''To get involved in VitalRail, see our [[Participation Options]], and for background information see [[VitalRail/About|About VitalRail]]'''


However, we need more from railroads than they can do themselves. Fortunately, railroads do not need a government bailout; they outperform many other industries. That stability, combined with rail technology’s inherent efficiencies, will deliver a high return on investment when the involved stakeholder groups work together to expand the rail transportation system.
VitalRail works in all five areas that are essential for growing freight rail service:


==== VitalRail Stakeholders ====
#'''Citizen and community education''' on the benefits of rail transportation
Collaboration among stakeholders is fundamental to achieving this tremendous growth opportunity for railroads, rail-related companies, and the industries and communities they serve. VitalRail engages fourteen “Interdependent Stakeholder Groups”: Class I Railroad Leaders, Class II and III Railroad Leaders, Investors and Banks, Rail Employees, Citizens, Customers, Suppliers, Economic Developers, Transportation Planners, Land Developers, Realtors and Site Selectors, Researchers, Other Transportation Services and Modes, and Government Leaders. Learn more about [[VitalRail Stakeholders]].
#'''Rail-enabled economic development training''' for economic developers, landowners, and land developers
#'''Growth capital''' for rail-served industrial systems and projects
#'''Rail-centered industrial development''' initiatives for states and provinces
#'''Collaborative resolution of long-standing barriers''' to shared prosperity, '''enabled by the IntelliConferences''' listed below:


==== IntelliConferences ====
== The VitalRail IntelliConferences ==
VitalRail convenes stakeholder IntelliConferences for planning at the level now needed to advance this deeply interconnected, invaluable industry. We begin with the most important dialogues for expanding North America’s freight rail service.
* [[Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Merger IntelliConference|Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Merger]]
* [[VitalRail/Rail Growth Capitalization IntelliConference|Rail Growth Capitalization]]
* [[VitalRail/Rail Regulatory Excellence IntelliConference|Rail Regulatory Excellence]]
* [[VitalRail/Rail Business Culture Transformation IntelliConference|Rail Business Culture]]
* [[VitalRail/Rail Management – Rail Labor IntelliConference|Rail Management – Rail Labor]]
* [[VitalRail/Containerized International Freight IntelliConference|Containerized International Freight]]
* [[VitalRail/Revitalizing the Rail Carload System IntelliConference|Rail Carload System Revitalization]]
* [[VitalRail/Rail Energy Efficiency IntelliConference|Rail Energy Efficiency]]
* [[VitalRail/Freight Transportation Land Use IntelliConference|Freight Transportation Land Use]]
* [[VitalRail/Rail Technology Adoption IntelliConference|Rail Technology Adoption]]
* [[VitalRail/Rail-Truck Coordination IntelliConference|Rail-Truck Coordination]]


* [[Rail Growth Capitalization]]
== See More ==
* [[Rail Business Culture Transformation]]


*[[Rail Management – Rail Labor]]
* [[VitalRail/About|About VitalRail]]
* [[Containerized International Freight]]
* [[VitalRail/VitalRail Stakeholders|VitalRail 360° Stakeholder Map]]
*[[Revitalizing the Rail Carload System]]
* [[VitalRail Capitalization|Bridging the Rail Growth Capitalization Gap]]
*[[Rail Energy Efficiency]]
* [[Media:OTNA VitalRail 18Nov2025.pdf|VitalRail Opportunity Memo]]
*[[Freight Transportation Land Use]]
*[[Rail Technology Adoption]]
*[[Rail Trucking Coordination]]
*[[Rail Regulatory Excellence]]
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==== What is the VitalRail Value Proposition? ====
The expansion of freight rail service is crucial for sustainable industrial growth across North America. As the continent pursues reshoring and reindustrialization initiatives, railroads need to serve as the backbone of supply chain transportation. Like high-speed internet, robust rail service is fundamental to community prosperity - its absence creates economic barriers and environmental costs. The truth is, neither marketplace dynamics nor vested interest lobbying lead to smart supply chains. For North America’s future prosperity, they must be reconceived with a long-term vision.
 
The challenge is not a lack of intelligence—there are so many smart, committed people in industry, government, and the community. What we have been lacking are the effective forums and methods for gathering that intelligence into smart policy, programs, and marketplace improvements. Learn more about the [[Why Do This?|VitalRail Value Proposition]].
 
==== VitalRail FAQs ====
Go to  the [[VitalRail FAQs]] page to get your early questions answered.

Latest revision as of 19:53, 16 December 2025

VitalRail is unprecedented in its industrial policy scope. We have positioned this comprehensive set of initiatives for expanding freight rail service to North America’s industrial systems and communities. Expanded rail service is crucial to the continent’s economic and environmental sustainability. There is no technological replacement on the horizon for railroads' efficient movement of heavy weight over land. To meet this moment, VitalRail facilitates the multi-stakeholder investments and system-wide optimization that individual sectors or actors cannot achieve on their own. Now is the time to orchestrate the stakeholder collaboration needed to resolve long standing issues and realize this tremendous infrastructure development opportunity.

To get involved in VitalRail, see our Participation Options, and for background information see About VitalRail

VitalRail works in all five areas that are essential for growing freight rail service:

  1. Citizen and community education on the benefits of rail transportation
  2. Rail-enabled economic development training for economic developers, landowners, and land developers
  3. Growth capital for rail-served industrial systems and projects
  4. Rail-centered industrial development initiatives for states and provinces
  5. Collaborative resolution of long-standing barriers to shared prosperity, enabled by the IntelliConferences listed below:

The VitalRail IntelliConferences

See More

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