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==== Introduction ====
'''VitalRail expands freight rail service across North America's industrial systems and communities.'''
VitalRail is a comprehensive strategy for enhancing the productivity and sustainability of our industrial systems by expanding freight rail service. The need and opportunity for railroad development to address environmental challenges and transportation efficiency has never been greater. 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 on the road. And rail's energy efficiency allows it to move that freight on 1/2 to 1/4 the fuel and emissions.
Rail is irreplaceable for moving heavy weight efficiently over land—no technological alternative exists. Our continent's economic and environmental sustainability depends on dramatically expanded rail service. This expansion demands collaboration across companies, communities, and sectors.


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 orchestrates that collaboration.


==== VitalRail Stakeholders ====
'''VitalRail works in six essential areas:'''
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]].


==== IntelliConferences ====
# '''Citizen and community education''' on the benefits of rail transportation
VitalRail convenes stakeholder IntelliConferences for planning at the level needed to advance this deeply interconnected, invaluable industry. We begin with the most important dialogues for expanding North America’s freight rail service.
# '''Rail-enabled economic development training''' for economic developers, landowners, and developers
# '''Growth capital''' for rail-served industrial systems and projects
# '''Rail-centered industrial development initiatives''' for states and provinces
# '''Rail integration strategy''' for supply chains, facilities, and operations
# '''Collaborative resolution of long-standing barriers''' through IntelliConferences (listed below)


* [[Rail Growth Capitalization]]
Together, these initiatives remove barriers and accelerate rail expansion.
* [[Rail Business Culture Transformation]]


*[[Rail Management – Rail Labor]]
'''<big>[[Participation Options|Participate in VitalRail]] | [[VitalRail/About|About VitalRail]]</big>'''
* [[Containerized International Freight]]
*[[Revitalizing the Rail Carload System]]
*[[Rail Energy Efficiency]]
*[[Freight Transportation Land Use]]
*[[Rail Technology Adoption]]
*[[Rail Trucking Coordination]]
*[[Rail Regulatory Excellence]]
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==== Why Do This? ====
The expansion of freight rail infrastructure is crucial for sustainable industrial growth across North America. As the continent pursues reshoring and reindustrialization initiatives, rail networks offer the most environmentally efficient transportation solution. Like high-speed internet, robust rail service is fundamental to community prosperity - its absence creates economic barriers and environmental costs. Success requires aligning incentives across all stakeholders, from industry to local communities, to create shared economic value. Learn more about [[Why Do This]].


==== VitalRail FAQs ====
== The VitalRail IntelliConferences ==
Go to  the [[VitalRail FAQs]] page to get your early questions answered.
* [[VitalRail/IntelliConferences/Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Merger|Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Merger]]
* [[VitalRail/IntelliConferences/Rail Growth Capitalization|Rail Growth Capitalization]]
* [[VitalRail/IntelliConferences/Rail Regulatory Excellence|Rail Regulatory Excellence]]
* [[VitalRail/IntelliConferences/Rail Business Culture Transformation|Rail Business Culture]]
* [[VitalRail/IntelliConferences/Rail Management – Rail Labor|Rail Management – Rail Labor]]
* [[VitalRail/IntelliConferences/Containerized International Freight|Containerized International Freight]]
* [[VitalRail/IntelliConferences/Revitalizing the Rail Carload System|Rail Carload System Revitalization]]
* [[VitalRail/IntelliConferences/Rail Energy Efficiency|Rail Energy Efficiency]]
* [[VitalRail/IntelliConferences/Freight Transportation Land Use|Freight Transportation Land Use]]
* [[VitalRail/IntelliConferences/Rail Technology Adoption|Rail Technology Adoption]]
* [[VitalRail/IntelliConferences/Rail-Truck Coordination|Rail-Truck Coordination]]
 
== See More ==
 
* [[VitalRail/About|About VitalRail]]
* [[VitalRail/VitalRail Stakeholders|VitalRail 360° Stakeholder Map]]
* [[Bridging the Rail Growth Capitalization Gap]]
* [[Media:OTNA VitalRail 18Nov2025.pdf|VitalRail Opportunity Memo]]

Revision as of 19:06, 12 January 2026

VitalRail expands freight rail service across North America's industrial systems and communities.

Rail is irreplaceable for moving heavy weight efficiently over land—no technological alternative exists. Our continent's economic and environmental sustainability depends on dramatically expanded rail service. This expansion demands collaboration across companies, communities, and sectors.

VitalRail orchestrates that collaboration.

VitalRail works in six essential areas:

  1. Citizen and community education on the benefits of rail transportation
  2. Rail-enabled economic development training for economic developers, landowners, and developers
  3. Growth capital for rail-served industrial systems and projects
  4. Rail-centered industrial development initiatives for states and provinces
  5. Rail integration strategy for supply chains, facilities, and operations
  6. Collaborative resolution of long-standing barriers through IntelliConferences (listed below)

Together, these initiatives remove barriers and accelerate rail expansion.

Participate in VitalRail | About VitalRail

The VitalRail IntelliConferences

See More

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