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==== Introduction to VitalRail ====
==== Introduction ====
VitalRail serves at the heart of OTNA as a comprehensive strategy for enhancing the productivity of our industrial systems by expanding freight rail service. This initiative brings together a diverse group of [[VitalRail Stakeholders|stakeholders]] who see unprecedented opportunities to boost efficiency in freight and rail transportation. We view rail infrastructure as the backbone of revitalizing North America’s essential industrial systems. Railroads offer irreplaceable space, energy, and capital efficiencies. Increasing freight rail service will contribute cascading benefits to all stakeholders:
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.
* A one-mile-long train moves the same goods as a 27-mile convoy of trucks.
* For the same freight, rail reduces fuel use and its resulting emissions by one-half to three-quarters.  


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.
Though North America enjoys perhaps the world's most productive freight rail system in the world, the industry’s $115 billion annual revenue is in stark contrast with the freight trucking industry’s $1 trillion yearly revenue. However, we need more from railroad companies than they can accomplish on their own. Fortunately, railroads do not need a government bailout, and they outperform many other industries. That stability—combined with rail technology’s inherent efficiencies—delivers a high return on investment when the involved stakeholder groups work together.
 
Through our IntelliConferences and a continual diualogues, VitalRail’s organizing and facilitation teams and professional stakeholders identify breakthroughs, make them actionable, and tackle industry challenges head-on. Check out [[VitalRail Organizing Principles|VitalRail's organizing principles.]]
 
 
There has never been a greater need or more opportunity for capitalizing railroad development to address transportation efficiency and environmental challenges. Rather than  emotional critiques and general calls for a so-called rail renaissance, VitalRail is informed by the real challenges and benefits of growing an industry as integral as railroads.
 
Expanding freight rail service is crucial for sustainable industrial growth across North America.
 
As the continent pursues reshoring and reindustrialization, 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. However, neither marketplace dynamics nor vested-interest lobbying lead to smart supply chains. The challenge is not a lack of intelligence; there are many smart and committed people in industry, government, and the community. What we have been lacking are the effective forums and methods for gathering this intelligence into smart policy, programs, and marketplace improvements. OTNA provides that platform.
 
Learn more about the [[VitalRail/VitalRail Value Proposition|VitalRail Value Proposition]].
 
==== VitalRail FAQs ====
Go to the [[VitalRail/VitalRail FAQs|VitalRail FAQs]] page to get your early questions answered.
==== VitalRail Core IntelliConferences ====
We start with core dialogues on the subject of North America’s freight service.  Dialogues are goal directed. They have been conceived by [[BrainTrust|Leaders and Stakeholders]].  Using our [[IntelliConferences|IntelliConference and IntelliSynthesis]] events and methods, the dialogues will develop as we all delve deeper into the challenges of the frieght and rail industry of North America
 
* [[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 Trucking Coordination IntelliConference|Rail Trucking Coordination]]
 
==== Join Us! ====
Go to [[Participation Options]] to enter this world of positive change collaboration. The OTNA staff and all our stakeholders look forward to meeting you.                                                                                                       


==== VitalRail Stakeholders ====
==== VitalRail Stakeholders ====
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]].
Collaboration among stakeholders is fundamental to achieving the tremendous growth opportunity for:


==== IntelliConferences ====
* Railroads
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-related companies
* The industries and communities they serve


* [[Rail Growth Capitalization]]
VitalRail engages 14 interdependent stakeholder groups:
* [[Rail Business Culture Transformation]]


*[[Rail Management – Rail Labor]]
* Class I, II, and III railroads<!--Sometimes the 3 railroad classes are cited as Class I, II, and III, as in this instance, and sometimes they're cited as Class 1,2, and 3. Please choose a style and use it consistently throughout all publications (including emails, white papers, press releases, etc). Please note that the trend in the past years is to use Arabic, rather than Roman, numerals, so Class 1, 2, and 3 would be more modern.-->
* [[Containerized International Freight]]
* Investors, banks, and economic developers
*[[Revitalizing the Rail Carload System]]
* Rail employees, customers, suppliers, and citizens
*[[Rail Energy Efficiency]]
* Transportation planners, land developers, realtors, and site selectors
*[[Freight Transportation Land Use]]
* Researchers, other transportation services and modes, and government leaders
*[[Rail Technology Adoption]]
*[[Rail Trucking Coordination]]
*[[Rail Regulatory Excellence]]
</br>
==== 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 ====
Learn more about [[VitalRail Stakeholders]].
Go to  the [[VitalRail FAQs]] page to get your early questions answered.

Latest revision as of 19:56, 4 November 2025

Introduction to VitalRail

VitalRail serves at the heart of OTNA as a comprehensive strategy for enhancing the productivity of our industrial systems by expanding freight rail service. This initiative brings together a diverse group of stakeholders who see unprecedented opportunities to boost efficiency in freight and rail transportation. We view rail infrastructure as the backbone of revitalizing North America’s essential industrial systems. Railroads offer irreplaceable space, energy, and capital efficiencies. Increasing freight rail service will contribute cascading benefits to all stakeholders:

  • A one-mile-long train moves the same goods as a 27-mile convoy of trucks.
  • For the same freight, rail reduces fuel use and its resulting emissions by one-half to three-quarters.

Though North America enjoys perhaps the world's most productive freight rail system in the world, the industry’s $115 billion annual revenue is in stark contrast with the freight trucking industry’s $1 trillion yearly revenue. However, we need more from railroad companies than they can accomplish on their own. Fortunately, railroads do not need a government bailout, and they outperform many other industries. That stability—combined with rail technology’s inherent efficiencies—delivers a high return on investment when the involved stakeholder groups work together.

Through our IntelliConferences and a continual diualogues, VitalRail’s organizing and facilitation teams and professional stakeholders identify breakthroughs, make them actionable, and tackle industry challenges head-on. Check out VitalRail's organizing principles.


There has never been a greater need or more opportunity for capitalizing railroad development to address transportation efficiency and environmental challenges. Rather than emotional critiques and general calls for a so-called rail renaissance, VitalRail is informed by the real challenges and benefits of growing an industry as integral as railroads.

Expanding freight rail service is crucial for sustainable industrial growth across North America.

As the continent pursues reshoring and reindustrialization, 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. However, neither marketplace dynamics nor vested-interest lobbying lead to smart supply chains. The challenge is not a lack of intelligence; there are many smart and committed people in industry, government, and the community. What we have been lacking are the effective forums and methods for gathering this intelligence into smart policy, programs, and marketplace improvements. OTNA provides that platform.

Learn more about the VitalRail Value Proposition.

VitalRail FAQs

Go to the VitalRail FAQs page to get your early questions answered.

VitalRail Core IntelliConferences

We start with core dialogues on the subject of North America’s freight service. Dialogues are goal directed. They have been conceived by Leaders and Stakeholders. Using our IntelliConference and IntelliSynthesis events and methods, the dialogues will develop as we all delve deeper into the challenges of the frieght and rail industry of North America

Join Us!

Go to Participation Options to enter this world of positive change collaboration. The OTNA staff and all our stakeholders look forward to meeting you.

VitalRail Stakeholders

Collaboration among stakeholders is fundamental to achieving the tremendous growth opportunity for:

  • Railroads
  • Rail-related companies
  • The industries and communities they serve

VitalRail engages 14 interdependent stakeholder groups:

  • Class I, II, and III railroads
  • Investors, banks, and economic developers
  • Rail employees, customers, suppliers, and citizens
  • Transportation planners, land developers, realtors, and site selectors
  • Researchers, other transportation services and modes, and government leaders

Learn more about VitalRail Stakeholders.

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