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| ==== What is VitalRail? ====
| | {{DISPLAYTITLE:VitalRail Hub}} |
| VitalRail 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. Through our IntelliConferences and continual dialogues, 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.]] | | '''VitalRail expands freight rail service across North America's industrial systems and communities.''' |
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| ==== VitalRail Organizing Work ====
| | 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. |
| This is the place where Organizers and Facilitators work with VitalRail Stakeholders to bring forth major sustainable economic and environmental improvements in the North American freight industry.
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| ==== How the Organizing Work Gets Done ====
| | VitalRail orchestrates that collaboration. |
| 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
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| * [[Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Merger IntelliConference|Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Merger]]
| | '''VitalRail works in six essential areas:''' |
| * [[VitalRail/Rail Growth Capitalization IntelliConference|Rail Growth Capitalization]]
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| * [[VitalRail/Rail Regulatory Excellence IntelliConference|Rail Regulatory Excellence]]
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| * [[VitalRail/Rail Business Culture Transformation IntelliConference|Rail Business Culture]]
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| * [[VitalRail/Rail Management – Rail Labor IntelliConference|Rail Management – Rail Labor]]
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| * [[VitalRail/Containerized International Freight IntelliConference|Containerized International Freight]]
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| * [[VitalRail/Revitalizing the Rail Carload System IntelliConference|Rail Carload System Revitalization]]
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| * [[VitalRail/Rail Energy Efficiency IntelliConference|Rail Energy Efficiency]]
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| * [[VitalRail/Freight Transportation Land Use IntelliConference|Freight Transportation Land Use]]
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| * [[VitalRail/Rail Technology Adoption IntelliConference|Rail Technology Adoption]]
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| * [[VitalRail/Rail Trucking Coordination IntelliConference|Rail Trucking Coordination]]
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| ==== Your Time Commitment ====
| | # '''Citizen and community education''' on the benefits of rail transportation |
| To save you time, we use Action Buttons composed of Summaries, Digests and a few other key orientation features to help you stay up-to-date and, if you desire, make contributions. Summaries are what you need to know. Digests are deeper analysis linked to source content generated in InteliConferences and IntelliSynthesis events. The '''Action Buttons''' are located at the top of each Dialogue Page.
| | # '''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) |
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| ==== Join Us! ====
| | Together, these initiatives remove barriers and accelerate rail expansion. |
| Go to [[Participation Options]] to enter this world of positive change collaboration. The OTNA staff and all our stakeholders look forward to meeting you.
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| ==== [[The Case for VitalRail|Why is VitalRail Needed?]] ====
| | '''<big>[[Participation Options|Participate in VitalRail]] | [[VitalRail/About|About VitalRail]]</big>''' |
| 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.
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| Railroads offer irreplaceable space, energy, and capital efficiencies. Increasing freight rail service will contribute cascading benefits to all stakeholders:
| | == The VitalRail IntelliConferences == |
| | * [[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]] |
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| * A one-mile-long train moves the same goods as a 27-mile convoy of trucks
| | == See More == |
| * Its energy efficiency allows it to move that freight on one-quarter to one-half of the fuel required as well as the resulting emissions
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| VitalRail serves at the heart of OTNA as a comprehensive strategy for enhancing the productivity of our industrial systems by expanding freight rail service.
| | * [[VitalRail/About|About VitalRail]] |
| | | * [[VitalRail/VitalRail Stakeholders|VitalRail 360° Stakeholder Map]] |
| 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.
| | * [[VitalRail Capitalization|Bridging the Rail Growth Capitalization Gap]] |
| | | * [[Media:OTNA VitalRail 18Nov2025.pdf|VitalRail Opportunity Memo]] |
| At the same time, 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.
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| ==== VitalRail Stakeholders ====
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| Collaboration among stakeholders is fundamental to achieving the tremendous growth opportunity for:
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| * Railroads | |
| * Rail-related companies
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| * The industries and communities they serve
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| VitalRail engages 14 interdependent stakeholder groups:
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| * 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.-->
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| * Investors, banks, and economic developers
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| * Rail employees, customers, suppliers, and citizens
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| * Transportation planners, land developers, realtors, and site selectors
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| * Researchers, other transportation services and modes, and government leaders
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| Learn more about [[VitalRail Stakeholders]].
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| ==== VitalRail Value Proposition ====
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| Expanding freight rail service is crucial for sustainable industrial growth across North America.
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| 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. For North America’s future prosperity, they must be reconceived with the thoughtful input of all stakeholder groups.
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| 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.
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| Learn more about the [[VitalRail/VitalRail Value Proposition|VitalRail Value Proposition]].
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| ==== VitalRail FAQs ====
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| Go to the [[VitalRail/VitalRail FAQs|VitalRail FAQs]] page to get your early questions answered.
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