Trinity Industries, Inc. announced its plans to enter into a joint venture with Norfolk Southern, GATX Corporation, Genesee & Wyoming and Watco to create a coalition that is expected to accelerate rail modal transformation through the advancement of GPS technology and other telematics across the North American railcar fleet. The new venture, called RailPulse, is committed to develop new standards and systems infrastructure to support the industry in meeting two key objectives. The first objective is to provide real-time information for enhanced safety through the consistent, reliable provision of key data on railcars across the entire North American fleet to shippers, railcar owners, and railroads.

The second objective is to reinforce rail's competitive modal share position of freight transportation through increased real-time and sustainable visibility into status, location, and condition of rail equipment and the commodities being transported. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, through its Department of Transportation (PennDOT), recently received a Fiscal Year 2020 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the project. The Commonwealth, along with the rail partners that collectively own 20% of the North American railcar fleet, will provide an additional modest investment.

A full rollout of the RailPulse platform to North American rail shippers is expected by the end of 2022.