b'2American Journal ofTransportation ajot.comINTERMODAL 2023 Is there a track to net zero for US railroads?Railroads might be the most energy-efficient way tomovefreightinNorthAmerica,butitisnt green. The challenge facing North Americas Class 1 railroads is how to build a greener networkand how to do it fast.By Matt Miller, AJOTRailroadsrightlytoutthe2030, from a 2018 baseline. factthattheyrethemostUnionPacificRail(UPR) energy-efficient way to movesaid it would achieve net zero UP Intermodal Railyard in Utah freight,aquartertoathirdby 2050. (dependingonthestudy)ofForAmericanrailroad the carbon produced per tonoperators,efficienciesare The Utah Inland Port Authority is buildingoffreightbytrucks.How- alreadybeingimprovedand ever, that doesnt mean rail,will continue to be. Renew-the nations most comprehensiveespecially in North America,ableenergyusageinsome is shaded dark green. forms has arrived; others are intermodal networkAssustainableasrailon the horizon. But catenary The Utah Inland Port Authority, better known as the UIPA, is engaged intransportisnow,thereiselectrification will be exceed-building a unique and ambitious intermodal network that could restructurestillconsiderableroomforinglydifficult,andrailroads improvement,wrotetheremainresistanttotheidea. freight movements for nearly a quarter of the country. It is a project that hasBoston Consulting Group inElectrificationoftheUS had its share of setbacks, but this revitalized plan could set the bar for thea 2022 study. rail network is patently infea-future of freight multimodalism in the U.S.Thestudyonrailsus- sible, said an official at the tainabilityidentifiedfourAssociation of American Rail-By Chris Barnett, AJOT broad categories of improve- roads (AAR).mentsnecessaryforcarbon After the ambitious concept of a single,US and simultaneously strengthen the economyreduction.Theyareasfol- H ow toE lEctrifyt HEl Eastgiant centralized logistics-driven transloadingof a state known for its collaborative spirit andlows: electrification, improvedE lEctrifiEdr ailN Etworkterminal for landlocked Utah didnt fly, newproductivity,thefive-year-oldUIPAalreadyenergyefficiency,moreeffi- North American rail has leadership for the Utah Inland Port Authorityhas three supply chain projects or potentialcientassetutilization,andthedubiousdistinctionof (UIPA) shifted gears and is creating smallerrailportsidentifiedandoneisoperational,shifting to renewable energy. beingtheleastelectrified multimodal rural hubs statewide where truck,transporting AmericanmanufacturedsteelbyClass1railroadshavelargenetworkintheworld. rail and even air shippers can capitalize on thetruck and transshipping it by rail to destination. allpledgedtoreducetheirOnly 1% of rail is electrified, massive capacity of the emission-free UnionThe Beehive state is busy at work on acarbon footprint. BNSF (Bur- and thats limited to passen-Pacific Railroad. fourth project hub likely to be approved andlingtonNorthernSantaFe)gertrains. Allfreighttrains What could be a first coordinated logisti- launched in late August. It is no surprise thesaid it would cut greenhouse(TRACKcontinued on cal effort to get trucks off the highways in the(NETWORKcontinued on page 8) gasemissionsby30%bypage 12)20032023For the past 20 years Odyssey Logisticshas delivered adaptive multimodal logisticson a global scaleBy converging an expansive freight network, personalized customer-focused relationships, and specialized modern technology,were ready to lead our customers into the next 20 yearsand beyond.20032023odysseylogistics.com/multimodal 2023 Odyssey Logistics & Technology Corporation'