Railway Metrics and Dynamics has delivered two test units to the United States for evaluation by a major American Class I freight railroad company. The cameras will be tested in full operation during switching work in terminal environments, with a particular focus on improving efficiency and safety.
Two test cameras have been shipped from Stockholm to RMD's U.S. distributor, American Equipment Company (AMECO), following a request for a quote for 100 cameras. The cameras will then be demonstrated by AMECO at one of the customer's most important hubs for intermodal freight transport.
About the Tests
Trans shipment operations - and thus switching - are a central part of the railway's business. The background to the tests is a growing need to reduce both risks and staffing requirements during switching. With RMD's cameras mounted on the rear end of the last car, the train driver can receive live video directly in the cab or on a portable screen, allowing the entire operation to be carried out by one person without compromising safety.
- The opportunity to showcase our camera system to a Class I freight rail company is, of course, highly significant. This is a strategically important evaluation where we get the chance to demonstrate how well our solution performs in one of the world's largest freight rail operations, says Jan Lindqvist, CEO of Railway Metrics and Dynamics.
The system has already been tested and adopted by freight rail operators in Europe, and now RMD has the opportunity to take an important step into the US market. The test will provide valuable feedback on how the system works in their specific environments.
The test period will begin in early July and is expected to run for approximately three months, although no fixed end date has been set.
About Class I Railroads in the US
In the United States, freight railroads are categorized by annual revenue. A Class I operator is defined as one with yearly revenue above USD 504.8 million (2023 level), as set by the federal Surface Transportation Board (STB).
Class I railroads handle a large share of long-distance freight transport and operate across broad geographic areas with their own terminals and infrastructure. Examples include BNSF, Union Pacific, CSX, Norfolk Southern, Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City.