CSX's Sanborn at RailTrends: Operational resiliency and winter resource planning are key

CSX Corp. is positioning itself to continue delivering strong financial results by balancing stabilized service levels, improving efficiency and pursuing continued growth opportunities, Chief Transportation Officer Cindy Sanborn said this morning during her presentation at Progressive Railroading's RailTrends conference in New York City.

"CSX is committed to delivering service excellence for its customers, which reinforces our strategy of driving the company's ability to grow faster than the economy, pricing above inflation and producing ever more efficient operations," she said, according to a press release issued by CSX. "[We are] working to put the right people and resources in the right places, combined with process improvements and increased communication with our peers, to serve the broad-based growth we continue to see across nearly all markets that we serve."

As customer demand continues to rise, the Class I's network performance remains stable, with key service metrics — including on-time originations and arrivals — holding steady so far in the fourth quarter compared with the previous two quarters, said Sanborn.

"We are working around the clock to further improve operations at a steady pace into 2015 even as we handle the traditional fall peak and record grain harvest," she said.

Operational improvements include adding locomotives, hiring new train-crew employees, accelerating capacity projects and adjusting operating processes. Because fluidity in Chicago remains a top priority, CSX is improving infrastructure to help ease congestion and focusing on coordination with other railroads in the Windy City, said Sanborn. The resources and process adjustments will support fluidity and growth, preserving the flexibility to drive long-term asset utilization improvements, she said.

CSX also is making additional process changes to help reduce potential winter weather impacts. Efforts to increase preparation in conjunction with customers, deploy additional weather preparation and response equipment, and form contingency plans for routing, capacity and inventory management are either completed or underway, said Sanborn.

RailTrends concludes at midday at the W New York Hotel. The conference began yesterday.