S E R V I C E R E C O V E R Y
LOCOMOTIVE, CAR REBUILD PROGRAMS EXPANDING EQUIPMENT FLEET
With 2014’s sharp rise in volume, CSX is focused on
enhancing network performance by further strengthening
the reliability and availability of its locomotive fleet. CSX is
purchasing and leasing additional locomotives, as well as
expanding its repair and rebuild programs to ensure more
units that are optimally equipped are ready for service. And
we’re making significant progress.
CSX has already increased its active fleet by more than
300 units in 2014 through leases and restorations, and
will add up to 100 additional locomotives this year to help
propel service. The additional locomotives will be produced
as part of the company’s rebuild program and accelerated
heavy repair program.
The rebuild program is a major component of our service
recovery plan and is rapidly moving ahead, with most of the
work being completed at the CSX Huntington Locomotive
Shop in West Virginia. As we look to 2015, CSX will more
than double the size of the overall rebuild program, using
external suppliers and increasing the Huntington facility’s
production to advance rebuild and restoration efforts.
At a cost of about $1.1 million per locomotive, the Huntington
shop is stripping 30-year-old EMD GP38-2 and GP40-2
locomotives and rebuilding them from the ground up with
upgraded components, modern remote-control systems
and other advanced software. The shop has completed
seven rebuilds in the past three months, and the modernized
units have already been placed into service. Another 11
rebuilt GP38-3s will roll out of the shop in the weeks ahead.
Next up in the rebuild program are the more powerful 3,000
horsepower GP40-2s and SD40-2s, which will be placed
into yard and over-the-road service and have a significant
impact on network fluidity and service reliability. Forty-five
of the rebuilt (and newly named) GP40-3s and 50 of the
SD40-3s will be added to the fleet in 2015.
In addition to boosting the size of the CSX locomotive fleet,
the rebuilt units are expected to be exceptionally reliable,
reducing the required number of annual preventative
maintenance shop visits from four to two.
To meet the aggressive rebuild targets, the Huntington shop
has benefitted from $5 million in capital projects, and is in
the midst of hiring and training dozens of new employees.
In addition, CSX implemented a new labor agreement at
the shop, which allows employees more flexibility while
improving the output and efficiency of the entire shop.
At the same time, CSX is undertaking the largest car
rebuild program in its history. Completed in the Danville, Ill.
and Roanoke, Va. shops, 470 stainless steel Coke Express
cars and 1,400 stainless steel triple hoppers are finished
and hauling freight. In addition to the rebuilt equipment
already in over-the-road service, another 1,100 triple
hoppers are expected to be complete by the end of the
year, while work is about to begin on approximately 3,000
coal gondolas that will be converted from traditional carbon
steel into hybrid stainless steel-aluminum cars and placed
into service in 2015.
CSX continues to appreciate customers’ patience and
partnership as the company invests to return service to
the levels you expect and prepare for future growth
opportunities for your business. CSX will continue to
execute its aggressive plan to improve network performance
and will update you regularly on our progress.
• Purchasing: 300 new locomotives, with
deliveries starting in 2015.
• Locomotive Rebuilds and Heavy Repair:
Approximately 300 locomotives by the end
of 2015; seven already in service.
• Car Rebuilds: 470 stainless steel Coke
Express cars and 1,400 stainless steel triple
hoppers completed; work underway on
1,100 triple hoppers and 3,000 coal gondolas.
Wonder if Ron Bearden will find enough alterations in appearance with the rebuilds to undertake a project to duplicate?
