United States Steel Corporation, Norfolk Southern and The Greenbrier Companies have announced a new, more sustainable steel gondola railcar.
Using an innovative formula for high-strength, lighter-weight steel developed by U. S. Steel, each gondola’s unloaded weight is reduced by up to 15,000 pounds. Gondola railcars transport loose bulk material such as metal scraps, coils, wood chips, steel slabs and ore.
Norfolk Southern will initially acquire 800 of the Greenbrier engineered gondolas.
The innovative gondola railcar provides a 50-year extended lifecycle as the new steel is twice as strong as traditional steel used in the railcar manufacturing process. A stronger external finish also strengthens the railcar body, lowering maintenance costs. Another feature of the railcar consists of more energy-efficiency, both during production and in use. The steel fabrication process requires less time, leading to improved energy efficiency due to less material being used. The lower weight decreases the fuel needed by locomotives hauling the railcars, reducing energy usage and lowering emissions.
The sustainable steel gondola railcar has also an improved design to allow greater freight capacity. The high-strength steel requires less structural reinforcement, simplifying the manufacturing process and allowing more total cargo space in each railcar.
The partnership between supplier, builder and end-user is rooted in the recognition that North America’s aging gondola fleet will soon require substantial replacement with a more sustainable design.
“The work done by U. S. Steel, Norfolk Southern and Greenbrier promises significant benefits to all three companies and the freight transport industry as a whole. The three partners on this next-generation transport equipment have deep roots in industrial America. Together, we are leading the way to a net-zero carbon economy. I look forward to our continued partnership,” William Furman, the CEO of Greenbrier said.
The new product benefits U. S. Steel’s innovative materials and Greenbrier’s deep engineering capability to build a stronger, lighter and more energy-efficient product for the rail freight industry. U. S. Steel designs advanced, lightweight and high-strength steel solutions for the automotive industry and it has identified the interconnections between steel advancements for automobiles and adapted these to the rail industry.
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