aA Freight Railroads Use Up To Date Technology (NAPSA)—Oneof the most forward-looking methods of transportation is also one of the most reliable—railroads. Unfortunately, many people are so used to the role that rail transport plays in our economy, they take freight railroads for granted. Worse yet, many people have a distorted view of rail transport based on the way railroads ran prior to government deregulation. For example, in a recent survey, over 60 percent of those polled felt that railroads were using outdated technology. In fact, just the opposite is true. Freight railroads invest roughly $1 billion per year in communication and signal technology. This move to modernize has contributed to advancementsin safety made possible by a new generation of metallurgy for rails, shields and thermal protection for tank cars, concrete ties and improved bearings andgears. Another prevalent misconception is that many locomotives and freight cars are in bad shape. tion and signal technology. roads have either purchased or at www.aar.org. Far from it. Since 1990, rail- Freight railroads invest roughly $1 billion per year on communicarebuilt over 8,300 locomotives. They have also installed more than 2,800 advanced AC units that use the latest technology to improve pulling power, reduce maintenance and increase fuel efficiency. Research also indicates that improved freight cars made from lighter materials and stronger components have helped to reduce the accident rate due to equipment failure by nearly 78 percent since 1980. To learn more, visit the Web site
