Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern accelerates HMI development with AVEVA InTouch HMI
Norfolk Southern Railway cut the development time of its human-machine interfaces by up to 50% with AVEVA InTouch HMI, increasing efficiency and lowering labor costs as part of a rail industrial monitoring approach. Operating more than 21,500 miles of track in 22 U.S. states and Ontario, the railroad receives up to 2,000 railcars per day and needed to fully automate its classification yard operations while replacing old equipment that was costly to maintain. Norfolk Southern also had to ensure efficiency and safety, and deliver critical information through devices easily accessible to yard personnel. AVEVA InTouch HMI fully meets these requirements by accelerating application development and giving operators a clear visualization of rail operations.
Testimonials
FAQ
How does AVEVA InTouch HMI reduce development time for supervisory applications?
AVEVA InTouch HMI provides an object-oriented development environment with reusable templates, which enabled Norfolk Southern Railway to cut the development time of its interfaces by 40 to 50%. For a rail network operating more than 21,500 miles of track in 22 US states and Ontario, this acceleration means faster rollout of new features and a significant reduction in engineering costs. Developers create standardized applications that can be deployed across multiple sites.
How can AVEVA fully automate a rail classification yard?
Norfolk Southern Railway receives up to 2,000 railcars a day at its Buckeye classification yard, which it now manages with AVEVA InTouch HMI. The solution gives yardmasters and conductors real-time visualization of operations, contextualized alarms and direct access to critical information from mobile devices. This automation replaces old equipment that was expensive to maintain, while increasing crew efficiency and the overall safety of rail operations.
Why is a modern HMI strategic in a high-volume rail environment?
In a classification yard handling 2,000 railcars a day, every second counts. AVEVA InTouch HMI gives operators instant access to critical information via mobile devices, which shortens decision times and reduces errors. Rail industrial monitoring relies on a clear view of network status, prioritized alarm management and maximum responsiveness. That is exactly what InTouch brings to Norfolk Southern's daily operations.
How can AVEVA reduce labor costs at a rail yard?
Norfolk Southern Railway deployed AVEVA InTouch HMI with the explicit aim of reducing labor costs and replacing outdated equipment. Automating classification operations, combined with modern, accessible visualization, allows fewer operators to handle a larger volume of railcars. Productivity gains and improved quality of working life for crews (fewer repetitive tasks) are concrete benefits for a rail operator facing profitability challenges.
What business gains does modern rail industrial monitoring deliver?
For Norfolk Southern Railway, AVEVA InTouch HMI delivered a 40% to 50% reduction in HMI development time, greater operational efficiency for yardmasters and conductors, and the replacement of obsolete equipment that was expensive to maintain. Beyond the figures, the reliability of service to rail customers (manufacturers, distributors) is strengthened. Modern industrial monitoring is becoming a competitive advantage in a sector where punctuality and safety drive growth.