TRIG Improving Safety Amid Pipeline Closures
June 28, 2021 - Calgary Technology Company Improves Rail Safety Amid Pipeline Cancellations: TransRail Innovation Group Creates Safe, Efficient and Cost-effective Rail Shipping
Calgary, Alta. (June 24, 2021) - With the cancellation of the Keystone XL Pipeline and ongoing debate on the future of Enbridge’s Line 5, Calgary company, TransRail Innovation Group’s (TRIG) rail technology improves the safety and efficiency of shipping crude oil by rail tank cars. TRIG’s advanced sensor technology allows its clients to safely fill railcars to their maximum load, without any increased risk, which reduces the number of rail cars necessary to transport the same volume. Fewer cars in transit mean lower environmental impact by decreasing total railway emissions. With the recent acquisition of Formation Liquids Logistics Ltd. (FLLL), Marvin Trimble, co-founder of FLLL, has joined TRIG as the Vice President of Rail Technology and Improvement, bringing years of terminal and shipping efficiency expertise. Together with TRIG’s CEO, Rob Tasker, the company is taking this opportunity to educate the public on the truth about the safety and viability of shipping crude oil in railcars.
“TRIG’s technology has increased the efficiency of every terminal that has used its sensors and artificial intelligence software,” says Marvin Trimble. “Not only has it proven to be more reliable and accurate than existing technologies it also has proven to reduce the capital cost of new terminal load racks by as much as 40 to 60 per cent.”
“We see a wonderful opportunity for Alberta and Canada to be leaders in improving crude by rail in terms of efficiency, safety, and environmental impact,” says Rob Tasker. “We have both the industry need and the best technology and know-how in the world to do this better than any other jurisdiction.”
According to the Association of American Railroads (AAR), data analytics and technologies like TRIG’s are key to building a resilient rail network since the automation can proactively measure and monitor rail cars and the valuable commodities they carry and report on any issues or fluctuations in real-time while the the cars are being loaded, in transit, or unloaded. Since the year 2000, the AAR states train accident rates have dropped 35 per cent, with a single train capable of moving one ton of freight more than 770 kilometers on a mere 3.7 litres of fuel, on average. With the need for diversification in the energy sector, the use of rail cars to transport crude oil and other products is increasing and TRIG is enabling companies to use all safety and accuracy measurement advancements when possible.
TRIG is the only electronics manufacturer in North America certified by the Association of American Railroads (AAR) to develop and deploy digital technology that penetrates the closure of rail tank cars. These solutions are currently accessible in North America and have proven to help the rail transportation industry mitigate environmental impacts while reducing total railway emissions. The technology ultimately reduces the number of rail tank cars in operation, hence reducing the emissions from transporting these tank cars.
TRIG is also currently working with the newly formed RailPulse initiative that includes five of the largest US freight rail companies: Norfolk Southern; GATX Corporation; Genesee & Wyoming; TrinityRail; and Watco. This initiative promises to transform shipping by rail through accelerating the adoption of GPS and other telematics technology across the North American railcar fleet.