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BNSF NewsEnhanced Locomotive Management Processes Improve Terminal Performance2008-12-22Cohesive power management efforts between Mechanical Locomotive and Transportation teams are a key element in reducing locomotive dwell and improving on-time departures. Terminals in Kansas City, Kan. (Argentine); Galesburg, Ill.; and Northtown, Minn., have been working with the Service Excellence team to improve processes that address key opportunities for managing locomotives in a terminal. The three main focus areas are power planning, power movement and power servicing. Power planning Planning locomotives to power BNSF trains requires a collaborative effort from the assistant manager of Locomotive Utilization (AMLU), the service track supervisor and the terminal Transportation team. The AMLU manages power across a territory while the service track supervisor manages power at a terminal within the territory. The terminal transportation team builds and operates the trains; they provide the tonnages and train details to the AMLU and service track supervisor. Upon self-examination, the terminals discovered the following:
With support from the Locomotive Utilization team, Galesburg and Northtown service track supervisors received the training and tools necessary to help manage power more effectively. The AMLU responsible for each of these terminals spent one week onsite to train and support each service track supervisor. In addition, standard locomotive planning guides were developed to assist the service track supervisors. Standard TSS Xpress Yard Status (YDS) screens for each terminal position have also played a major role in ensuring all departments communicate and view the same information. AMLUs have started using YDS to keep up to date on the train lineups and planned tonnages established by the terminal. Power movement Power movement within the terminals has also improved. Standard routes and open run-through tracks keep locomotives moving to and from the service track in a timely manner. Power movement has become a priority. Previously, power could be delayed for several hours for any number of reasons. A new program called LOCOTERM in TSS Xpress was developed to manage locomotives in a terminal. LOCOTERM keeps track of all locomotive events while in the terminal, including their locations, hostlers assigned to move them and current status. LOCOTERM provides a platform that shows the same information to anyone in the terminal. Power servicing Standard yard-turn processes have helped trains leave on time when power is in short supply. Yard-turning power can save up to four hours of locomotive dwell time. A yard-turn occurs when the same terminating power is used for an originating train; however, it is serviced in the yard rather than processed through the service track. The Argentine terminal has been an impressive model when it comes to performing yard-turns. Argentine conducts an average of three yard-turns per day, more than most service track locations. Reducing the three components of terminal non-shop locomotive dwell has improved in the following areas:
With the Service Excellence foundation initiatives fully implemented at both Argentine and Galesburg, terminal non-shop locomotive dwell has decreased by more than one hour. This equals nearly 120 locomotive hours saved daily between both locations. In addition, originating train on-time performance has improved to more than 90 percent. The Service Excellence team is now working with the Barstow, Calif., terminal to develop and implement similar processes to improve terminal performance. BNSF HeadquartersBNSF Railway Company2650 Lou Menk Dr. 2nd Floor P.O. Box 961057 Fort Worth, TX 76161-0057 Phone: (817) 352-1000 For more information on the company and its transportation solutions, visit the BNSF Web site at www.bnsf.com |
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