OREANDA-NEWS. GE Transportation (NYSE: GE) and Norfolk Southern Corp. (NYSE: NSC), sponsors of the Railroad Sustainability Symposium, concluded a two-day session aimed at bringing together thought leaders, customers, suppliers, and partners from different parts of the rail industry to discuss how best to increase sustainable practices throughout the railroad industry. In addition, the participants discussed game-changing methods and technology that will further improve the railroad industry’s overall sustainability.

In early 2011, Norfolk Southern and GE Transportation became proactive about their shared interest in sustainability. Believing there was an opportunity for enhanced understanding and sustainability from an open industry dialogue, GE and NS launched the Railroad Sustainability Symposium, meeting for the first time in 2011 in Ossining, N.Y. This year, more than 60 participants from 25 different companies convened at GE’s Crotonville Learning Center for the third annual symposium.

Deb Frodl, global executive director, ecomagination said, “Ecomagination works to drive measurable and sustainable outcomes for our customers. Reducing the carbon footprint of the rail industry will save our customers money while improving the communities where they work. We were happy to host this meeting on shaping the next generation of efficient solutions within the rail industry.”

Topics for the two-day conference focused on current sustainable practices, reporting and disclosure, financial value, and future energy sources. Speakers represented organizations and companies such as BNSF, CSX, the Association of American Railroads, Environmental Defense Fund, Stella-Jones Corporation, J.B. Hunt Transport, Ford Motor Company, and Bloomberg, among others.

“Norfolk Southern and the rail industry have come a long way on the sustainability path, but the journey continues,” said Blair Wimbush, Norfolk Southern vice president real estate and corporate sustainability officer.  “This symposium was a great opportunity to bring together some of the best minds in sustainability to exchange innovative ideas and best practices for incorporating economical environmental practices into core business strategies.”

Innovation and technology were a focal point of the discussions, particularly as the rail landscape evolves to include alternative energy sources such as LNG.

GE Transportation, a global technology and rail leader, is developing technology that will use LNG. The company, which is currently piloting technology with BNSF, believes it will generate 50 percent fuel savings and 30 percent reduction in NOx and PM emissions.

This innovation is part of GE’s broader ecomagination strategy, GE’s commitment to make measurable differences and create sustainable outcomes for customers and operations across the globe. Ecomagination helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 32 percent and fresh water use by 46 percent in 2012. By 2015, the company hopes to double research and development to USD 10 billion from 2010-2015 and double GE’s ecomagination revenues, which were USD 25 billion in 2012.