The rail industry is run on reliability. Customers count on rail operators to get their goods to market or to the export docks on time, every time. Passengers depend on rail tracks and timetables to get to work, to travel between cities and even to cross the continent.
Some say that the United States was built on the railroads, and this network of tracks is as important today as it was in the pioneer days of the nineteenth century.
World class railroads
According to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the US freight rail network extends to almost 140,000 miles, including seven class one railroads and 22 regional railroads. The US rail industry is worth nearly $80billion per year and creates 167,000 jobs across the United States.
The US railroad network carries almost 28% of all transported goods. This is spread evenly, with half of the freight consisting of heavy freight, such as coal, lumber and mined ore, as well as agricultural products, automobiles and components, construction materials, chemicals, equipment, food, metals, minerals, paper and pulp, and the other half being consumer goods and miscellaneous products.
For passengers, the Amtrack network extends nationwide and carries upwards of 20million people every year. It comprises 21,400 miles of routes and serves more than 500 destinations in 46 states. There are also more than thirty metro rail systems in cities across the US.
Safety first
Whatever you’re transporting, it is reassuring to know that according to the FRA ‘the U.S. freight rail network is widely considered the largest, safest, and most cost-efficient freight system in the world.’
Here at National Firesleeve, we’re proud to play our part in keeping the US rail system safe. National Firesleeve provides a comprehensive range of fire-resistant sleeving for cables, pneumatic hoses and electrical wiring, specifically designed to deal with the unique challenges of the rail environment.
Protection on every front
The rail industry is subject to a huge range of physical, mechanical, electrical and environmental stresses. Trains and carriages must endure extremes of heat and cold, as well as rain, snow and storms along their route. These vehicles are also subject to intense mechanical wear from constant vibrations to sudden shocks and jolts. All of this leaves them vulnerable to damage and degradation, leading to risks from electrical shorts and shocks, electrical fires and hydraulic failures.
Of course, it’s not only the rolling stock that needs protecting. The US rail network has thousands of miles of trackside cables that serve signals and crossings along the way, and these all need the same level of protection to ensure they play their part in the safety of the railways.
Tried and tested
As we’ve discussed in our other articles, National Firesleeve products come fully tested, meeting all the standards required by the Federal Railroad Administration. That means you can install National Firesleeve products with complete confidence, knowing that you are complying with the stringent safety standards and offering the highest level of protection for your workforce, your passengers and your business.
National Firesleeve cable and pipe sleeving saves time, with easy installation of bespoke lengths, diameters and colours. It saves maintenance by reducing the need for regular repairs and maintenance. And it saves money, by increasing the working life of your equipment. It can even enhance your reputation, with better protected trains providing a more reliable service with fewer cancellations due to mechanical issues.
More importantly, the protection offered by National Firesleeve can save lives. We can help make your rail network and your rolling stock safe from electrical fires, mechanical breakdowns and more, as part of the ‘safest freight system in the world’.
To find out more about National Firesleeve products for the rail industry, and the many reasons why you should choose National Firesleeve, including flexibility, expertise, rapid response times and more, contact our team today. We’ll help keep your rail operations on track with industry leading, fully approved products for fire resistance, electrical insulation and mechanical protection.
