Case Study: Norfolk Southern Railway reduces labor costs and boosts yard efficiency with AVEVA (Wonderware InTouch HMI)

Wonderware Keeps Norfolk Southern Railway on Track with Automation Solution

Norfolk Southern Railway, a major freight railroad operating more than 21,500 route miles, needed to fully automate its Buckeye hump yard to process up to 2,000 railcars a day, improve safety, and cut labor and equipment upkeep. To meet these challenges they deployed AVEVA solutions, using Wonderware InTouch HMI and Wonderware Industrial Computers to provide real-time, accessible information to yard personnel.

AVEVA implemented the Wonderware InTouch HMI and industrial computer platform with RFID integration, shared pin‑puller and yardmaster displays, and mobile/thin‑client access. The solution reduced HMI development time by 40–50%, increased yardmaster and trainmaster efficiency, lowered labor and maintenance costs by removing antiquated equipment, and improved safety by sharing retarder and car‑location data across crews.

Norfolk Southern Railway

Tim Forman

Trainmaster