The railroads that make up the Chicago Planning Group and the Chicago Transportation Coordination Office (CTCO) in December 2015 opened the Chicago Integrated Rail Operations Center (CIROC) to monitor and facilitate efficient rail operations within Chicago.
As a result, says the Association of American Railroads, “freight railroads operating in Chicago are better prepared to manage rail traffic going to, from and through the Chicago region. CIROC supports all the railroads in Chicago—BNSF, CN, CP, NS, CSX, UP, IHB, BRC, Amtrak, Metra—and all were involved in tcreation of the center.
CIROC operates 24/7. The center includes direct connections to each carrier and track views that assist employees with resolving operational issues and identifying and addressing congestion issues o reduce train delays. “CIROC continues ongoing railroad efforts to improve freight mobility in the region, including the completion of many railroad capital construction projects designed to reduce chokepoints and increase capacity,” AAR says. “The establishment of CIROC improves Chicago-specific visibility, metrics and measurements that work as early warnings for potential problems. This equips railroads to better communicate on an ongoing basis, review train schedules and routing protocols and improve the ability to have the necessary equipment, materials and personnel in place to keep trains moving.”
“Chicago is the epicenter of the nation’s freight and passenger rail system, with about 25% of all U.S. freight rail traffic going through the region,” said AAR President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger. “Freight railroads have long taken steps to identify critical factors impacting rail operations in the area. Coordination between Chicago railroads is key to achieving the benefits of the extensive planning, particularly during challenging winter weather. Operational planning and plan execution are extremely important for all railroads across the nation’s 140,000-mile rail network. Under the new system, rail traffic issues will be better pinpointed through the CIROC’s monitoring process.”
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the volume of imported and exported goods transported via rail through Chicago is forecast to increase nearly 150% between 2010 and 2040.