BNSF details role of AI in major projects

BNSF Railway Co. is using artificial intelligence to advance major projects, BNSF officials said in a blog post earlier this month.

The Class I is testing AI to enable hostler drivers to move containers and trailers more efficiently from parking lots to track or vice versa. Currently in intermodal facilities, hostler drivers rely on manual instruction via radio from ramp supervisors, who manually assign the units to drivers. But new AI technology helps produce a dynamic algorithmic assignment plan, which tells the drivers in real time where the nearest units are, making the most of the distance and time it takes to load a rail car, BNSF officials said.

Those new algorithms are being tested at BNSF's intermodal facility in Alliance, Texas.

BNSF is also testing an AI-based algorithm that creates a container and trailer load plan in seconds, ensuring the right containers and trailers are where they need to be and minimizing the distance traveled by hostler drivers. The testing showed BNSF was able to cut the time it takes to load an outbound train by more than 30 minutes on average. That testing also is being performed at the Alliance facility, which loads about 10 outbound trains daily. The added efficiency and speed will give an additional capacity of 30,000 annual rail lifts at the Alliance location, BNSF officials added.

BNSF officials anticipate that it can increase total capacity by 500,000 annual lifts through the use of AI technology. Additionally, hostler driving distances have decreased an average of 20 miles per train loaded, improving fuel consumption and sustainability.

"AI has the potential to deliver huge benefits in a broad range of areas, including safety, efficiency, velocity and consistency," said BNSF Vice President of Service Design Jon Gabriel.

To read about BNSF's other AI-powered projects, click here.