Intermodal cars and component update 2025

Compiled by Pat Foran, Editor-in-Chief

In the North American rail space, intermodal is a growth story.

It has been and it will be for the foreseeable future.

It’ll take time for the story to unfold.

That’s always been the case.

But the story will unfold. However the global supply chain evolves and whatever the current economic weather.

“We have to remind people it’s more of a long-term value creation,” CSX President and CEO Joe Hinrichs reminded attendees of the North American Rail Shippers Association’s annual meeting last month in Chicago.

Intermodal car builders and component supplies don’t need to be reminded. From double-stack-car designers to side bearing and cushioning device developers, they’re all focused on the long and sometimes-winding intermodal road.

Following is a sampling of suppliers’ most recently developed intermodal-related technology, including a few words about how (and why) they’re developing them. The participating companies — TrinityRail®, Greenbrier and Miner Enterprises — shared their words via email.

TrinityRail: Redesigning a product line with customer focus in mind

A full-service provider of all types of rail products and services, TrinityRail has been active in the intermodal space since the 1980s with extensive prior experience and knowledge from legacy companies, company officials said. The company’s recent focus has been on redesigning its product line to create a “customer-focused, homogeneous family of intermodal product offerings,” including both articulated and single-unit heavy-duty cars, they said.

The company continues to collaborate with customers, including Class Is and other key industry stakeholders — a collaboration that has provided multiple opportunities to advance TrinityRail’s products to better meet customer needs and the operational environment. For example, the company continues to maximize carrying capacity while maintaining robust structural integrity.

“Our focus on detailed elements of the designs provides enhanced customer benefits, like our fastened top chord running boards that are designed to better withstand container impacts and which offer greater fatigue life and replaceability than welded versions,” company officials said. “We have even focused on ergonomics for operators of the equipment such as patented IBC boxes that can better store manual and automatic IBCs.”

Because intermodal equipment needs to operate effectively and efficiently in a demanding environment, TrinityRail continues to test its new intermodal designs to “prove out” the company’s efforts while working with customers to identify ongoing opportunities for improvements that better meet their evolving needs, they said.

Greenbrier: Intermodal solutions optimized for today’s freight demands

Greenbrier’s intermodal fleet — which, as of last month, exceeded 100,000 double-stack cars in service — “plays a critical role in easing highway congestion and improving freight flow across the continent,” company officials said.

Greenbrier

Since 1984, Greenbrier has been innovating in the intermodal rail-car space by developing high-performance, fuel-efficient designs, company officials said. Greenbrier’s intermodal fleet — which, as of last month, exceeded 100,000 double-stack cars in service — “plays a critical role in easing highway congestion and improving freight flow across the continent,” they said.

One example is the Maxi-Stack® IV. Designed to deliver the ideal balance of tare weight and capacity, the three-unit articulated car accommodates containers from 20 to 53 feet in the well and up to 57 feet in the top position, providing versatility and efficiency in high-volume lanes.

Greenbrier’s portfolio also includes the Maxi-Stack® I and the 53-foot All-Purpose Double-Stack car, engineered to meet a range of loading and routing needs. Additionally, the Husky-Stack™ — a high-capacity, single-unit car — offers flexible deployment for heavy-load corridors and is compatible with domestic container configurations from 20 to 53 feet.

“Together, Greenbrier’s intermodal solutions showcase deep engineering expertise and an ongoing commitment to advancing freight performance,” company officials said.

Miner Enterprises: An intermodal car product set

Miner’s TCC-IV long travel constant-contact side bearings feature a more durable, heat-resistant design to maximize performance in demanding high-speed, high-mileage applications.

Miner Enterprises

High-speed and high-mileage intermodal rail cars require maximum cushioning, reliable energy management, long-term protection and enhanced safety. Miner Enterprise’s draft gears, side bearings, brake beams and running board systems “fulfill all four of these essential performance components,” company officials said.

Certified under AAR M-901E Group J specifications, the Crown SG utilizes a friction clutch design that, combined with durable and resilient spring packages, is designed to maximize cushioning and provide long-term protection and reliability to virtually any type of rail car. The Crown SG provides 39% more spring capacity than other all-steel M-901G draft gears, company officials said.

Miner’s TecsPak® Constant Contact (TCC) Side Bearings are engineered to improve curving performance and control over truck hunting and car body roll. TCC-IV-LT side bearings enable intermodal rail cars to run at higher speeds with reduced truck and wheel wear; a durable, heat-resistant design provides superior heat dispersion, increasing the life of the side bearings in high-speed, high-mileage applications, company officials said.

Meanwhile, Miner Series 2008 Brake Beams are designed to minimize uneven brake shoe wear. Notched brake heads reduce beam binding for more consistent braking and a reversible strut allows for quick conversion of the hand of the beam, company officials said.

Finally: Because worker safety is a paramount concern in intermodal terminals, Miner Grating Systems manufactures and fabricates safety running board products for rail applications. Miner’s bar grating, diamond grating, and round hole safety grating products are all AAR-approved, company officials said.

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