Burlington Northern Santa Fe Challenge Nothing stops 1,000 tons of moving steel faster than bad weather. Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad depended on repackaged National Weather Service warnings to steer its precious freight clear of unfriendly storms. Because these general predictions didn't map specific rail routes or differentiate between hailstorms, wind storms and other types of weather, the trains were subject to costly accidents and false alarms. Solution WeatherData's warnings precisely map weather forecasts to the railroad right-of-way. They also take into account special geographical vulnerabilities, like flood plains and steep slopes, plus the effect of train speeds fluctuating from 40 to 79 miles per hour. Using experience and scientific data, WeatherData formulates meteorological criteria and thresholds to manage BNSF's risks. These solutions are then integrated into the railroad's operating procedures and information distribution systems. Why WeatherData WeatherData's specialized forecasts help BNSF's trains avoid tornadoes, steer clear of high winds and miss flash floods. Central management can efficiently reroute trains around storms and keep tracks clear of snow. WeatherData's predictions of extreme temperatures pinpoint potential rail breaks and buckles. And mapping lightning strikes alerts engineers of potential crossing signal irregularities. All this helps prevent costly, dangerous accidents and keeps cargo moving at top speed. WeatherData's expert consulting works in tandem with our customized weather monitoring and management systems, which displays warnings, temperatures, winds, lightning strikes and much more. Results WeatherData's railroad clients report benefit-to-cost ratios of 35 to 1. "With WeatherData, we can proactively manage our risk at a very reasonable cost," said John Grundmann, Assistant Vice President, Safety and Operations Support of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. Home | About | Products | Resources | News | Partners | Contact | Site Map Did you know?