St. Louis Railroad Implements New Transportation Technology System

RailConnect Eliminates Manual Processes And Provides Customers With Accurate Communication And Instant Tracking Information

ATLANTA,GA, April 15, 2003 -- Terminal Railroad Association (TRRA) of St. Louis has deployed RailConnect(R) from RMI, which delivers real time operational and shipping information to TRRA management and customers. TRRA selected RailConnect, RMI's web-based portal, for its ability to provide full system integration and to greatly enhance visibility into TRRA operations. With RailConnect, TRRA transformed its outdated systems and has begun providing its customers with instant tracking information.

"With RailConnect we are more agile, efficient and better equipped to manage the business to meet our goals," said Gerry Gates, president of TRRA. "Our former mainframe system was difficult and expensive to maintain and yielded very little management information. Now not only are we empowered with greater insight into our business, but we can also provide our customers with clearer, faster visibility into their inventory and our Class 1 railroad customers with coordinated shipment scheduling, which enables them to more effectively manage their business."

Playing a vital role in the railroad operations and growth of the St. Louis metropolitan area, TRRA processes more than 300,000 cars annually and provides switching service for five Class 1 Railroads. TRRA has been relied upon since 1889 as the interchange point for the "Gateway to the West."

A Renovation for Critical Business Functions

Specifically, TRRA has deployed RailConnect Transportation Management and Equipment Management Services. Transportation Management is used for yard and inventory control, managing local work/train crews, switch billing, demurrage billing and management reporting at all management levels. Additionally, TRRA deployed the web-based shipper interface that allows TRRA's customers to communicate shipping instructions and other requests electronically, which reduces error and integrates the process with TRRA. With RMI's Equipment Management Services, car hire payable accounting is faster and more accurate, and RailConnect's web-based e-Repair system ensures correct car repair billing.

"The TRRA is a sophisticated railroad that handles a high volume of traffic through a critical rail junction point and its deployment of RailConnect, which was on time and under budget, will allow TRRA to run their operation more efficiently and provide a higher level of customer service," said Karl Knauff, vice president, business development for RMI. "We're pleased to provide such value and service to a railroad as complex as TRRA whose forward-thinking management team has now positioned the railroad for even greater success."

Shippers Axe Faxes and Upgrade to Faster, More Reliable System

Before RailConnect, shippers faxed switching requests and billing information to TRRA where it was keyed into a system. After implementing RailConnect Transportation Management with the shipper interface, TRRA customers now communicate information through the Internet, where it automatically updates TRRA's system, thus eliminating hundreds of faxes a day. More than 60 of TRRA's local customers are currently using the system, which also provides greater visibility of their shipments while they are on the TRRA.

Integration Increases Efficiencies, Ensures On Time Reporting and Tighter Fiscal Management

RailConnect provides full system integration for TRRA, which mandated the development of several interfaces between RailConnect and existing applications within the complex TRRA technology infrastructure. For example, RMI developed an interface for TRRA Hump Yard System "Pro Yard," which automatically classifies cars as they are handled through the hump yard. Additionally, RMI implemented an interface to TRRA's Digicon dispatching system which automated the process of billing for haulage and trackage rights trains. RMI also developed an interface between RMI's Switch Billing, Trackage Billing, Demurrage Billing, and Repair Billing modules and TRRA's Lawson accounting system. RMI also developed enhanced AEI interfaces that automatically create train consist information and generates switch-billing charges.

About TRRA

Since 1889, the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis has played a vital role in railroad operations, providing an efficient, safe and economical method of interchanging rail traffic in St. Louis, Missouri. Located in the second largest East-West Gateway for railroad interchange, the TRRA is a key connector from BNSF & UP to CSX & NS, interchanging daily with the CN & KCS. The TRRA owns and maintains the MacArthur and Merchants bridges providing a route over the Mississippi River for which it handles over 330,000 carloads annually.

The TRRA is the third largest switching railroad in the ASLRRA, and after 110 years of service, the 300 employees of the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis are still committed to efficiency, safety and value to its customers, owners, and the public with each new day.

About RMI

RMI is the largest independent provider of accurate, reliable, comprehensive and secure rail information services to the transportation industry. Founded in 1979, RMI is recognized primarily for its in-depth knowledge of rail operations and a proven ability to translate complex business processes into valuable management information services. Currently, RMI processes approximately five million carloads annually for railroads, rail shippers and railcar owners. RMI's services are accessed via the Internet through RailConnect(R), RMI's web-based portal. RailConnect offers an integrated suite of proprietary information services, which are used to manage rail operations, improve customer service and reduce costs. Services include transportation, revenue, equipment, shipper freight and fleet management services and related executive information systems. RMI is an independent, privately owned company based in Atlanta.

Media Contact:
Heather Graham for RMI
(404) 881-2332
heather.graham@ogilvypr.com