Railinc and Duke University's Christensen Family Center for Innovation announced a collaboration Thursday to develop practical innovations enhancing freight rail safety and efficiency.
The partnership will utilize Duke's Product Lab, where student teams work with industry partners to create solution prototypes during rapid development sprints.
The initiative focuses on addressing a persistent industry challenge: the complex billing process for railcar repairs, which requires mechanical teams to navigate hundreds of conditional rules designed to ensure operational safety.
Railinc has already taken steps to address this issue with CarLogix, an intelligent railcar repair application that guides staff through the repair recording process while automatically checking repairs against industry regulations in real-time.
Through the collaboration, Duke students will explore how artificial intelligence, mobile devices and social media-style technologies could further streamline operations for mechanical teams, particularly those performing minor repairs outside traditional shop settings where computer access is limited.
"This collaboration with Duke University is about bringing together innovation, academia, and industry to strengthen the rail network," said Allen West, president and CEO of Railinc. "We are excited to partner with students at Duke on this project and look forward to developing solutions that will improve railcar recording and accuracy – a critical need for the freight rail industry."
Adria Dunbar, managing director of the Christensen Family Center for Innovation, emphasized the educational value of tackling real-world problems.
"At Duke, we believe innovation happens when students, faculty, and industry come together to tackle meaningful, real-world challenges," Dunbar said.
Anna Wilson, executive in residence at the center, added that the partnership provides students with "hands-on experience designing technologies that deliver immediate value."
The collaboration is expected to generate lasting benefits beyond initial prototypes, including strengthening the rail workforce, improving compliance standards, and creating new opportunities for students in a critical national industry.
