Railways

RTI is located in Huntington, West Virginia, which was established in 1870 as a railroad terminus between the East Coast and the Midwest by Collis P. Huntington -one of the Big Four of western railroading. Two Class 1 rail lines intersect at Huntington, an industrial hub of the Ohio River Valley, making it an ideal location for rail research.

RTI formed the Railroad Safety and Operations Research Center of Excellence (Rail-SORCE) as a vehicle to enhance the study of technologies that address industry challenges nationwide. The Rail-SORCE at RTI provides an array of services including technology testing, research, and development for asset mapping and inspections; train, car, and mobile worker tracking; and, intelligent grade crossings.

Rail is the most capital-intensive industry in North America. The focus of rail research at RTI is to improve the safety and efficiency of rail transportation. The use of rail systems helps decrease our dependence on foreign oil, reduces congestion on our highways, and improve economic development opportunities in West Virginia and throughout the Appalachian Region.