Freeze–Thaw Recovery, Safety Focus, and ITD Performance

Sean Ireland

Good morning. It has been a challenging couple of weeks as we’ve worked through a series of winter storms and the impacts they’ve had on our network. I want to start by recognizing the effort it has taken to get us to where we are today. We have made progress, but we still have a significant opportunity ahead of us, especially with more favorable weather expected through next weekend.

Sean Ireland

As we move into this next stretch, we’re firmly in what I’d call the freeze–thaw season. That means the railroad can look and feel very different in the daytime than it does at night. Switches, crossings, and equipment may perform one way when the sun is up and temperatures are above freezing, and then behave very differently once the temperatures drop back down. We’ve got to stay ahead of that and plan our work with those changes in mind.

Sean Ireland

At night, ice is going to be present. That is simply the reality. So I need everyone making sure anti‑slip footwear is being worn and used as intended. When you’re lining switches, take that added moment of caution. Slow down, confirm how it’s moving, and don’t assume it will respond the same way it did earlier in the day. In the yards and at customer locations, crossings that are slushy and wet during daylight can freeze solid overnight. Those surfaces will surprise you if you’re not planning for it.

Sean Ireland

This is where coordination becomes critical. Work closely with our Engineering partners to ensure we have appropriate night coverage and support ahead of crews, particularly for frozen switches and critical locations. If you’re seeing problem areas, raise them early so Engineering can get in front of them, not chase them after the fact. On the customer side, continue partnering to make sure snow is properly removed and drainage is addressed so water isn’t pooling and then freezing on tracks and crossings.

Sean Ireland

Our goal here is straightforward: maintain safe, fluid operations while we complete our recovery from the storms. The weather window we have over the next week is an opportunity, but only if we prepare for these freeze–thaw swings, use the right gear, and stay disciplined in how we approach switches, crossings, and equipment handling.

Sean Ireland

Let’s shift into safety, because that underpins everything we do. This Wednesday we’ll be conducting a regional, cross‑functional Exposure Reduction Discussion day. I want everyone approaching that with eyes wide open, focused on reducing exposures. This is not a box‑checking exercise; it’s a chance to really see the work, understand what’s creating risk, and talk openly about how to remove or reduce that risk.

Sean Ireland

As part of that effort, we’ll also be using drones to support some of our ERDs. The goal there is to give us a different vantage point, to see things we might not catch from the ground. Whether you’re directly involved with the drone‑supported ERDs or not, I need everyone leaning into these conversations. Speak up about barriers, point out what’s working well, and help us identify the exposures that need attention.

Sean Ireland

I also want to reiterate some essential safety reminders, especially in these conditions. For RCO assignments, make sure personnel are out on the point, not sitting in the cab of the locomotive. We have these expectations for a reason—they’re about visibility, communication, and keeping people out of harm’s way. Likewise, do not protect shove moves from inside a truck or a taxi. If we’re moving equipment, we protect that movement correctly or we don’t do it at all.

Sean Ireland

With snow and ice still present in many locations, anti‑slip footwear is non‑negotiable. Use it. And when you’re mounting or dismounting equipment, always stop and take the time to do it safely. No jumping down, no shortcuts. Three‑point contact and deliberate movement every time. We’re also seeing ongoing issues with snow build‑up on crossings and switches, so keep a continued focus there—if it’s building up, call it out and get it addressed.

Sean Ireland

When it comes to switches, double‑check your routing. Make sure the points are tight and free of ice or snow. And remember, a switch that looked fine earlier in the day may be frozen later that night. Check the switch before you line it, especially during overnight hours. Don’t assume; verify.

Sean Ireland

For our Exposure Reduction Discussions this week, the focus is on falls from height and falls on the same level. We continue to see opportunities around riding equipment and around customer track conditions where snow‑covered walking surfaces create slip and trip hazards. Use these discussions to talk specifics—where are we seeing the issues, what’s driving them, and what can we change right now to remove that exposure.

Sean Ireland

On the operational testing front, we’re emphasizing one Switch Card Test per shift.

Sean Ireland

Assistant Superintendents, I’m expecting strong field presence throughout the week. Be visible, be engaged, and use that time to support your teams and reinforce expectations. A particular focus area is Yardmaster engagement—spend time with them, listen to where they’re seeing risk or friction, and help them problem‑solve in real time.

Sean Ireland

I'd like also to recognize the regional safety leaders for the week. In New England, that’s Zach Self. For the Hudson Zone, Michael White. In the Northern Zone, Michael Phillippie. Central East will be led by Shawn Grimm, Central West by Brandon Weaver, and the Southern Zone by Wes Ison.

Sean Ireland

Now let’s talk about our operational and financial focus areas for the week, starting with ITD. Our expectation is clear: we will not allow trains to exceed three hours of initial terminal delay. If a train does cross that three‑hour mark, I expect immediate communication and a peel‑back to understand what happened and what needs to change to prevent it from happening again.

Sean Ireland

Keeping a tight handle on ITD is one of the most effective ways we have to reduce recrews, which have been elevated during the storms and this recovery period. As conditions normalize, I want us to shift firmly back to running on time. That means trains built on schedule, power ready, and crews ready. It also means ensuring that LOR pickups are tested and prepared before the train arrives, so we’re not creating avoidable delay at the last minute.

Sean Ireland

On the cost side, our focus is controlling expenses as we recover the railroad. Again, ITD and recrews are a big part of that story. Every recrew is time, money, and risk that we can often avoid by planning better and executing the plan we have. Be prepared with the details behind your delays, because we will be reviewing these daily at the Zone, Region, and Network levels. The more precise and accurate that information is, the better we can target our fixes.

Sean Ireland

Service to our customers remains a core priority. As you engage with them this week, continue emphasizing the importance of having their facilities ready for service. That means tracks and working areas clear of snow and ice, and their own internal pipelines aligned so that when we arrive, we can provide safe, consistent service without unnecessary delay. Drainage is a key part of that conversation—if water is pooling and then freezing at night, we will see it in the form of frozen tracks, frozen switches, and unsafe walking conditions.

Sean Ireland

Looking ahead, we have a Regional Safety Call this Wednesday at seventeen hundred. During that call, we will discuss our 24‑hour regional ERD focus. One MTO from each zone will report out on what they’re seeing, what exposures they’re addressing, and what actions they’re taking. Please make sure your teams are prepared with meaningful input so those reports reflect the real work happening on the ground.

Sean Ireland

As we move through this week, keep your Job Safety Briefings sharp and relevant. Conditions are warm during the day and freezing at night, which means they can change quickly and catch people off‑guard if we’re not talking about it every shift. Use those briefings to connect the dots: freeze–thaw conditions, ERD learnings, exposure reduction, ITD performance, cost, and service all tie together.

Sean Ireland

Thank you for everything you’re doing to recover the railroad and keep our people and communities safe. Let’s use this favorable weather window to stabilize our operation, reduce risk, and deliver reliable service. Have a safe and productive week, and we’ll talk again next Sunday.