RailAmerica, RMI sign software pact

Atlanta-based RMI Wednesday said it has reached a five-year agreement with RailAmerica, Inc. for the implementation of RMI's ExpressYard Car Repair Billing (CRB) and Operations Management Software System.

RMI, a provider of transportation management software and comprehensive information services, said that as part of the deal, RailAmerica will implement ExpressYard CRB at 20 railcar repair facilities across North America.

In a statement, RMI Chairman and CEO J. Peter Kleifgen said, “RailAmerica is a valued partner of RMI. The ExpressYard CRB implementation gives RailAmerica a leading technology platform for their mechanical operation. The automation gives RailAmerica the ability to keep up with changing industry standards while allowing them to use resources more efficiently.”

RMI’s ExpressYard CRB system facilitates railcar repair billing, inventory control, and operations management. RailAmerica, which owns and operates 43 short line and regional freight railroads in North America, now will be able to to go “paperless” at its repair shops by adopting wireless handheld technology for real-time data collection in the repair facility, as and where the work is performed, RMI said.

RailAmerica and RMI have begun the implementation process with the Huron and Eastern Railway; Indiana & Ohio Railway; the Chicago, Ft. Wayne & Eastern Railway; and the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway. The implementation process for all 20 repair shops is expected to be complete in July.

RMI is a part of Erie, Pa.-based GE Transportation, itself part of Fairfield, Conn.-based General Electric Co.