Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway Company Implements RMI's RailConnect Services.

ATLANTA -- New Transportation, Equipment, and Revenue Management Systems To Create a Paperless Exchange Between Railroads and Customers

Elgin, Joliet and Eastern (EJ&E) Railway Company, one of the most active railroads in America, is currently utilizing RMI to replace its legacy car control system to improve the operational efficiency and customer service of the railroad. The EJ&E Railway, a Transtar company, implemented RMI's RailConnect Transportation Management Services (TMS), and Revenue Management Services (RMS), on January 1, 2005. EJ&E will also deploy RMI's ShipperConnect, a web-based solution for improving communications between railroads and their shippers. Once fully engaged, EJ&E will move to an almost paperless exchange between itself and customers.

"We were impressed with the level of RMI's thoroughness and professionalism throughout the months of planning, training and implementation," said John Pranaitis, president of EJ&E. "Our new sophisticated and automated system will allow us to better serve our customers as we have eliminated or reduced much of the paper and time-intensive manual processes. We anticipate tremendous long-term operational and financial benefits."

One of the most significant improvements EJ&E has seen with the implementation of RailConnect is the increased utilization of AEI technology. By strategically placing AEI readers at the lead tracks into plants, placements and pulls are now recorded automatically. Formerly, clerks would physically watch the cars roll by, record the numbers on paper, and then manually key them into the system.

"The EJ&E is a very large, busy, and complex railroad. This has been a successful, collaborative effort between EJ&E and RMI," said David Booker, vice president, Customer Support for RMI. "We look forward to continuing to work with EJ&E to help them realize the full benefits of a paperless railroad."

The EJ&E is one of the most highly visible railroads in the industry and serves as a major junction point for rail traffic moving through the Chicago corridor. EJ&E, known as "Chicago's Outer Belt," encircles the Chicago area from Waukegan, IL, on the north, to Joliet, IL, on the west, and easterly to northwestern Indiana, steel capital of the U.S. The EJ&E is home to a full range of commodities from bulk raw materials to finished products and, as such, the EJ&E operates a fleet of general service and specialized railroad equipment.

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 six million carloads annually for railroads, rail shippers and railcar owners. RMI's services are accessed via the Internet through RailConnect , 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.

About EJ&E

EJ&E is a Transtar company which is a wholly owned subsidiary of U. S. Steel Corporation whose operating subsidiaries have been recognized for their mainstay rail and water transportation services since the late 1800s. The EJ&E runs from Waukegan, IL, through Joliet to Gary, IN, and operates approximately 560 track miles, about 190 of them main line. Approximately 280,000 cars carrying iron ore, coal, steel, petroleum products, and general commodities travel along the line each year.