CSX Advances Pole Line Elimination, Removes Over 7,000 Miles

CSX removed over 7,000 miles of legacy aerial pole lines during its multiyear modernization program. This improves signal systems and operational safety.

CSX Advances Pole Line Elimination, Removes Over 7,000 Miles
February 16, 2026 1:03 pm | Last Update: February 16, 2026 1:05 pm
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📉 Market Brief:
  • Event: CSX advances multiyear aerial pole line elimination program.
  • Key Data: Over 7,000 miles of legacy lines removed to date.
  • Impact: Signal system modernization, operational risk reduction, right-of-way maintenance.

More than 7,000 miles of aerial signal and communication lines have been removed across the CSX system. The removals are a key progress metric in the railroad’s ongoing, multiyear pole line elimination program. This initiative is designed to fully retire outdated infrastructure and replace it with modern technological solutions.

The legacy pole-based systems present numerous operational liabilities. As aging structures, they have a high vulnerability to severe weather, which can cause physical damage leading to signal failures and service interruptions. Maintenance of these lines along the railroad right-of-way is difficult and costly, posing logistical challenges and affecting overall network reliability. The program directly addresses these points of failure.

CSX’s communications and signals team is leading the modernization effort. The core of the technological transition involves installing microprocessor-based signal systems. These systems utilize the rail itself as the medium for critical functions, including train detection and track integrity verification. This method obviates the need for extensive aerial wiring, creating a more integrated and less exposed signaling architecture.

The stated objectives of the program are risk reduction, safety enhancement, and the creation of a more efficient operating environment. Removing thousands of miles of physical poles and wires creates a cleaner right-of-way, reduces potential obstacles for maintenance crews, and hardens the network against weather-related disruptions. The verification data confirms the program is a significant part of CSX’s infrastructure modernization strategy.

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Program ComponentDetail
Infrastructure RetiredAerial signal and communication pole lines
Total Removed to Date> 7,000 miles
Replacement TechnologyMicroprocessor-based signal systems
Key FunctionalityRail-based train detection & track integrity verification
Lead DepartmentCSX Communications and Signals Team

The project is active across multiple, though unspecified, subdivisions. A final completion date and total capital expenditure for the systemwide program have not been publicly detailed.

This transition to solid-state, rail-integrated systems is intended to increase service dependability and reduce long-term maintenance loads. The program aligns with the broader rail industry’s migration away from weather-vulnerable legacy infrastructure.