Webinars
Take part in EMA’s Solving Electromagnetic Challenges webinar series, where you will learn how to overcome the most pressing issues in the industry. Whether it's adapting to new standards, adopting new technologies and methodologies, or optimizing your designs and workflows, Solving Electromagnetic Challenges will give you the edge you need to succeed.
Our next webinar is Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026
Dangers of Co-located Railroads and Power Lines: Booming Tech Hub Growth, Rising Railroad Risks
The rapid growth of data centers and high-tech factories has made electromagnetic risks from co-located power lines and railroads increasingly common and concerning for rail signaling, personnel, and the public.
Data centers and specialized factories, such as electric vehicle battery plants, are rapidly expanding and require significant electricity, often in rural areas lacking necessary infrastructure. To quickly meet increased demand, power companies frequently use railroad rights-of-way for new power lines, avoiding more complex land negotiations. While convenient, this approach introduces risks.
When high-current / high-voltage power lines and railroads are within several hundred feet of each other, there is likely to be inductive interference between the two. Railroad signaling is extremely sensitive to excess or unexpected changes to current and voltage, which can cause issues such as determining train location, damaged signal equipment, and false signal arm actuations.
Fault risks to railroad signaling and personnel also rise due to increased current carried by the adjacent power lines. In addition to faults destroying signaling equipment, railroad personnel in grounded signal huts can be seriously injured or even killed.
EMA’s involvement in addressing the dangers of co-located railroads and power line dates back more than 30 years. This webinar will showcase how EMA’s modeling services and software can be leveraged to assess and mitigate risks posed by the co-location of powerlines and railroads with fidelity and length scales that continue to push the boundaries of what 3D simulation software can achieve.
Join us on Jan. 28 at 1 p.m. ET. Click here to get registered.
Speaker: Casey Peirano
EMA Senior Scientist
Casey Peirano, PhD is a Senior Scientist at EMA. He joined EMA in 2019 after completing his doctoral degree in Atmospheric Science at the University at Albany. Upon joining the company, Casey wrote the manual for the user interface of EMA’s EMC Plus software. Shortly thereafter, he began specializing in the assessment and mitigation of interference and fault risks associated with co-located railroads and power lines. His work in this area includes both simulation with EMA’s EMC Plus software and on-site measurements for simulation input and mitigation verification. Casey’s unique educational and career path to becoming EMA’s Rail Team Lead allows him to clearly and simply explain the fundamental physics and dangers posed by railroad-power line interference and how to use simulation to successfully mitigate those dangers.
