Track & Railroad Workplace Safety Symposium, April 5-7, 2022

8:00am - 11:30am - General Session

Welcome Remarks
David Casaceli – TTSD Track Specialist & Instructor Federal Railroad Administration

Administrator's Notes
Amit Bose - Administrator Federal Railroad Administration

Wheel Rail Mechanics
Kevin Oldknow - Associate Professor and Director Simon Fraser University

NTSB Most Wanted: Railroad Worker Safety
Honorable Tom Chapman – Board Member National Transportation Safety Board

Morning Break

Learning From Failure: Derailments as a Key to Success
Gary Wolf – President and CEO Wolf Railway Consulting

Office of Safety Notes
Karl Alexy - Associate Administrator & Chief Safety Officer Federal Railroad Administration

Together - We Save Lives!
Troy Jackson - Director Transportation Safety Institute

Lunch

1:20pm - 3:00pm - Breakout #1

Grand Ballroom A	Short Line Track Safety Program
Best practices for shortline RRs to increase safety and track standards of their route by also growing traffic through economic development methods to generate revenue to return to the track.
Presentations 61 - CaterParrott Railnet SLTSP 3.2022	Chris Parrott - Co-CEO CaterParrott Railnet

Grand Ballroom A

Short Line Track Safety Program

Best practices for shortline RRs to increase safety and track standards of their route by also growing traffic through economic development methods to generate revenue to return to the track.

Presentations

61 - CaterParrott Railnet SLTSP 3.2022

Chris Parrott - Co-CEO
CaterParrott Railnet

Grand Ballroom B	Fatigue: Overview, risk management, and mitigation
The Fatigue Risk Management Program (FRMP) will be an added requirement to Part 270 System Safety and Part 271 Risk Reduction regulations. This session will provide an overview of fatigue, basics of fatigue risk identification, fatigue mitigation, and steps to create a successful FRMP plan.
Presentations FRA_Fatigue_101_for_track_symposium	Amanda K. Emo, PhD – Senior Engineering Psychologist Federal Railroad Administration

Grand Ballroom B

Fatigue: Overview, risk management, and mitigation

The Fatigue Risk Management Program (FRMP) will be an added requirement to Part 270 System Safety and Part 271 Risk Reduction regulations. This session will provide an overview of fatigue, basics of fatigue risk identification, fatigue mitigation, and steps to create a successful FRMP plan.

Presentations

FRA_Fatigue_101_for_track_symposium

Amanda K. Emo, PhD – Senior Engineering Psychologist
Federal Railroad Administration

Grand Ballroom C	The Impact of Platform and Mounting Locations
Track measurement systems are deployed on variety of platforms, from small UTVs to the largest locomotives. This session will discuss how to select the right platform and measurement locations to detect geometry problems at yards, industrial tracks, sidings and mainlines.
Presentations - N/A	Sabri Cakdi - Director of Product Development Holland LP

Grand Ballroom C

The Impact of Platform and Mounting Locations

Track measurement systems are deployed on variety of platforms, from small UTVs to the largest locomotives. This session will discuss how to select the right platform and measurement locations to detect geometry problems at yards, industrial tracks, sidings and mainlines.

Presentations

- N/A

Sabri Cakdi - Director of Product Development
Holland LP

Grand Ballroom D	Understanding RWP Internal Monitoring Requirements as addressed in Parts 214, 217, and 243.
The regulatory requirements for monitoring roadway workers and the common sense benefits for adopting a plan. Includes a discussion of the implementation of the procedures for a large scale railroad construction project with railroad employees, contractors, and language barriers.
Presentations Roadway Worker Internal Monitoring Presentation For Track Symposium	Dillon Ondo – Track Specialist Federal Railroad Administration Wayne Blalock – Director Construction Safety Brightline

Grand Ballroom D

Understanding RWP Internal Monitoring
Requirements as addressed in Parts 214, 217, and 243.

The regulatory requirements for monitoring roadway workers and the common sense benefits for
adopting a plan. Includes a discussion of the implementation of the procedures for a large
scale railroad construction project with railroad employees, contractors, and
language barriers.

Presentations

Roadway Worker Internal Monitoring Presentation For Track Symposium

Dillon Ondo – Track Specialist
Federal Railroad Administration

Wayne Blalock – Director Construction Safety
Brightline

Grand Ballroom E	Vision for the FRA’s Transportation Technology Center
This presentation will describe the vision of the Federal Railroad Administration and Department of Transportation (USDOT) for the use and growth of the USDOT Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, CO. This session will describe how FRA will guide the future of the site to achieve a mission dedicated to transportation safety, security and innovation for rail and all other modes of surface transportation.
Presentations - N/A	Radim Bruzek – Research Program Manager ENSCO, Inc.

Grand Ballroom E

Vision for the FRA’s Transportation Technology Center

This presentation will describe the vision of the Federal Railroad Administration and Department of Transportation (USDOT) for the use and growth of the USDOT Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, CO. This session will describe how FRA will guide the future of the site to achieve a mission dedicated to transportation safety, security and innovation for rail and all other modes of surface transportation.

Presentations

- N/A

Radim Bruzek – Research Program Manager
ENSCO, Inc.

Grand Ballroom F	Artificial Intelligence in Rail Flaw Detection
Sperry Rail has introduced and integrated advanced data management tools driven by Artificial Intelligence to drive improvement in rail inspection and maintenance decision making.
Presentations 51 - Sperry Rail - Artificial Intelligence in Rail Flaw Detection	Jamie O'Rourke – President Sperry Rail, Inc.

Grand Ballroom F

Artificial Intelligence in Rail Flaw Detection

Sperry Rail has introduced and integrated advanced data management tools driven by
Artificial Intelligence to drive improvement in rail inspection and maintenance
decision making.

Presentations

51 - Sperry Rail - Artificial Intelligence in Rail Flaw Detection

Jamie O'Rourke – President
Sperry Rail, Inc.

3:20pm - 5:00pm - Breakout #2

Grand Ballroom A	Worker Safety in Shared Multimodal Corridor
What happens when railroad corridors are shared with transit, roadways, pedestrian paths, or other railroads? Learn different methods of protecting workers of both the railroad and of other agencies sharing the corridor.
Presentations - N/A	Timothy Lesniak - Director of Commuter Rail & Ferry Safety MBTA

Grand Ballroom A

Worker Safety in Shared Multimodal Corridor

What happens when railroad corridors are shared with transit, roadways, pedestrian paths, or other railroads? Learn different methods of protecting workers of both the railroad and of other agencies sharing the corridor.

Presentations

- N/A

Timothy Lesniak - Director of Commuter Rail & Ferry Safety
MBTA

Grand Ballroom B	PTC and the Roadway Worker, What you should know
Overview of current PTC systems, What they do, How you are protected, your responsibilities
Presentations - N/A	Larry Warren - PTC Specialist Federal Railroad Administration

Grand Ballroom B

PTC and the Roadway Worker, What you should know

Overview of current PTC systems, What they do, How you are protected, your responsibilities

Presentations

- N/A

Larry Warren - PTC Specialist
Federal Railroad Administration

Grand Ballroom C	Spike Failures in Elastic Fastening Systems: An Assessment of Root Causes and Available Mitigation Measure
Spike failures in elastic fastener track systems create safety risks and maintenance chores for many railroads. In this breakout you will learn the results of FRA's investigation into the root causes of these failures and practical ways to minimize the risk of spike failures in wood tie track.
Presentations - N/A	Marcus Dersch - Principal Research Engineer University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Cameron Stuart - General Engineer Track Research Federal Railroad Administration

Grand Ballroom C

Spike Failures in Elastic Fastening Systems: An Assessment
of Root Causes and Available Mitigation Measure

Spike failures in elastic fastener track systems create safety risks and maintenance chores for many railroads. In this breakout you will learn the results of FRA's investigation into the root causes of these failures and practical ways to minimize the risk of spike failures in wood tie track.

Presentations

- N/A

Marcus Dersch - Principal Research Engineer
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Cameron Stuart - General Engineer Track Research
Federal Railroad Administration

Grand Ballroom D	Track Buckle Prevention and Rail Adjustment Software
This session will showcase consequences of not maintaining adequate RNT and demo free software for CWR management: Rail Temp Prediction and Buckling Prediction Software, CWR-Safe Software and RNT-Restore (rail destress) software. This is an interactive workshop. Participants will be able to access the software on their mobile phones and practice case studies in CWR force management that are of high value to them.
Presentations 35 Kerchof, Consequences of not maintaining adequate RNT - Brad Kerchof	Radim Bruzek - Structures Engineer ENSCO, Inc. Brad Kerchof - Director of Research and Tests Norfolk Southern Railway

Grand Ballroom D

Track Buckle Prevention and Rail Adjustment Software

This session will showcase consequences of not maintaining adequate RNT and demo free software for CWR management: Rail Temp Prediction and Buckling Prediction Software, CWR-Safe Software and RNT-Restore (rail destress) software. This is an interactive workshop. Participants will be able to access the software on their mobile phones and practice case studies in CWR force management that are of high value to them.

Presentations

35 Kerchof, Consequences of not maintaining adequate RNT - Brad Kerchof

Radim Bruzek - Structures Engineer
ENSCO, Inc.

Brad Kerchof - Director of Research and Tests
Norfolk Southern Railway

Grand Ballroom E	Leveraging Digital Tools for Track Inspection and Defect Management
History of visual track inspections and their journey into the electronic age along with how to capitalize on this technology and it's relation to state of good repair for railroads. Discussion of gains in efficiency, productivity and financial savings realized by best in class digital track inspection defect management.
Presentations 12 - RRS Compliance Software Brochure 12 - Case Study Track Asset	Tim Elsberry - Vice President of Business Development Railroad Software

Grand Ballroom E

Leveraging Digital Tools for Track
Inspection and Defect Management

History of visual track inspections and their journey into the electronic age along with how to capitalize on this technology and it's relation to state of good repair for railroads. Discussion of gains in efficiency, productivity and financial savings realized by best in class digital track inspection defect management.

Presentations

12 - RRS Compliance Software Brochure

12 - Case Study Track Asset

Tim Elsberry - Vice President of Business Development
Railroad Software

Grand Ballroom F	Admitting Human Error in the Workplace - a Case Study in Maximizing Safe and Reliable Performance with Human Factor
Human error is a systemic product signaling leaders to investigate dark, murky, and often uncomfortable human factors. In this interactive session, participants will use a live response system to experience a developing investigation as facilitators of a real-world example. We will study an organization’s emergent behavior through the actions of two operators. In an attempt to be successful, the operators were shepherded by complex stimuli into making decisions that instead caused an incident.
Presentations 05 - Uncommanded Releases and Energy Isolation A Case Study 05 - Vetergy HFACS Taxonomy 05 - HumanFactorsAnalysisandClassificationSystems - David Wilbur	David Wilbur - CEO Vetergy Group

Grand Ballroom F

Admitting Human Error in the Workplace - a Case Study in
Maximizing Safe and Reliable Performance with Human Factor

Human error is a systemic product signaling leaders to investigate dark, murky, and often uncomfortable human factors. In this interactive session, participants will use a live response system to experience a developing investigation as facilitators of a real-world example. We will study an organization’s emergent behavior through the actions of two operators. In an attempt to be successful, the operators were shepherded by complex stimuli into making decisions that instead caused an incident.

Presentations

05 - Uncommanded Releases and Energy Isolation A Case Study

05 - Vetergy HFACS Taxonomy

05 - HumanFactorsAnalysisandClassificationSystems - David Wilbur

David Wilbur - CEO
Vetergy Group

8:00am - 9:40am - Breakout #3

Grand Ballroom A	Track Support Condition Assessment
In this session fundamental track support failure mechanisms will be discussed under the topic of Track Support and Substructure followed by a presentation on Ballast Condition Assessment. In these presentations, the audience will be included in a discussion of failure modes, risk factors, and inspection/mitigation strategies. The session will conclude with a discussion of data available for substructure inspection and a ‘live’ demonstration of the ‘real-time’ portal for ballast condition data.
Presentations 07 - Track Support Condition Assessment	Hugh Thompson - General Engineer Federal Railroad Administration Dr. Ted Sussmann - Civil Engineer Volpe Dr. Asger Eriksen - CEO Zetica

Grand Ballroom A

Track Support Condition Assessment

In this session fundamental track support failure mechanisms will be discussed under the topic of Track Support and Substructure followed by a presentation on Ballast Condition Assessment. In these presentations, the audience will be included in a discussion of failure modes, risk factors, and inspection/mitigation strategies. The session will conclude with a discussion of data available for substructure inspection and a ‘live’ demonstration of the ‘real-time’ portal for ballast condition data.

Presentations

07 - Track Support Condition Assessment

Hugh Thompson - General Engineer
Federal Railroad Administration

Dr. Ted Sussmann - Civil Engineer
Volpe

Dr. Asger Eriksen - CEO
Zetica

Grand Ballroom B	Advances in Distributed Sensing for Rail Applications
An Introduction to the Fiber Optic Sensing Association (FOSA) and Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (DFOS) concepts with relevance in rail applications, and a comprehensive description of what can be detected when applying relevant DFOS methods to rail.
Presentations 13 - FOSA DFOS Installation Considerations for Rail FOSA Rail Presentation - March 15 2022b	Michael Montgomery - Director, Applications Engineering AP Sensing Americas, Fiber Optic Sensing Association

Grand Ballroom B

Advances in Distributed Sensing for Rail Applications

An Introduction to the Fiber Optic Sensing Association (FOSA) and Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (DFOS) concepts with relevance in rail applications, and a comprehensive description of what can be detected when applying relevant DFOS methods to rail.

Presentations

13 - FOSA DFOS Installation Considerations for Rail

FOSA Rail Presentation - March 15 2022b

Michael Montgomery - Director, Applications Engineering
AP Sensing Americas, Fiber Optic Sensing Association

Grand Ballroom C	Applying the Bowtie Approach to Railroad Risk Reduction Programs (RRP)
Risk Reduction Program (RRP) requirements emphasize hazard identification and analysis and assessment of associated risk. The Bowtie approach aids in visualizing the elements contributing to risk and the mitigations established to manage and reduce risk severity and likelihood to acceptable levels.
Presentations - N/A	Gerald Kosbab, MBA - President AeroDirections (TSI Instructor)

Grand Ballroom C

Applying the Bowtie Approach to Railroad
Risk Reduction Programs (RRP)

Risk Reduction Program (RRP) requirements emphasize hazard identification and analysis and assessment of associated risk. The Bowtie approach aids in visualizing the elements contributing to risk and the mitigations established to manage and reduce risk severity and likelihood to acceptable levels.

Presentations

- N/A

Gerald Kosbab, MBA - President
AeroDirections (TSI Instructor)

Grand Ballroom D	The Future of Predicting and Characterizing Rail Integrity Defects
Learn about: 1) Data-driven models for broken rail predictions based on infrastructure, operations, inspection and weather data presented by Rutgers, (i.e., in what sections of track are defects likely to occur?), 2) Defect Growth behavior in Modern Rail Steels presented by Thornton Tomasetti and Lehigh, (i.e., how fast do defects grow in modern rail steels?)
Presentations - N/A	Herman Nied - Professor Lehigh University Asim Zaman, PE - Project Engineer II Rutgers University

Grand Ballroom D

The Future of Predicting and Characterizing Rail Integrity Defects

Learn about: 1) Data-driven models for broken rail predictions based on infrastructure, operations, inspection and weather data presented by Rutgers, (i.e., in what sections of track are defects likely to occur?), 2) Defect Growth behavior in Modern Rail Steels presented by Thornton Tomasetti and Lehigh, (i.e., how fast do defects grow in modern rail steels?)

Presentations

- N/A

Herman Nied - Professor
Lehigh University

Asim Zaman, PE - Project Engineer II
Rutgers University

Grand Ballroom E	Utilizing MRail’s vertical track defection measurements to identify and quantify the risk of soft spots in track for maintenance prioritization
This session will discuss a risk method being developed that uses MRail vertical track deflection data and how output from the system and the risk model can be used to quantify the severity of, and hence prioritize maintenance for, locations in track. This discussion will include a description of the MRail system, the system’s general use, details on the risk model being developed for quantifying soft spots in track, potential relationship to Track Geometry, and results of field cross-referencing of risk model data.
Presentations 58 - Protran_MRail - v2 - Chris Hartsough	Chris Hartsough - Track Engineering Team Lead Harsco Rail Todd Dragland - VP Engineering Northern Region Genesee & Wyoming, Inc. Tom Leiby - Director of Measurement Products Harsco Rail

Grand Ballroom E

Utilizing MRail’s vertical track defection measurements to identify
and quantify the risk of soft spots in track for maintenance prioritization

This session will discuss a risk method being developed that uses MRail vertical track deflection data and how output from the system and the risk model can be used to quantify the severity of, and hence prioritize maintenance for, locations in track. This discussion will include a description of the MRail system, the system’s general use, details on the risk model being developed for quantifying soft spots in track, potential relationship to Track Geometry, and results of field cross-referencing of risk model data.

Presentations

58 - Protran_MRail - v2 - Chris Hartsough

Chris Hartsough - Track Engineering Team Lead
Harsco Rail

Todd Dragland - VP Engineering Northern Region
Genesee & Wyoming, Inc.

Tom Leiby - Director of Measurement Products
Harsco Rail

Grand Ballroom F	Switch Points and Frogs: Design, Inspection, Maintenance & Derailment Prevention
Switch point-caused derailments have three things in common: a less-than perfect switch point, a worn wheel, and tracking position - the wheel flange is tight against the point. Learn what to look for when inspecting switch points. A close look at RBM frogs – their design features, results from revenue service testing that compare these design features, the importance of wheel transition between frog point and wing, and maintenance advice.
Presentations 39A Kerchof, Switch point inspection _ wheel climb derailment prevention - Brad Kerchof 39B Kerchof, Switch point inspection gauges - Brad Kerchof 39C Kerchof, Frogs - Design Features, Revenue Service Test Results _ Maintenance Advice - Brad Kerchof	Brad Kerchof - Director Research & Tests (retired) Norfolk Southern Railway

Grand Ballroom F

Switch Points and Frogs: Design, Inspection,
Maintenance & Derailment Prevention

Switch point-caused derailments have three things in common: a less-than perfect switch point, a worn wheel, and tracking position - the wheel flange is tight against the point. Learn what to look for when inspecting switch points. A close look at RBM frogs – their design features, results from revenue service testing that compare these design features, the importance of wheel transition between frog point and wing, and maintenance advice.

Presentations

39A Kerchof, Switch point inspection _ wheel climb derailment prevention - Brad Kerchof

39B Kerchof, Switch point inspection gauges - Brad Kerchof

39C Kerchof, Frogs - Design Features, Revenue Service Test Results _ Maintenance Advice - Brad Kerchof

Brad Kerchof - Director Research & Tests (retired)
Norfolk Southern Railway

Regency Ballroom A	FRA Only Meeting: Districts 1 - 4
All FRA and State government track safety inspectors in Districts 1 through 4 are required to attend this session.
Presentations - N/A	Mike Pirato - Deputy Staff Director Track Division Federal Railroad Administration

Regency Ballroom A

FRA Only Meeting: Districts 1 - 4

All FRA and State government track safety inspectors in Districts 1 through 4 are required to attend this session.

Presentations

- N/A

Mike Pirato - Deputy Staff Director Track Division
Federal Railroad Administration

10:00am - 11:40am - Breakout #4

Grand Ballroom A	Beautiful Country - Tough Railroading, Heavy Grade Maintenance Discussion
Union Pacific has leveraged the knowledge and experience of its people with data to take on heavy grade and heavy curve territories.
Presentations - N/A	Mark Allen - Director of Track Maintenance Union Pacific Railroad Michael Upton - Sr. Mgr. Track Maintenance Union Pacific Railroad

Grand Ballroom A

Beautiful Country - Tough Railroading,
Heavy Grade Maintenance Discussion

Union Pacific has leveraged the knowledge and experience of its people with data to take on heavy grade and heavy curve territories.

Presentations

- N/A

Mark Allen - Director of Track Maintenance
Union Pacific Railroad

Michael Upton - Sr. Mgr. Track Maintenance
Union Pacific Railroad

Grand Ballroom B	Beyond Part 243: How Do We Ensure our Employees and Supervisors Have the Skills to Work Safely
This breakout is a panel discussion on how railroads and contractors are responding to the implementation of their Part 243 plans. This discussion will encourage interactive conversation where participants can share their own experiences, successes, challenges, and generate new ideas for the current state of training and beyond. The discussion will include questions such as: How do we know learning has occurred? How do employees demonstrate the application of skills? What is a manager’s role in the learning process? How do managers coach and support safe work practices? What are companies doing beyond training to the minimum standards?
Presentations - N/A	Alexander Franco, Jr - Director Training Services - Engineering BNSF Railway Katie Inouye - CEO Sparks Training Solutions Erika Bruhnke - VP Training Services RailPros

Grand Ballroom B

Beyond Part 243: How Do We Ensure our Employees
and Supervisors Have the Skills to Work Safely

This breakout is a panel discussion on how railroads and contractors are responding to the implementation of their Part 243 plans. This discussion will encourage interactive conversation where participants can share their own experiences, successes, challenges,
and generate new ideas for the current state of training and beyond. The discussion will include questions such as:

How do we know learning has occurred?
How do employees demonstrate the application of skills?
What is a manager’s role in the learning process?
How do managers coach and support safe work practices?
What are companies doing beyond training to the minimum standards?

Presentations

- N/A

Alexander Franco, Jr - Director Training Services - Engineering
BNSF Railway

Katie Inouye - CEO
Sparks Training Solutions

Erika Bruhnke - VP Training Services
RailPros

Grand Ballroom C	Utilizing Technology to Enhance Safety
Protran has developed various RWP systems to mitigate rail accidents, we will discuss the different use cases and implementation as well as demonstrate some of the systems. We will also discuss MOW collision avoidance systems in the field today as well as future development. And what types trespass prevention systems we have developed for different locations ie; grade crossings.
Presentations - N/A	Jamie Maguire - Program Director Protran Technology Clay Bunting - Director - Technology Implementation

Grand Ballroom C

Utilizing Technology to Enhance Safety

Protran has developed various RWP systems to mitigate rail accidents, we will discuss the different use cases and implementation as well as demonstrate some of the systems. We will also discuss MOW collision avoidance systems in the field today as well as future development. And what types trespass prevention systems we have developed for different locations ie; grade crossings.

Presentations

- N/A

Jamie Maguire - Program Director
Protran Technology

Clay Bunting - Director - Technology Implementation

Grand Ballroom D	Automated Track Inspection Test Program Risk Analysis
Learn about UP, CSX, CN, NS, and BNSF's Automated Track Inspection Test Programs.
Presentations - N/A	Daniel Baker - Track Specialist Federal Railroad Administration Representatives from UP, CSX, CN, NS, and BNSF

Grand Ballroom D

Automated Track Inspection Test Program Risk Analysis

Learn about UP, CSX, CN, NS, and BNSF's Automated Track Inspection Test Programs.

Presentations

- N/A

Daniel Baker - Track Specialist
Federal Railroad Administration

Representatives from UP, CSX, CN, NS, and BNSF

Grand Ballroom E	Bridging The Gap In RWP Comprehension: An Intricate Look Into Complex Protection Environment
As our industry continues to grow and change, we find a surge of new workers flooding our workforce, however, on question stands out... are we losing our comprehension of what RWP really means? Take a journey with me as we take an intricate look into complex protection environments.
Presentations Complex Protection Environments.2022-03-26	Adam Shepherd - Senior Operations Manager National Railroad Safety Services

Grand Ballroom E

Bridging The Gap In RWP Comprehension:
An Intricate Look Into Complex Protection Environment

As our industry continues to grow and change, we find a surge of new workers flooding our workforce, however, on question stands out... are we losing our comprehension of what RWP really means? Take a journey with me as we take an intricate look into complex protection environments.

Presentations

Complex Protection Environments.2022-03-26

Adam Shepherd - Senior Operations Manager
National Railroad Safety Services

Grand Ballroom F	Wheel-Rail Friction Management: Effects on Vehicle-Track Interaction, Safety, and Asset Life
Wheel-Rail Friction Management can refer to gage face / wheel flange lubrication, and (or) top of rail / wheel tread friction control. Learn the basic ways in which friction management influences vehicle-track interaction, including effects on safety and asset life.
Presentations 29 - KOldknow - Wheel-Rail Friction Management Track Safety Symposium 2022 Breakout Session	Kevin Oldknow - Associate Professor and Director VTI Research Group \| Simon Fraser University

Grand Ballroom F

Wheel-Rail Friction Management: Effects on
Vehicle-Track Interaction, Safety, and Asset Life

Wheel-Rail Friction Management can refer to gage face / wheel flange lubrication, and (or) top of rail / wheel tread friction control. Learn the basic ways in which friction management influences vehicle-track interaction, including effects on safety and asset life.

Presentations

29 - KOldknow - Wheel-Rail Friction Management Track Safety Symposium 2022 Breakout Session

Kevin Oldknow - Associate Professor and Director
VTI Research Group | Simon Fraser University

Regency Ballroom A	UAS (Drones): Practical Applications for Railroad Safety Assurance
Presentations from BNSF, Visiostack and Texas A&M University will describe the development of drone technology for the rail industry, highlighting current use cases, and forecasting the future for drone's to augment track inspection and improve safety on the railroad. Attendees will learn what it takes to utilize this technology on any railroad.
Presentations - N/A	Nick Dryer - Sr. Mgr. Technology Services BNSF Railway Zachary Garner - President Visiostack, Inc. Surya S. C. Congress, PhD - Associate Director NSF Industry University Cooperative Research Center (IURC) Site at TAMU Cameron Stuart - Program Manager Federal Railroad Administration

Regency Ballroom A

UAS (Drones): Practical Applications for Railroad Safety Assurance

Presentations from BNSF, Visiostack and Texas A&M University will describe the development of drone technology for the rail industry, highlighting current use cases, and forecasting the future for drone's to augment track inspection and improve safety on the railroad. Attendees will learn what it takes to utilize this technology on any railroad.

Presentations

- N/A

Nick Dryer - Sr. Mgr. Technology Services
BNSF Railway

Zachary Garner - President
Visiostack, Inc.

Surya S. C. Congress, PhD - Associate Director
NSF Industry University Cooperative Research Center (IURC) Site at TAMU

Cameron Stuart - Program Manager
Federal Railroad Administration

1:20pm - 3:00pm - Breakout #5

Grand Ballroom A	Correlating Geometry Car and Manual Track Inspection Data
We will explore the use of mobile applications to collect FRA 213 manual track inspection information including defects and deficiencies. The acquired data is compared side by side with geometry car data in an electronically generated track chart.
Presentations - N/A	Greg Fogarty - CEO TekTracking Matt Edmonds - VP Projects TekTracking Ed Reardon - General Manager Transdev/SFRTA

Grand Ballroom A

Correlating Geometry Car and Manual Track Inspection Data

We will explore the use of mobile applications to collect FRA 213 manual track inspection information including defects and deficiencies. The acquired data is compared side by side with geometry car data in an electronically generated track chart.

Presentations

- N/A

Greg Fogarty - CEO
TekTracking

Matt Edmonds - VP Projects
TekTracking

Ed Reardon - General Manager
Transdev/SFRTA

Grand Ballroom B	Battery-Powered Tools: Safe, Innovative, the Future of Rail
Battery-powered tools are revolutionizing the rail industry. From safety and productivity to environmental responsibility, the features of these innovative tools have proven beneficial not only in the United States, but worldwide. Come see them in action!
Presentations - N/A	Van Fry - President FTS Tools LLC Josiah Stiemann - Director of Operations FTS Tools LLC

Grand Ballroom B

Battery-Powered Tools: Safe, Innovative, the Future of Rail

Battery-powered tools are revolutionizing the rail industry. From safety and productivity to environmental responsibility, the features of these innovative tools have proven beneficial not only in the United States, but worldwide. Come see them in action!

Presentations

- N/A

Van Fry - President
FTS Tools LLC

Josiah Stiemann - Director of Operations
FTS Tools LLC

Grand Ballroom C	Short Line Compliance Oversite of Contractors
With the inclusion of contractors in regulations, short lines have a greater task to review contractor qualifications and ensure contractors have the proper plans, training, and processes in place. Short lines can ultimately be held responsible for non-compliance of a contractor. Attend this session to understand which regulations cover contractors and how short lines are working with contractors to ensure compliance.
Presentations - N/A	Jo Strang - SVP, Safety, Regulatory, and Enforcement ASLRRA JR Gelnar - VP, Safety and Compliance ASLRRA Lucas Brewer - Railroad Specialist Bergmann Associates

Grand Ballroom C

Short Line Compliance Oversite of Contractors

With the inclusion of contractors in regulations, short lines have a greater task to review contractor qualifications and ensure contractors have the proper plans, training, and processes in place. Short lines can ultimately be held responsible for non-compliance of a contractor. Attend this session to understand which regulations cover contractors and how short lines are working with contractors to ensure compliance.

Presentations

- N/A

Jo Strang - SVP, Safety, Regulatory, and Enforcement
ASLRRA

JR Gelnar - VP, Safety and Compliance
ASLRRA

Lucas Brewer - Railroad Specialist
Bergmann Associates

Grand Ballroom D	Heavy Axle Load Test Results from FAST and Revenue Service
Recent findings concerning track and track components (rails, welds, STW, composite ties, ballast and GPR) from MxV Rail's (formerly TTCI) heavy axle load tests at FAST and in revenue service.
Presentations 47 - FRA Track Safety Symposium - Ballast BNSF and MxV 47 - FRA Track Safety Symposium - EPC Ties_UP and MxV 47 - FRA Track Safety Symposium - Rail and Weld MxV 47 - FRA Track Safety Symposium - Special Track Work MxV	Dingqing Li - Executive Director Mxv Rail (formerly TTCI) Duane Otter - Scientist Mxv Rail (formerly TTCI) Ananyo Banerjee - Principal Investigator I Mxv Rail (formerly TTCI) Yin Gao - Sr. Engineer II Mxv Rail (formerly TTCI)

Grand Ballroom D

Heavy Axle Load Test Results from FAST and Revenue Service

Recent findings concerning track and track components (rails, welds, STW, composite ties, ballast and GPR) from MxV Rail's (formerly TTCI) heavy axle load tests at FAST and in revenue service.

Presentations

47 - FRA Track Safety Symposium - Ballast BNSF and MxV

47 - FRA Track Safety Symposium - EPC Ties_UP and MxV

47 - FRA Track Safety Symposium - Rail and Weld MxV

47 - FRA Track Safety Symposium - Special Track Work MxV

Dingqing Li - Executive Director
Mxv Rail (formerly TTCI)

Duane Otter - Scientist
Mxv Rail (formerly TTCI)

Ananyo Banerjee - Principal Investigator I
Mxv Rail (formerly TTCI)

Yin Gao - Sr. Engineer II
Mxv Rail (formerly TTCI)

Grand Ballroom E	Automated Track Change Detection: Advanced Technology For a More Complete Track Safety
Track components and systems are constantly changing due to service loads, environmental factors, and maintenance activities. In this break out you will learn about a new technology that automatically detects track changes over time, providing valuable information for track inspection and capital planning activities. Presentations from Railmetrics and University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign will detail the technology development and demonstration of this new technology on Class 1 railways.
Presentations - N/A	Riley Edwards, PhD, PE - Sr. Lecturer & Sr. Research Scientis University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Richard Fox-Ivey - Consultant Pavemetrics

Grand Ballroom E

Automated Track Change Detection: Advanced
Technology For a More Complete Track Safety

Track components and systems are constantly changing due to service loads, environmental factors, and maintenance activities. In this break out you will learn about a new technology that automatically detects track changes over time, providing valuable information for track inspection and capital planning activities. Presentations from Railmetrics and University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign will detail the technology development and demonstration of this new technology on Class 1 railways.

Presentations

- N/A

Riley Edwards, PhD, PE - Sr. Lecturer & Sr. Research Scientis
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Richard Fox-Ivey - Consultant
Pavemetrics

Grand Ballroom F	NTSB Most Wanted List- Rail Worker Safety
Too many people working on or around railroad tracks, such as train crews, maintenance-of-way employees, and mechanical workers, are getting killed or injured in preventable tragedies involving train or equipment movement. NTSB added Rail Worker Safety to the 2021-2022 Most Wanted List to highlight this issue. In this session you will hear from Board Member Tom Chapman and NTSB investigators as they highlight safety recommendations aimed at curtailing these tragic events.
Presentations 01 - NTSB MWL Rail Worker Safety	Honorable Tom Chapman - Board Member National Transportation Safety Board Joe Gordon - Rail Accident Investigator National Transportation Safety Board Troy Lloyd - Rail Accident Investigator National Transportation Safety Board *Zach Zagata* - Rail Accident Investigator National Transportation Safety Board

Grand Ballroom F

NTSB Most Wanted List- Rail Worker Safety

Too many people working on or around railroad tracks, such as train crews, maintenance-of-way employees, and mechanical workers, are getting killed or injured in preventable tragedies involving train or equipment movement. NTSB added Rail Worker Safety to the 2021-2022 Most Wanted List to highlight this issue. In this session you will hear from Board Member Tom Chapman and NTSB investigators as they highlight safety recommendations aimed at curtailing these tragic events.

Presentations

01 - NTSB MWL Rail Worker Safety

Honorable Tom Chapman - Board Member
National Transportation Safety Board

Joe Gordon - Rail Accident Investigator
National Transportation Safety Board

Troy Lloyd - Rail Accident Investigator
National Transportation Safety Board

Zach Zagata - Rail Accident Investigator
National Transportation Safety Board

Regency Ballroom A	Human Factors Analysis Classification System
Discovering Underlying Causes of Human Error in Your Organization
Presentations 25 - HF Fundamentals 25 - HFACS DSmith	D Smith - Division Manager Aviation Safety Transportation Safety Institute

Regency Ballroom A

Human Factors Analysis Classification System

Discovering Underlying Causes of Human Error in Your Organization

Presentations

25 - HF Fundamentals

25 - HFACS DSmith

D Smith - Division Manager Aviation Safety
Transportation Safety Institute

3:20pm - 5:00pm - Breakout #6

Grand Ballroom A	Safety Leadership
During the next decade, our transportation system faces some compelling trends: an aging population, migration to emerging economic regions, crumbling infrastructure, rapid technological changes, shifting energy production and an increase in safety incidents and injuries. Each of these transportation issues is embedded in a climate of economic, social, political, and environmental changes. The major challenge is: How do we continue to ensure a safe, efficient, accessible, and convenient transportation system that enhances the quality of life for all American people? We overcome these challenges and issues with creating leaders at all levels of our organizations and across the whole transportation sector.
Presentations - N/A	Troy Jackson - Director Transportation Safety Institute

Grand Ballroom A

Safety Leadership

During the next decade, our transportation system faces some compelling trends: an aging population, migration to emerging economic regions, crumbling infrastructure, rapid technological changes, shifting energy production and an increase in safety incidents and injuries. Each of these transportation issues is embedded in a climate of economic, social, political, and environmental changes. The major challenge is: How do we continue to ensure a safe, efficient, accessible, and convenient transportation system that enhances the quality of life for all American people? We overcome these challenges and issues with creating leaders at all levels of our organizations and across the whole transportation sector.

Presentations

- N/A

Troy Jackson - Director
Transportation Safety Institute

Grand Ballroom B	Roadway Worker Protection & FAMES
Learn about current RWP Hot Topics: - Recent RWP fatalities and how to avoid these types of accidents on your railroad - Train Approach Waring (TAW) critical mistakes - The dangers of working around roadway maintenance machines (RMM) - How to properly submit RWP submissions and subsequent changes per 214.307 - Who is actually responsible for RWP compliance (Railroad, employer, or employee) - The difference between an RWP Program vs. RWP Manual - The requirements of 214.320 - The importance of job briefings - FAMES
Presentations - N/A	Lance Hawks - Part 214 Specialist Federal Railroad Administration David Kannenberg - Railroad Administrator Federal Railroad Administration

Grand Ballroom B

Roadway Worker Protection & FAMES

Learn about current RWP Hot Topics:

- Recent RWP fatalities and how to avoid these types of accidents on your railroad
- Train Approach Waring (TAW) critical mistakes
- The dangers of working around roadway maintenance machines (RMM)
- How to properly submit RWP submissions and subsequent changes per 214.307
- Who is actually responsible for RWP compliance (Railroad, employer, or employee)
- The difference between an RWP Program vs. RWP Manual
- The requirements of 214.320
- The importance of job briefings
- FAMES

Presentations

- N/A

Lance Hawks - Part 214 Specialist
Federal Railroad Administration

David Kannenberg - Railroad Administrator
Federal Railroad Administration

Grand Ballroom C	CISP 101: An overview of critical incidents, their impact, and 272 regulatory requirements
FRA's Critical Incident Stress Plan program manager will walk attendees through the history of critical incidents, the physical and mental changes immediately following a critical incident, and long term implications of untreated trauma due to a critical incident. The session will also discuss the purpose of the CISP/part 272 regulation, requirements, and best practices for program implementation.
Presentations FRA CISP 101 track symposium	Amanda K. Emo, PhD - Senior Engineering Psychologist Federal Railroad Administration

Grand Ballroom C

CISP 101: An overview of critical incidents,
their impact, and 272 regulatory requirements

FRA's Critical Incident Stress Plan program manager will walk attendees through the history of critical incidents, the physical and mental changes immediately following a critical incident, and long term implications of untreated trauma due to a critical incident. The session will also discuss the purpose of the CISP/part 272 regulation, requirements, and best practices for program implementation.

Presentations

FRA CISP 101 track symposium

Amanda K. Emo, PhD - Senior Engineering Psychologist
Federal Railroad Administration

Grand Ballroom D	Current and Future Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Technologies for Rail Flaw Inspection
MxV Rail (formerly TTCI) has been involved in Rail Flaw Inspection work for many years. This involves basis research and development of innovative technologies as well as testing/validation of rail flaw inspection systems at TTC. During this breakout session, a demonstration on the UT rail flaw inspection using conventional UT, Phased Array UT, and FMC/TFM approach will be provided. The audience will get to see the latest and greatest on the Rail Flaw inspection.
Presentations 21 - Current & Future Technologies for Rail Flaw Inspection MxV	Anish Poudel, PhD - Principal Investigator II NDE MxV Rail (formerly Transportation Technology Center, Inc.) Brian Lindeman - Sr. Engineer MxV Rail (formerly Transportation Technology Center, Inc.) Survesh Shrestha - Sr. Engineer MxV Rail (formerly Transportation Technology Center, Inc.)

Grand Ballroom D

Current and Future Nondestructive Evaluation
(NDE) Technologies for Rail Flaw Inspection

MxV Rail (formerly TTCI) has been involved in Rail Flaw Inspection work for many years. This involves basis research and development of innovative technologies as well as testing/validation of rail flaw inspection systems at TTC. During this breakout session, a demonstration on the UT rail flaw inspection using conventional UT, Phased Array UT, and FMC/TFM approach will be provided. The audience will get to see the latest and greatest on the Rail Flaw inspection.

Presentations

21 - Current & Future Technologies for Rail Flaw Inspection MxV

Anish Poudel, PhD - Principal Investigator II NDE
MxV Rail (formerly Transportation Technology Center, Inc.)

Brian Lindeman - Sr. Engineer
MxV Rail (formerly Transportation Technology Center, Inc.)

Survesh Shrestha - Sr. Engineer
MxV Rail (formerly Transportation Technology Center, Inc.)

Grand Ballroom E	Adverse High Rail Profiles in Curves: Identification, Risks, a Solution and a Case Study
1) A rail’s profile, taken together with rail orientation and wheel profiles, determines the location of wheel contact. This contact has consequences for wheelset steering, wheel/rail forces and ultimately, rail stability. Learn the answers to these questions: How do we describe an adverse high rail profile? What are the risks associated with this profile? And how is an adverse profile created? Then see how one railroad - Norfolk Southern - developed a grinding strategy that attempts to mitigate the consequences of adverse high rail profiles. 2) A case study of a rail rollover derailment caused by an adverse high rail profile.
Presentations 40A Kerchof, Adverse High Rail Profiles- Identification, Risks and a Solution - Brad Kerchof 40B Kerchof, Case Study - A Rail Rollover Derailment - Brad Kerchof	Brad Kerchof - Director Research & Tests (retired) Norfolk Southern Railway

Grand Ballroom E

Adverse High Rail Profiles in Curves:
Identification, Risks, a Solution and a Case Study

1) A rail’s profile, taken together with rail orientation and wheel profiles, determines the location of wheel contact. This contact has consequences for wheelset steering, wheel/rail forces and ultimately, rail stability.

Learn the answers to these questions: How do we describe an adverse high rail profile? What are the risks associated with this profile? And how is an adverse profile created? Then see how one railroad - Norfolk Southern - developed a grinding strategy that attempts to mitigate the consequences of adverse high rail profiles.

2) A case study of a rail rollover derailment caused by an adverse high rail profile.

Presentations

40A Kerchof, Adverse High Rail Profiles- Identification, Risks and a Solution - Brad Kerchof

40B Kerchof, Case Study - A Rail Rollover Derailment - Brad Kerchof

Brad Kerchof - Director Research & Tests (retired)
Norfolk Southern Railway

Grand Ballroom F	Rail damage mitigation and its impact on system safety and rail/wheel life.
This breakout session will discuss key factors that influence rail damage. Furthermore, the available tools in the infrastructure owner’s toolbox to counter these damage effects will be analyzed. These tools include rail grades, rail and wheel profiles, track geometry, friction management, maintenance technologies like milling and grinding but also required measurement technology.
Presentations - N/A	Richard Stock - Global Head of Rail Solutions Plasser American

Grand Ballroom F

Rail damage mitigation and its impact
on system safety and rail/wheel life.

This breakout session will discuss key factors that influence rail damage. Furthermore, the available tools in the infrastructure owner’s toolbox to counter these damage effects will be analyzed. These tools include rail grades, rail and wheel profiles, track geometry, friction management, maintenance technologies like milling and grinding but also required measurement technology.

Presentations

- N/A

Richard Stock - Global Head of Rail Solutions
Plasser American

Regency Ballroom A	FRA Only Meeting: Districts 5 - 8
All FRA and State government track safety inspectors in Districts 5 through 8 are required to attend this session.
Presentations - N/A	Mike Pirato - Deputy Staff Director Track Division Federal Railroad Administration

Regency Ballroom A

FRA Only Meeting: Districts 5 - 8

All FRA and State government track safety inspectors in Districts 5 through 8 are required to attend this session.

Presentations

- N/A

Mike Pirato - Deputy Staff Director Track Division
Federal Railroad Administration

8:00am - 9:40am - Breakout #7

Grand Ballroom A	Safety and Innovation Technology for Railway Switching Yards
The latest stand alone sensor technology to mitigate Derailments and Collisions for Locomotives
Presentations - N/A	Peter Bartek - Vice President Marmon Rail & Crane (A Marmon/Berkshire Hathaway Company)

Grand Ballroom A

Safety and Innovation Technology
for Railway Switching Yards

The latest stand alone sensor technology to mitigate Derailments and Collisions for Locomotives

Presentations

- N/A

Peter Bartek - Vice President
Marmon Rail & Crane (A Marmon/Berkshire Hathaway Company)

Grand Ballroom B

Track Elasticity & Long-Term Effects
of Reduced Track Tamping

One of the most important properties of the superstructure is elasticity, which is significantly influenced by the ballast and which is responsible for many damage patterns. In order to eliminate track geometry defects, the ballast must be tamped, whereby the technical and financial difference between spot tamping and line tamping will be discussed on the basis of European framework conditions.

Presentations

60 - Long Term Effects of Reduced Track Tamping Works

60 - Sustainable Asset Management for Turnouts - Michael Fellinger

Michael Fellinger - Technical Manager
Global Rail Consulting

Rudolf Schilder - Partner
Advanced Rail Track Solutions

Grand Ballroom C

NDT Rail Neutral Temperature (RNT) Measurement
Technology and the Impact of Longitudinal Track Resistance

The University of Illinois (Illinois) will provide background on longitudinal track resistance, the most critical parameter influencing rail gap size and influence zone and thus RNT restoration. Illinois and the University of South Carolina (UofSC) will highlight two innovative non-destructive RNT measurement approaches currently being field tested. The Illinois approach, working in collaboration with the University of Utah, uses simple and reference free rail vibration measurements to predict axial strain and RNT conditions, where data are collected from instrumented sections of revenue service rail line. The UofSC also approach quantifies the longitudinal stress and captures the quality of the longitudinal restraint in a single, reference-free, non-contacting measurement.

Presentations

- N/A

Marcus Dersch, P.E. - Principal Research Engineer
University of Illinois

Dimitris Rizos, PhD - Associate Professor
University of South Carolina

John Popovics, PhD - Professor
University of Illinois

Grand Ballroom D

Bridging The Gap In RWP Comprehension:
The Why Behind The Rules & Best Practices

As our industry continues to grow and change, we find a surge of new workers flooding our workforce, however, one question stands out... are we losing our comprehension of what RWP really means? Take a journey with me as we strip down the rules and get back to the basics on WHY the rules are the way they are and the best practices to follow.

Presentations

Why & Best Practices.2022-03-26

Adam Shepherd - Senior Operations Manager
National Railroad Safety Services

Grand Ballroom E

Protecting Railway Workers with
Roadway Worker Protection Systems

Miller Ingenuity will present the importance of adopting secondary warning system technology to help eliminate human error factors that are not fully addressed in today’s track worker safety rules and procedures. Attendees will learn about the critical role these systems play in worker safety and efficiency through product data collection, demonstrations, and customer testimonials of Miller's ZoneGuard RWP system.

Presentations

-N/A

Christine Nester- Marketing Communication Specialist
Miller Ingenuity

Kevin Smith - SVP Global Sales & Marketing
Miller Ingenuity

Adam Woyczik - Technical Sales Manager
Miller Ingenuity

Charles Perry - Manager of Truck & Structures
San Diego MTS

Grand Ballroom F

Track Inspections: Remedial Actions and
How to Know Your Inspections are Adequate

When in the field performing track inspections, one of the most discussed topics is remedial actions. What does the regulation actually say about remedial actions, documenting such and bringing the track into compliance? Also learn some insight on how to know your track inspections are adequate.

Presentations

- N/A

Shane Stiffler - Track Specialist
Federal Railroad Administration

Regency Ballroom A

Fatigue Risk Management - Sorted

Fatigue Risk Management may be harder and more complex at first but it can be broken down into four easily and understood and manageable parts.

Presentations

09 - Fatiguefit Rail

Michael Brazytis - VP US Operations
FatigueFit

10:00am - 11:40am - Breakout #8

Grand Ballroom A

Part 243 Workshop – Update Post Implementation

FRA subject matter experts will discuss Part 243 topics related to; the upcoming NPRM, Web portal registration, training program submission, Web portal tutorials, model programs, approval letters and third-party vetting services, designating existing employees (qualification), and periodic oversight. The workshop will also allow for sufficient time for Q&A from the audience. Time permitting, FRA will demonstrate Web portal navigation.

Presentations

- N/A

Rob Castiglione - Staff Director Human Performance
Federal Railroad Administration

Cory Johnson - Human Performance Specialist
Federal Railroad Administration

Grand Ballroom B

Using TapRooT® Root Cause Analysis to
Improve Performance and Prevent Accidents

Understanding the reasons people make mistakes and make poor decisions is the cornerstone to an unbiased, blame-free incident investigation. Learn how an easy-to-use yet powerful root cause analysis system can help you implement more effective corrective actions and prevent future recurrence of similar accidents.

Presentations

- N/A

Ken Reed - Vice President
System improvement | TapRooT®

Grand Ballroom C

Track Alignment / Alignment Rate of Change

During this breakout session attendees will enter a collaborative industry wide discussion/training workshop centered around track alignment. Additional guidance for tangent track, spirals, curves, & Rate of change in alignment over 31’ in Turnouts will be covered. Our main objective is to help educate the industry with a proactive/standardized approach to identify & eliminate derailment potential.

Presentations

- N/A

Mark Montoya - Manager 1 Track Compliance
Union Pacific Railroad

Grand Ballroom D

FRA Data Science Applications for Agency Operation

The FRA develops and uses multiple data science models leveraging multiple data sources, GIS, and machine learning to optimize agency operations including inspection prioritization and resource management. You will get a deeper look at the development of TOPS (Territory Optimization and Planning System) and the Rail Integrity Risk Model and perspective on how these applications inform inspection activities.

Presentations

27 - FRA 2022 TrackSymposium - DataScience

Andrew Straatveit - Data Scientist
Federal Railroad Administration

Daniel Einbinder - Research Engineer
Ensco, Inc.

Raquel Wright - GIS Specialist
Federal Railroad Administration

Grand Ballroom E

Maintenance of Way and Bridges: Fall Protection for Track
Maintenance, Basic Bridge Inspection, and Structrual Bridge Ties

Application of 49CFR214 Subpart B Bridge Worker Safety and 29CFR1926 Part M Fall Protection rules to maintenance of way activities on railroad bridges or other places of height along the right of way.
Discussion of ties on bridges with an emphasis on structural bridge ties. What is a structural bridge tie, how are they different than other bridge ties, and how to inspect them.
A quick session to help track department personnel understand when and how to look for structural problems in a bridge.

Presentations

- N/A

William Riehl - Chief Engineer Structures
Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services, Inc.

Steve Krause - Bridge Engineer
Federal Railroad Administration

Grand Ballroom F

Potential Effects of Precision Scheduled
Railroading (PSR) on Track Maintenance Policies

Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR), and its many permutations and combinations, has been embraced by most railroads in North America. This presentation will address potential ramifications of these changes in operating practices on existing track maintenance policies. Specifically, changes in train tonnages, train lengths, train speeds and switching practices demand that track maintenance polices be reviewed and modified to ensure that the track structure is maintained to a high degree of reliability.

Presentations

- N/A

Gary Wolf - CEO
Wolf Railway Consulting

1:20pm - 3:00pm - Breakout #9

Grand Ballroom A

Improvements in Track-Caused Derailment Trends

The session will provide detailed snapshots of track-caused derailment trends in the last decade. FRA and the industry will present statistics depicting track safety improvements, or declining track-caused derailments. Detailed categorization of the derailments and in-depth examination of root causes will identify areas for future improvements.

Presentations

- N/A

Yujiang Zhang, PhD, PE - Staff Director Track Division
Federal Railroad Administration

Matt Hammond - AVP/Chief Engineer North Region
BNSF

Grand Ballroom B

How Interactive Simulations Teach Complex
Procedures More Efficiently, Safer, and with Less Errors.

The trend towards a digital, controllable, and asynchronous training environment has continued to accelerate. Learn how Railroads are use 3D interactive simulations to enhance their training programs, and explore future applications of the technology.

Presentations

- N/A

Brian Keller - Training and Simulation Specialist
Heartwood

Grand Ballroom C

Remote Sensing Technologies for Track Monitoring

This session introduces innovative remote sensing technologies and their implementation to track monitoring and condition assessment. These technologies include satellites, 3D-Vision systems, and UAVs, among others, and are discussed in this session.

Presentations

- N/A

Dimitris Rizos, PhD - Associate Professor
University of South Carolina

Yu Qian, PhD, PhD - Assistant Professor
University of South Carolina

Grand Ballroom D

Enhanced rail management through rail milling

A presentation outlining the story of how the UK Railroad undertook various maintenance enhancements to manage the safety risk of broken and defective rails over the last 20 years, The session covers critical safety failures, lessons learned, different strategies applied and technology research and development that worked to deliver good improvements. then only to realize looking forward things were not going to be sustainable and we needed more options for rail management and how this was delivered by rail milling, to enhance rail management, reduce costs and increase safety looking forward to the next 20 years.

Presentations

62 – Rail Milling 03182022 v2 – Adam Doy.pdf

Bob Hardwell - Rail Management Expert
Linsinger

Adam Doy, CMILT - Associate Director Works Planning & Logistics
Network Rail Consulting

Elvis Kozica - International Sales Manager
Linsinger

Grand Ballroom E

What to Expect During an NTSB Investigations

During this session rail accident investigators from the NTSB will provide insight into an NTSB rail accident launch. The presentation will cover the following:

The entire process, from when the NTSB receives the initial notification that an accident as occurred through the issuance of the final report and determination of the accident's probably cause.
Describe the "systems" approach to railroad accident investigation and the NTSB expectations of party members.
Explain that types of services and support THAT are available to family members of victims of railroad accidents.
Describe the role of the NTSB Office of Public Affairs in the release of relevant and appropriate information to the public.
Understand how NTSB and parties interact with the media at the accident site and during the on-going investigation.

Presentations

02 - NTSB On-Scene Overview- FRA Breakout-2022

Joe Gordon - Rail Accident Investigator
National Transportation Safety Board

Troy Lloyd - Rail Accident Investigator
National Transportation Safety Board

Zach Zagata - Rail Accident Investigator
National Transportation Safety Board

Grand Ballroom F

From Surviving to Thriving as a Roadmaster.
A Panel Discussion with Three Track Supervisors.

The Roadmaster or Track Supervisor is the front-line leader in maintenance of way organization charts. The position can be demanding and stressful, as the Roadmaster and his or her team are the boots on the ground decision makers every day when it comes to track safety. The position often sees frequent turnover. This panel discussion, moderated by Brad Kerchof, will seek to uncover what it takes to be a successful track supervisor over the long-term, and how roadmasters can be more effective safety leaders, in today's operating environments.

Presentations

- N/A

Brad Kerchof - Director Research & Tests (retired)
Norfolk Southern Railway

Michael Upton - Sr. Mgr. Track Maintenance
Union Pacific Railroad

Justin Crites - Assistant Roadmaster
Kansas City Southern

Davin Helms - Roadmaster
Genesee & Wyoming

Regency Ballroom A

Cybersecurity and Blockchain Technologies in Railway Track Engineering

1. Identification of cyber security challenges within the railway infrastructure; 2) How to develop Cyber-Resilience Railway Infrastructure; 3) Implementation of security measures; 4) Blockchain Technologies and Railway Track Maintenance

Presentations

- N/A

Professor Nii Attoh-Okine, PhD., P.E., F .ASCE - Engineering Professor
University of Delaware

3:20pm - 5:00pm - Breakout #10

Grand Ballroom B

Railroad Contractor’s Cultural Shift to Safety

As reliance on contractors becomes more prevalent in the railroad industry, there is much to be done in creating a safety culture that is equivalent to the railroads that the contractors provide services for. Take a "walk" with us as we share experiences of both railroad and contractor's points of view while we seek to bridge the gap in a truthful, constructive and impactful conversation to focus on railroad contractor safety.

Presentations

- N/A

Jeff Dudley - Director of Operations
Traxx Railroad Safety

Grand Ballroom C

Fundamentals of Automated Rail Monitoring During Construction,
Tunneling and as a Risk Mitigation Tool When a Failure Occurs.

Automated instrumentation is a valuable tool to detect and monitor deformation of tracks, tunnels, bridges and structures. Providing instant alarm notifications, via email & SMS, of excessive movements. This presentation will look into the advances in monitoring technology along with some project case study reviews.

Presentations

- N/A

Kenny Campbell - Director of Business Development
Geo-Instruments

Grand Ballroom D

Artificial Intelligence for Track Inspection: A Research Perspective

The Federal Railroad Administration, in partnership with both industry and academia, has been at actively involved in artificial intelligence, or "AI", research since 2007. In this session, you will receive an in-depth look at cutting-edge research aimed at applying AI to aid track inspection and maintenance efforts.

Presentations

- NA

Jay Baillargeon, M.S. - General Engineer Track Research
Federal Railroad Administration

Daniel Einbinder, M.S. - Research Engineer
ENSCO, Inc.

Mihir Phadke, M.S., MBA - Sr. Product Manager
Wi-Tronix, LLC

Yu Qian, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor
University of South Carolina

Grand Ballroom E

FRA's Automated Track Inspection Program

For over four decades FRA has been conducting automated track inspections. Learn about FRA's Automated Track Inspection Program (ATIP) and its vision for the future.

Presentations

- N/A

Thomas Julik - ATIP Program Manager
Federal Railroad Administration

Grand Ballroom F

New Technologies in MOW Safety Systems

We will explore the latest technologies and how they can be configured to deliver critical functional safety requirements including limits compliance, collision avoidance, obstacle detection, and track worker safety.

Presentations

-N/A

Robert Hanczor - CEO
Piper Networks

Track & Railroad Workplace Safety Symposium, April 5-7, 2022

Provide Session Feedback

Check In Times

Daily Agendas

Tuesday, April 5 Agenda Sessions

05 - Uncommanded Releases and Energy Isolation A Case Study

05 - Vetergy HFACS Taxonomy

Wednesday, April 6 Agenda Sessions

01 - NTSB MWL Rail Worker Safety

Thursday, April 7 Agenda Sessions

-N/A

USA Banner

Track & Railroad Workplace Safety Symposium, April 5-7, 2022

Provide Session Feedback

Check In Times

Daily Agendas

Tuesday, April 5 Agenda Sessions

05 - Uncommanded Releases and Energy Isolation A Case Study

05 - Vetergy HFACS Taxonomy

Wednesday, April 6 Agenda Sessions

01 - NTSB MWL Rail Worker Safety

Thursday, April 7 Agenda Sessions

-N/A