Next-Generation Foundations for Special Trackwork – Phase II
See Also:
Next-Generation Foundations for Special Trackwork – Phase I Next-Generation Foundations for Special Trackwork – Phase III
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Addressing Electrode-Induced Rail Pitting From Pressure Electric Welding
Safety Advisory 2018-1Click here to view the Safety Advisory
ImagesDisplayed below are full resolution versions of figures contained in Safety Advisory 2018-1.
Figure 1 - Electrode-Induced Pits in a Rail
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Understanding the Splitting and Bursting Failure of Concrete Crossties
Under the sponsorship of the Federal Railroad Administration, finite element (FE) analyses were conducted at the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) between 2016 and 2017 to understand the contributing factors to the concrete tie splitting/bursting failure mode. This was...Low Solar Absorption Coating for Reducing Rail Temperature and Preventing Buckling
This report documents Rutgers University’s research in the development and demonstration of an inorganic coating for reducing peak rail temperature to inhibit rail buckling. The zero-volatile organic content (VOC) and 100 percent inorganic coating system is based on an alkali-aluminosilicate...Field Demonstration of Geocell Track Substructure Support System Under High-Speed Passenger Railroad Operations
Regions of track, which experience high rates of track geometry degradation, tend to require frequent maintenance interventions that are typically surfacing or tamping. Harsco Rail and the University of Delaware conducted a survey regarding this costly process that involved both machine time and...Evaluation of the Degradation of Concrete Ties Using Machine Vision Technology on High-Speed Rail Corridors
ENSCO, Inc. used machine vision technology to assess concrete tie degradation in Amtrak’s high-speed Northeast Corridor (NEC) over a 13-month period. The study examined three aspects of concrete tie degradation: 1) the prevalence of nonconformance types found in the assessed ties, 2) the...DOTX 218 Survey Conducted on Pan Am Railways
This report summarizes the results from a May 12, 2014, survey conducted with the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) gage resistant measurement system vehicle (GRMS), DOTX 218, on the Pan Am Railways (PAR) track between Portland, ME, and Brunswick, ME. The survey was designed to capture the...Revised Positive Train Control Guidance Regarding Interoperability Testing, Operations and Maintenance Manuals, and Certification Responsibilities
In January and February 2017, FRA issued three guidance letters regarding positive train control (PTC) system interoperability testing; Operations and Maintenance Manual (OMM) requirements and the relationship between an OMM and a host railroad’s PTC Safety Plan (PTCSP); and the responsibilities of...Railroads’ Progress Toward Implementation of Positive Train Control Systems
Pursuant to Title 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) § 20157(d), the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) are providing this report to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the U.S. Senate...Characteristics of Trespassing Incidents in the United States (2012-2014)
Trespassing is the leading cause of rail-related fatalities in the United States. A large proportion of these trespasser fatalities are from intentional acts (i.e., suicides). The John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) has been tasked by the Federal Railroad...