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Research shows that a strong safety culture can influence a railroad’s safety outcomes, resulting in less frequent, less severe accidents. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Safety Council defines safety culture as “the shared values, actions, and behaviors that demonstrate a...
Researchers from General Electric (GE) Research and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Human Systems Lab are studying ways to improve the man-machine interface for the locomotive driving task and train handling with the assistance of advanced automation. This man-machine...
A new web application tool called the Monitoring and Analysis of the Integrated Network-Core Data Exchange (MAIN-CDX) can support the monitoring and troubleshooting of Interoperable Train Control (ITC)-compliant Positive Train Control (PTC). The tool provides a standard method of requesting ITC-...
Transportation Technology Center, Inc. conducted a series of experiments between April 2012 and January 2014 to determine train characteristics and track conditions that affect shunting performance at two revenue service test locations. Optimization of track circuits for train detection is an...
Built upon prior proof-of-concept work performed by the Battelle Memorial Institute and sponsored jointly by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the Rail Crossing Violation Warning (RCVW) Phase II system incorporated refinements to the...
This report summarizes the development of an un-tensioned pullout test to quantify the bond quality of prestressing wires used in the manufacture of pretensioned concrete railroad ties. Bond quality will vary considerably based on the characteristics of the wire indents. This research...
This report highlights research conducted to determine the remaining (residual) prestress force in prestressed concrete ties that had performed well in track and were subsequently removed after 25 years of service. The team developed a new, direct tension test method to experimentally determine...
FRA and Transportation Technology Center, Inc. conducted field experiments to investigate the spike failure mechanism found on elastic fastener tie plates. The investigation proved the bending load in cut spikes used with elastic fastening systems could be high enough to cause permanent bending...
Volpe researchers conducted the Trespass Prevention Research Study (TPRS) from 2016–2018 to show the potential benefits of, document the lessons learned from, and provide recommendations for the implementation and evaluation of trespass prevention strategies following the Community, Analysis,...
From September 9, 2019, to March 8, 2021, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) sponsored Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI), to develop and analyze a concept for a centralized interlocking (CIXL) system that supports moving block methods of train control, improves overall...