Technical Reports
Risk Evaluation Framework and Selected Metrics for Tank Cars Carrying Hazardous Materials
This report presents an analysis of train accident and hazmat release data to quantify the likelihood of a hazmat release. The harm caused by a hazmat release is characterized as the end result of a chain of events, with each link in the chain being characterized by risk metrics that determine...Tread Buildup on Railroad Wheels
Based on the results of wheel slide tests and an inspection of wheels, the root cause of tread buildup (TBU) was identified as wheel slide caused by excessive brake force. During the tests, TBU accumulated to the greatest heights under dry conditions, at longer slide distances, and under heavier...Passenger Train Emergency Systems: Single-Level Commuter Rail Car Egress Experiments
Under FRA sponsorship, a series of three experimental egress trials was conducted in 2005 and 2006 to obtain human factors data relating to the amount of time necessary for individuals to exit from a passenger rail car. This final report describes the results of all these emergency egress...Identification of High-Speed Rail Ballast Flight Risk Factors and Risk Mitigation Strategies – Final Report
The phenomenon of flying ballast is well-documented in high-speed rail operations. Displaced ballast particles from the track bed may cause damage to rolling stock as well as the track infrastructure, and wayside structures close to the right of way of the railroad may also be affected. This report...Evaluation of Education and Outreach Methods and Strategies: A Case Study of a Web-Based Rail Safety Education Initiative
The U. S. Department of Transportation’s (U.S. DOT) Research and Innovative Technology Administration’s (RITA) John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center), under the direction of the U.S. DOT Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Office of Research and Development (R&...
Railroad Signal Color and Orientation: Effects of Color Blindness and Criteria for Color Vision Field Tests
This report concerns two issues: 1) whether color vision is necessary for locomotive crews who work on railroads where the signal system is either completely redundant with regard to signal color and signal orientation or the signal system only uses signal orientation; 2) what criteria should the...Using Signal Detection Theory to Understand Grade Crossing Warning Time and Motorist Stopping Behavior
Motorist error or poor judgment is a significant causal factor in highway-rail grade crossing collisions. Crashes at grade crossings equipped with warning devices often involve motorists who drive around gates or across railroad tracks while flashing lights are warning them that a train is...