Technical Reports

Positive Train Location End-of-Train Final Report

The overall goal of the Positive Train Location (PTL) end-of-train (EOT) project was to build on the successes of the PTL Phase II project and further refine the use cases, review/modify PTL EOT segment requirements, and identify a path forward for addressing technical issues from the previous...

Laser Triangulation for Track Change and Defect Detection

Pavemetrics Systems Inc. teamed with Amtrak to demonstrate the feasibility of automated track change detection using its Laser Rail Inspection System (LRAIL). LRAIL is a rail inspection system based on the principle of laser triangulation and combines pulsed high-power, invisible, laser line...

Evaluation of Risk Acceptance Criteria for Transporting Hazardous Materials

This report reviews and offers recommendations from Sandia National Laboratories of risk acceptance criteria for the transportation of hazardous materials in the U.S. The risk criteria should be used with the results of a quantitative risk assessment (QRA) in risk acceptance decision-making. The...

Relationship Between Track Geometry Defects and Measured Track Subsurface Condition

This report presented the results of a comprehensive study regarding the development of a probability model for occurrence of track geometry defects as a function of key subgrade parameters, measured by Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). The analysis used multiple track geometry runs and the...

Methods for Evaluation of Track Inspection Technology Effectiveness

Guidelines, including recommendations for sample size, are needed in the design of track inspection technology evaluation tests. This report provides and overview of recommended methods for evaluating the effectiveness of different types of track inspection systems. These methods produce...

Laboratory Study of the Failure Characteristics of Fouled Ballast: Phase II

This report presents the results of a series of triaxial tests and modified box tests performed on abraded ballast at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. While Phase I involved the same tests performed on highly angular ballast, this phase is broken into two parts: Phase IIa and IIb. Both...

Cant Excess for Freight Train Operations on Shared Track

Transportation Technology Center, Inc., with Federal Railroad Administration support, conducted a study to review and summarize current practices and issues related to shared operations—particularly freight train operations on curves with cant excess. Shared-track curve design requires a...

Fire Performance of a UN-T75 Portable Tank Phase 1: Loaded with Liquid Nitrogen

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) fire-tested a portable tank (filled with liquid nitrogen [LN2]) and observed the demonstration of the performance of the pressure relief valve system in this Phase 1 project. In addition, several types of data have been collected during the experiment to...

Teamwork in Railroad Operations and Implications for New Technology

This report examines teamwork processes that contribute to railroad operation safety.  It integrates findings from previously conducted Cognitive Task Analyses (CTAs) that analyzed the cognitive and collaborative work of dispatchers, roadway workers, locomotive engineers and freight train...

Human Factors Evaluation of an Experimental Locomotive Engineer Crewstation

A human factors evaluation of an experimental engineer control system was conducted by the Volpe Center using a locomotive research simulator—the Federal Railroad Administration Cab Technology Integration Laboratory (CTIL). The primary objective was to find the areas of the crewstation where it...

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Technical Reports