Restricted Speed Enforcement for Positive Train Control Systems

As defined by current regulations (Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 236 Subpart G), restricted speed is a speed that will permit stopping within one-half the range of vision, but does not exceed 20 mph. In the U.S., restricted speed operation is a common type of train operation on...

Full-scale Grade Crossing Impact of a Single-frame Highway Truck into an LNG Tender

Main Report: Full Scale Grade Crossing Impact Test.pdf

Appendices: Full Scale Grade Crossing Impact Test Appendices.pdf

FRA sponsored a research team from Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) to execute a grade crossing side impact test of a heavy...

External Perception for Locomotives: Systems and Algorithm Development

The Federal Railroad Administration sponsored a research team from Aurora Flight Sciences to develop the External Perception for Locomotives (ExP-L) system, which uses the FRA Cab Technology Integration Lab (CTIL) to demonstrate prototype object operator augmentation. The system can detect and...

Modeling and Analysis of Phase Change in a DOT-113 Tank Car Surrogate Filled with Liquid Nitrogen

As part of a series of impact tests, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) sponsored a research team from Transportation Technology Center, working with Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe), to analyze the side impact puncture performance of a surrogate DOT-113 tank car...

Fire Performance of a Cryogenic ISO UN-T75 Storage Tank Using Analytical Methods and Fire Testing – Phase 2: Testing with LNG in an ISO Tank

FRA sponsored a study by Southwest Research Institute to conduct research and testing of a cryogenic storage tank in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) service and evaluate its thermal safety performance under fire conditions using analytical methods and fire testing. This report documents the second...

Impact of Advanced Train Control Technologies on Rail Network Safety and Operational Performance

From September 2018 to September 2021, the Federal Railroad Administration contracted Sharma & Associates to conduct an analysis of simulation results from a 5,000-mile mini-network, scaled up to represent characteristics of the North American rail system. The results showed that...

Development of Railroad Trespassing Database Using Artificial Intelligence

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) sponsored a research team from Rutgers University to develop a proof-of-concept Trespassing Database using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to automatically process large volumes of live or recorded video data. The team used the Rutgers AI...

Interoperable Employee-In-Charge Portable Remote Terminal (EIC PRT) Summary Report

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) sponsored Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) to define the requirements for Interoperable Employee-In-Charge (EIC) Portable Remote Terminal (PRT) functionality for use with Positive Train Control (PTC) systems. The Interoperable EIC-PRT is a...

Automated Train Operations (ATO) Sensor Platform Data Analysis Rapid Prototype

In a Federal Railroad Administration-funded Automated Train Operations (ATO) Sensor Platform (SP) Data Analysis Rapid Prototype (RP) project, a team from Transportation Technology Center, Inc. researched the feasibility of using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) data analysis processes and tools...

Mechanistic Investigation of Timber Crosstie Spike Fastener Failures – Phase I: The Magnitude of the Spike Failure Challenge

The Rail Transportation and Engineering Center (RailTEC) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) performed a literature review, conducted an industry-wide survey, and arranged multiple field visits to examine and quantify the challenges North American railroads are facing with...