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In 2015, a peer review team (PRT), comprised of labor craft employees and railroad managers, developed railroad scenario-based training (SBT). The PRT was responsible for reviewing close call reports and developing recommendations to address unsafe conditions on the railroad. The objective of...
This report compiles the first phase of a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)-sponsored project to evaluate lateral ballast behavior and how mechanics-based track geometry deterioration models forecast field behavior. The lateral ballast behavior section analyzed historical and recent single...
This report discusses the use of various nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods for detecting and characterizing corrosion defects in tank cars. Several tank car panels with a real corrosion defect as well as simulated corrosion defects were fabricated from the actual tank car. Advanced NDE...
Under the sponsorship and support of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI), with participation from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of advanced nondestructive evaluation (NDE) equipment, NDE service providers, and other research...
As part of a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)-funded Head-Up Display (HUD) research project that began in 2020, KEA Technologies Inc. developed a limited library of symbols for both freight and passenger operations, to be integrated in a prototype HUD developed separately by another team of...
This report documents stakeholder perceptions emerging from focus groups about very long trains (VLTs) with participants from three labor unions, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and two freight railroads. All stakeholders expressed uncertainty about how to define a VLT and noted that...
FRA sponsored research to evaluate the side impact strength of Tier I passenger rail equipment designs built to the current rollover and side structure regulations. This report presents results from the first stage of this research program, including: (1) the makeup of the U.S. passenger car...
Bearing degradation and defects can result in a bearing being removed from service before the end of its normal service life or possible bearing failure, causing service disruption or even derailment. Water damage is the leading cause of premature bearing failure; therefore, preventing this...
The Volpe National Transportation Systems Center compared and contrasted U.S. fire safety regulations and standards on rolling stock with the European Union, Japan, and China. The major areas of study were fire safety analysis, materials performance standards, toxicity performance standards,...
The Federal Railroad Administration contracted Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) to explore the development and status of the Improved (or Integrated) Freight Car Truck (IFCT) and trace the development of the modern three-piece truck into the M-976 truck into the IFCT over the last...