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Office of Rail Safety Research

The third R&D office, which was created under the reorganization, is the Office of Rail Safety Research. Its mission is to plan, sponsor, and implement research and development programs designed to improve rail safety. Broadly speaking, the goals of the office are to reduce the number and...

Motive Power and Equipment Inspection Report

This report contains general information on reporting for: Freight Car Safety Standards; Safety Glazing Standards — Locomotives, Passenger Cars and Cabooses; Locomotive Safety Standards; Safety Appliances; and Power Brakes.

Phase II: Track Train Dynamics

The major objective of Phase II of Track/Train Dynamics was to perform research which would lead toward the development of performance specifications. This report reviews some of this research to promote a better understanding of how the various elements were to be incorporated into performance...

HAL Substructure Investigation Using Rapid, Non-Destructive Techniques

As part of a program to determine the nature of track substructure problems and to recommend the best remedial action, the Association of American Railroads has developed an on-track vehicle which houses a rapid, non-destructive subgrade test apparatus known as a cone penetrometer. Although still...

FAST Heavy Axle Load Program Safety Compendium

[From the Introduction] The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Association of American Railroads (AAR) have jointly funded research activity at the Facility for Accelerated Service Testing (FAST) to study the effects of increasing the nominal North American railroad axle load from 33-...

Vision for High-Speed Rail in America

In order to meet the goals of the Recovery Act while initiating a transformational new program, we propose to advance three funding “tracks”: Projects. Provide grants to complete individual projects that are “ready to go” with preliminary engineering and environmental work completed; Corridor...

Baltimore's Railroad Network: Challenges and Alternatives

In November 2001, the Congress requested “a comprehensive study to assess problems in the freight and passenger rail infrastructure in the vicinity of Baltimore, Maryland.” In particular, the study was to analyze the condition and capabilities of the railways’ fixed facilities and “examine the...