Railroads
Frequently Asked Questions about Rail Improvement Grant Conditions under 49 U.S.C. § 22905(c)(1)
These answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) are intended to assist applicants for Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) grant programs that are subject to the requirements of section 22905(c)(1) of title 49, United States Code (U.S.C.) (as well as railroads who own rights-of-way that will...
Design Considerations for High-Speed Trucks on Passenger Vehicles
This report presents an evaluation of high-speed passenger trucks for use in shared freight and passenger corridors. The primary focus of the report is on vehicle dynamic response for a range of low and high speed performance regimes adapted from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA),...
Centralized Interlocking for Moving Block Research Project
Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) researched and developed concepts for a centralized interlocking (CIXL) system to satisfy the needs of North American railroads. The system leverages the Quasi-Moving Block (QMB) train control method; and provides maintainability and availability...
TRB Evaluation Response
In 2020, RD&T solicited the Transportation Research Board to review the effectiveness of the RD&T program in achieving its stated goals. This presentation is a response to the major queries contained in its review.
Implementing SLSI-Provided Opportunities Supports Safety Culture Growth
In this analysis, the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe) staff established Time 1 and Time 2 safety culture scores for each railroad, leveraging outputs from SLSI’s SCA process. Volpe staff then measured railroads’ safety culture growth within the 10 Core Elements. While the...
Commuter Rail Seat Tests in Open-Bay Configuration
Open-bay seating is a common configuration in U.S. passenger railcars. The current version of the American Public Transportation Association’s safety standard on passenger seating (APTA PR-CS-S-016-99, Rev. 3) requires open-bay seats to be tested if more than 50 percent of a car’s seating is...