2.   SYSTEM SAFETY

High-Speed Safety Assessments

This project supports the continued revision of passenger equipment safety regulations and track safety standards for high-speed services.  It also provides the necessary technical assessment of any new high-speed services, such as Amtrak's Acela Express and the other possible high-speed services planned by state government.  A core group of technical experts from numerous engineering disciplines will evaluate the safety of any proposed new high-speed rail systems and technologies that are not covered by existing safety regulations.  Disciplines cover vehicles, track, vehicle/track dynamics, communications, control and automation, construction and operation, human factors, aerodynamic effects, glazing, and overall system safety.

For example, a series of analytical and experimental studies of the effect of high-speed trains on other trains and people on the platform were conducted over the last four years.  To validate the results, a team of experts and their instrument from the French National Railways participated in several field tests over the Northeast Corridors as shown in the picture of a platform. 

To determine the aerodynamic effects on other trains, analytical and field tests were conducted at the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado as shown in the picture.   The results indicated that the high-speed trainset Acela will not produce more sever aerodynamic effects than conventional Amtrak trains in other services.

In another research project since 1999, several series of impact tests (see pictures of impacting test instrument and result of glazing sample) were conducted to assess the effectiveness of current glazing systems. New safety standards for better glazing were proposed to FRA and APTA. A RSAC working group is reviewing all the proposals for possible changes.

Shared Use of Track and Right-of-Way

Commuter railroads and transit authorities face constraints in the availability of capital to construct new systems to handle anticipated growth in ridership.  The use of existing railroad rights-of-way and track has become an important part of their strategy to initiate new commuter rail services while minimizing capital outlay. Where it is appropriate, FRA will work together with FTA and APTA to undertake risk assessments regarding the shared use of track or right-of-way by passenger trains and freight trains.

Performance-Based Regulations

The TRB’s Committee for Review of the FRA R&D Program has recommended that FRA’s safety regulatory process should evolve to the establishment of performance-based regulations, and that the Office of R&D support FRA’s safety mission by conducting research on the management of the safety regulatory process and how such an evolution could take place.  The TRB Committee was concerned that current FRA regulations could inhibit the implementation of new technologies by the railroad industry.  FRA intends to study how the Federal Aviation Administration, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Department of Defense establish standards and regulations to deal with the implementation of new computer controlled, software-driven electronic systems and analyze how FRA might apply any of their approaches to new railroad electronics systems.  This project will be initiated in FY 2001 and will continue for at least 3 years.

Intelligent Weather Systems for Railroad Operations

Recent accidents and derailments are attributable to adverse weather conditions; flash floods, mudslides, and avalanches have caused derailments and deaths.  In addition, hurricanes and tornadoes pose a threat not only to railroad operations, but to railroad personnel and train passengers as well. As noted in Chapter 3 of this Plan, Intelligent Weather Systems are a component of Intelligent Railroad Systems.  FRA intends to examine ways that weather data can be collected on railroads and moved to forecasters, and ways that forecasts and current weather information can be moved to railroad control centers and train and maintenance crews to avoid potential accident situations.  This research is estimated to continue for 5-6 years after it begins.  This is one of the partnership initiatives identified in the NSTC’s National Transportation Technology Plan.

Aging Wiring

The National Science and Technology Council has identified aging wiring as an issue of national concern in a number of sectors of the economy, including power generation, power transmission, housing and factories, and transportation, including aviation, transit, and railroads.  FRA will participate in the Interagency Working Group on Wire Safety Research and will conduct research to identify potential problems raised by aging wiring in connection with railroad signaling, communications, train control, electrification, and propulsion.  This activity will be coordinated with the AAR, ASLRRA, APTA, RPI, and Amtrak as well as the academic community.

3.  RAILROAD SYSTEMS SECURITY

The US railroad system is an essential infrastructure, carrying more than 40 percent of the ton-miles of freight in the United States.  Critical to the nation’s economy, the nation’s railroad system is also critical to movement of military essential equipment when projecting U.S. forces overseas.  Railroads are becoming ever more dependent on cyber systems (see Chapter 3, Intelligent Railroad Systems) to improve their operational efficiency and safety and to serve their customers better. 

Industry consolidations and the resultant centralization and inter-connectivity of communication, dispatching, and business critical database functions place greater risk on these critical systems to cyber-based attack and exploitation.  Customer-driven focus on web-based shipment tracking, just-in-time delivery, cross-border mergers, increased dependence on electronic commerce and data exchange, in the absence of an industry forum to address information security issues, raise questions about the ability of the industry to withstand a cyber attack. 

The inauguration of new Acela high-speed passenger train service in the Northeast Corridor, accompanied by an extensive regional advertising campaign, may, by drawing attention to these and other passenger trains, have the unintended effect of increasing the vulnerability of all passenger trains to those intent on causing damage or harm.

In security, research in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), a nanotechnology, is critically needed to improve the detection of nuclear explosives, chemicals, and biological weapons.  Today’s detection technology is expensive, large, and often not as sensitive or selective as needed.  MEMS would provide sensing technologies that are more sensitive, selective, abundant, and reliable than those currently used, while also being cheaper and lighter.  Moreover, multiple MEMS sensor technology offers a solution to the problem of false positive alarms.  FRA will evaluate work being performed by DHS, FAA and other modes to determine application of railroad security.

In accordance with NSTC’s Transportation Infrastructure Assurance Research and Development Plan, FRA will partner with DHS to assess a number of rail security technologies and issues.  Portable bomb/explosive detection and trace technology will be explored for potential use to detect such hazards on the nations railroads, particularly passenger trains.  Partner programs will be used to further explore the evaluation of chemical agent detection systems for train stations.  Advanced railroad yard trespasser detection technology will also be researched.   FRA research will assess the potential consequences of a cyber attack on the railroad system of the United States in consort with the national effort to increase the security of critical infrastructures.  Research in rail security technologies and issues has already begun and is expected to grow over the next 10 years.

4.  ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

In keeping with Strategic Goal #4, “Protect and enhance communities and the natural environment affected by transportation,” of the US Department of Transportation Strategic Plan 1997-2002, FRA intends to undertake R&D projects in noise identification and mitigation, electromagnetic field evaluation, and exhaust emission reductions and energy efficiency.  Addressing environmental issues in the railroad environment is an on-going effort.

Noise Identification & Mitigation

Noise is a concern to the surrounding community where trains operate and to the crews who operate them.  Trains stopped in cities and suburban areas due to rail line congestion have become a growing noise problem.  Railroad noise can come from a variety of areas, the vehicle itself (aerodynamic noise), or specific components of the vehicle such as traction motors, motor blowers, wheels, brakes, and horns.  There is a need to measure, assess, and find reasonable means of mitigating railroad noise.  The mitigation of noise from high-speed rail operations is a special area of concern.  Mitigation potentially is expensive and could be an impediment to high-speed system deployment.  These problems might directly affect the safety and health of operating crews, passengers, and property owners adjacent to these new technology systems.  Evaluation methods and assessments are needed to address noise as a source of public concern, which remains unresolved, and which has become critical to successful high-speed rail implementation.

Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Evaluation

EMF effects are a continuing concern in transportation.  They were a major issue in recent litigation on the Northeast Corridor Improvement Project.  The FRA needs to continue basic R&D in this area and to maintain expertise at the Volpe Center, which can also aid the transit and commuter rail industries.  Evaluation of EMF’s associated with high-speed rail operations, including Amtrak’s Acela Express, will also continue over the next five years.

Emissions Reduction and Energy Efficiency

The Federal Railroad Administration’s Locomotive Research and Development Program has three projects  that serve the Department of Transportation’s mission to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions: 1) the LEADER  (Locomotive Engineer Assist/Display & Event Recorder)  2) the Locomotive Emissions Testing and Protocols project; and  3) the Car based Top-of Rail Lubrication project.

LEADER^TM Pilot Project for Energy Savings, Reduced Emissions, and Safety Improvement

In this co-operative project with the Norfolk Southern Railroad, the New York Air Brake (NYAB) LEADER™ Profiler system was integrated with the on-board General Electric  LOCOCOMM™ electronics on fifteen Dash 9-40CW locomotives to collect baseline data on  a specific railroad operation (NS Belews Creek coal trains operating on the Winston-Salem District between Roanoke, VA and Winston-Salem, NC).   Base stations and a communication network were established which allowed the download and transfer of Profiler train data to NYAB headquarters for analysis. Sufficient data were collected and processed to develop a statistically reliable “baseline” profile of the railroad operation.  Based on this data, an Operations Improvement Plan was developed which included a “golden run”, that optimizes the train handling operation over the route with respect to achieving maximum fuel savings and emissions reductions, with minimal in-train forces.  The analysis suggests that a potential fuel savings of 5 to 10% of baseline is possible. This can be attributed to better train-handling achieved through LEADER™    techniques.

Locomotive Emissions Testing System & Protocols   

Locomotive fuel efficiency and safety in operations are the two most important elements in ensuring the viability of the nation’s railroads as we move into the new century of progress.  Concurrently there is a need to protect and preserve the environment without sacrificing fuel efficiency and safety.  To ensure that these objectives are served equally well it is important to measure the effluent from the locomotive power plant accurately and in-situ.  This effort seeks to provide the means to do that with the development of state-of-the-art emissions testing systems and protocols from Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) production to re-manufacturing/repair operations and in-use during revenue service operations.

A survey of the current heavy-duty diesel emission measurement  systems was conducted and related to current and projected EPA regulations. An in-situ emissions measurement system and test protocol for emissions testing in the shop and for in-situ emissions testing of locomotives is being developed. Currently the system does not measure particulate emissions. This capability will be added as portable particulate measurement methods are advanced. The facility to measure emissions will allow locomotives to be maintained in a timely manner thus avoiding excessive emissions.

Car Based Top-of-Rail Lubrication

In co-operation with the Union Pacific Railroad, this project seeks to quantify the benefits of a car mounted top-of-rail (TOR) friction modifier system.  The project will look at two different products:

* Kelsan®  AutoPilot™
* Friction Management Services TracGlide™

Although both systems promise numerous benefits including reduced rail and wheel wear, reduced lateral forces and lower noise levels, the key metric for this project will be the fuel savings.  The fuel usage will be the easiest benefit to measure over a short period of time and a limited number of systems installed.

The project, which is viewed as a pilot, commenced with the installation of one system from each company on two different coal cars operating out of the Powder River Basin.  These systems are now installed and are running. An analysis of fuel usage will be compared to historical regression data.  The data will be gathered using wireless download towers, which are currently being used to monitor fuel consumption as a part of the Fuel Master Program at Union Pacific .