Description
The Center for Railway Research (CRR) studies, develops, and applies new and emerging technologies to solve rail industry problems. Housed in the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), the center conducts basic research to develop technologies to improve the safety, reliability, and economics of rail transportation.
The Center for Railway Research studies, develops and applies new and emerging technologies to solve rail industry problems.
Mission
The Center was established to strengthen ties between the rail industry and academia. The lab performs technology scanning to identify emerging technology for the railroad industry, and brings together researchers and industry to form a pool of experts to coordinate and perform applied research for the rail transportation industry.
Expertise
CRR researchers come from all over the university: aerospace and transportation engineers, computer specialists, and electronics experts. The lab ensures its efforts are in line with the industry’s immediate needs by including industry staff on all its projects. The lab draws on this wide range of expertise to investigate a variety of rail issues, such as multimodal integration of railroads, optimizing warning signal performance, and ensuring safety in all facets of operation.
The CRR support network provides state-of-the-art facilities, which include TTI’s structures labs, proving grounds, and testing facilities. It includes specialized equipment and software pertinent to the rail industry, such as the Dispatch Planning Model (DPM) for operations analysis. TTI’s extensive library ensures that its research is cutting edge and that its researchers are well informed.
Research Initiatives
Through facilities on the Texas A&M campus, researchers study, develop, and apply innovative technologies that address issues currently facing the rail industry. For example, a current project, Automated, Wireless Instrumentation for Monitoring of Potential Landslide Hazards, is investigating new wireless instrumentation technology for applications of real-time, remote monitoring of soil conditions. Remote monitoring of potential landslide hazard conditions will allow for early detection and possible preventative action, increasing safety and efficiency along critical railroad lines. The research will determine and address current limitations of wireless sensor mesh technology, and focus on developing instrumentation that can be used by the railroad industry to reduce landslide hazards.
Cooperative Relationships/Sponsors
Through federal, state, and industry funding as well as assistance from CRR, researchers work closely with, and extend the research efforts of, railroad laboratories. Working with CRR and industry partners allows for implementation, evaluation, and refinement of state-of-the-art findings in a real-world environment.
The center maintains a strong commitment to higher education since many of its researchers hold joint appointments with colleges in The Texas A&M University System. In addition, graduate and undergraduate students actively participate in, and make significant contributions to, the center’s successful research program.
For More Information
Gary Fry
Center for Railway Research
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
Texas A&M University System
3135 TAMU
College Station, TX, 77843-3135
(979) 458-5544 · fax (979) 845-6554
garyfry@tamu.edu