1. Overview

2. Outline Organization Core Research Areas Budgets
Fit with D.O.T. strategic goals
High Speed and Intercity Passenger rail
Freight rail
Facilities & Equipment
Implementation
Looking forward

3. Core Research Program Areas
Track Research Division
Track and Structures
Track / Train Interaction
Operations / Facilities
Equipment and Operating Practices
Rolling Stock And Components
Train occupant protection
Energy, Efficiency and Environment
Hazardous Materials
Human Factors
Signals, Train Control and Communications
Signals and Train Control (Including PTC)
Grade Crossing
Communications
Current Research
Positive Train Control (PTC) implementation
Train Occupant Protection - crashworthiness for passenger rail vehicles and locomotives
Improved Track Inspection Techniques and Technologies- autonomous geometry and acceleration, optical joint bar, laser ultrasonic rail flaw detection
Human Factors - fatigue mitigation (hours of service), Risk Reduction Program (RRP) activities: Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS), Switching Operations Fatality Analysis (SOFA) validation
Vehicle/Track Interaction (VTI)– derailment analysis, equipment qualification, modeling and simulation
Grade crossing safety and trespasser casualty prevention and mitigation
Risk-based analysis of tank car safety and integrity
Energy efficiency and environmental protection issues – LEADER, lubrication, bio-diesel, fuel cell, diesel hybrid, hydrogen
Network capacity analysis
High-speed rail technologies

4. Budget History
2001 to Enacted
Requested

5. DOT Goals Safety Livable Communities Economic Competitiveness
Environmental Sustainability
State of Good Repair
High Speed/Improved Passenger Rail
This is the most important goal for FRA since this is the only one for which we have regulatory powers
Hence this is where most funding is directed
However, safety projects often help other goals to be achieved e.g. **
Security is handled by TSA

6. Safety Goal
“Improve public health, safety, and security by reducing transportation-related fatalities and injuries” – D.O.T.
Scope of responsibility includes
Railroad employees
Passengers on trains and in station areas
Members of the public living near the railroad
Members of the public using grade crossings and footbridges
Trespassers
Freight (all classes and short lines), intercity, commuter (not transit)
Injuries as well as fatalities, health as well as safety
This is the most important goal for FRA since this is the only one for which we have regulatory powers
Hence this is where most funding is directed
However, safety projects often help other goals to be achieved e.g. **
Security is handled by TSA

7. Safety Trends Reportable train accidents Describe chart axis/bars
Good thing about statistics of these accidents is that they are going down (decreasing)
These statistics can be deceiving, they represent what the accident has been attributed to.
Example: Signals are very low. However, failure to comply with signal is categorized with human factors.
Compare to 1978, Railroads have significantly reduced the number of accidents.
A different way of looking at the data is with a risk-potential chart.
Source: FRA Safety Database

8. Safety Risk Model Uses Safety Risk Model Indicates priorities for R&D
Separated into hazards and accident types
Separated into groups (passengers, workforce, public)
Allows calculation of safety metrics
Passenger – equivalent fatalities per billion passenger train kilometers
Workforce – equivalent fatalities per million worker hours
Risk exposure for a typical traveler or worker
Allows tracking of safety risk over time

9. Livable Communities Goal
“Foster livable communities through place-based policies and investments that increase transportation choices and access to transportation services.” – D.O.T.
Some FRA R&D topics:
Improved grade crossings that safely accommodate pedestrians, bicycles, wheelchairs and baby strollers
Reduced noise and vibration from railroad operations
Improved access to railroad transportation for special needs populations and individuals with disabilities
Stress place-based

10. Economic Competitiveness Goal
“Foster transportation policies and investments that serve the traveling public and freight movement, and bring lasting economic and social benefit to the Nation.” – D.O.T.
Some FRA R&D topics
Methods for increasing capacity
Development of domestic rail equipment manufacturing and testing facilities
Increasing the proficiency and retention of the workforce
New technology to improve competitiveness
Example of safety project that give benefit for this goal – broken rail detection

11. Environmental Sustainability Goal
“Advance environmentally sustainable policies and investments that reduce carbon and other harmful emissions from transportation sources.” – D.O.T.
Some FRA projects
Alternative fuels
Improved efficiency of rail equipment

12. State of Good Repair Goal
“Ensure the U.S. proactively maintains its critical transportation infrastructure in a state of good repair.” – D.O.T.
Some FRA R&D topics
Rail corridor inspection and assessment equipment
Understanding the life cycle of railroad assets including defect initiation and growth rates
Challenges from high-speed and shared track corridors
High-speed – what was good repair for low speed may no longer be for higher speeds

13. High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Research - $25M in FY 2010
Broad Agency Announcement priorities
Track & structures
Autonomous and efficient inspection
Materials and construction
Improved turnout performance
Corridor hardening
Modeling and simulation software
Train control
Grade crossing protection
Capacity improvements
Interoperable wireless communications
Positive Train Control (PTC) integration and enhancements
Equipment
125 mph non-electric locomotive
125+ mph passenger equipment
Vehicle weight and unsprung mass reduction
High-speed truck – passenger and freight
Train occupant protection
Human factors
Interface with controls and displays
Cab environment
Employee training for new technology and operations

14. Broad Agency Announcement Program Status July 23, 2011
Supplier contacts
100+
Concept papers submitted 62
Concept papers accepted 30
Proposals submitted 24
Proposals accepted 21
Awards 15
HSR R&D Account
$25.0M
BAA and other Awards
$8.23M
Committed (PRs)
$0.65M
Next 6 Projects
$4.64M
Projected Account Balance
$11.48M

15. Some Shared Track Issues
Other
Grade crossing improvements or elimination
Alignment and super-elevation in curves
Spiral design
Track geometry standards and maintenance
Maintenance windows
Inspection requirements
Turnout design
Bridge transitions
Capacity
Faster freight trains
Corridor “hardening”
Separation
Fencing
Wayside detectors
Cost allocation
Aerodynamics
Tunnels
Track workers
Electrification
Platform clearances

16. Facilities and Equipment
TTC
DOTX-218
CTIL
The Office of Research and Development maintains an inventory of Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) that includes the DOTX216, DOTX218, and R-4 research vehicles. These vehicles provide the necessary research platforms used to support the safety related mission of the FRA

17. FRA’s Transportation Technology Center
52 square miles near Pueblo, CO
~50 miles of test track
Max. testing speed – 165 mph
Laboratories and workshops
AAR/TTCI has been the Care, Custody and Control contractor since 1982
Current contract extended to September 30, 2022
Most recent FRA/TTCI Partnering Agreement signed March 2011
AAR was CCC contractor from 1983, TTCI took over in 1998
TTCI is a wholly owned subsidiary of AAR
Cumulative Surplus Investment allows credits to be built up

18. Ways to Get Involved Bring ideas
Problems, opportunities, technology - s or phone calls
Review our publications and suggest next steps
Look for ways to improve on successes
Participate in technology evaluation and demonstrations
Support cost-safety benefit analysis
Suggest innovative partnerships and financing to implementation

19. Budget Cycle FY2011 FY2012 FY2013 2011 2012 2013 Obligate AppropriateM J S D
2012 M J S D
2013 M J S D
Obligate
FY2011
FY2012
Appropriate
Obligate
FY2013
Plan
Roll-Up
Congress Reviews
Appropriate
Obligate

20. Implementation FRA Stakeholders New Concept Identification Assessment
Early stakeholder engagement
Assessment
Analysis and test
Cost-safety benefit analysis
Demonstration
In partnership with stakeholders
Implementation
Industry and Government rule changes
Measure impact
Safety, financial, performance
Improve
Technology, processes, rules
FRA
Stakeholders

21. Sample Projects

22. Automated Switch Inspection System
Project Description:
Research and development with goal of developing an automated means of quantifying switch and special track work condition to FRA standards.
Initial investigations have concluded that a combination of laser and vision technologies has the best chance of success.
Near term development efforts to concentrate on adapting laser and vision technologies to address measurement requirements, data analysis and processing, and system performance testing.
Railroad Impact:
High resolution, automated inspection system for switch and other special track work.
Improved safety through accurate, routine inspection for compliance with FRA standards
Possible integration into existing geometry measurement platforms and autonomous systems.
Leverages technology achievements in laser and vision that have seen widespread use in the industry.
Point of Contact Information:
FRA Task Monitor: Cameron Stuart
Phone Number: (202)
Project Partner: TBD.

23. Countermeasures to Reduce Suicides on Railway Rights of Way
Project Description:
This project is currently in the fourth year of a five year study, led by an Industry Steering Committee, to:
Determine the prevalence of and underlying causal factors for rail-related suicides
Develop effective measures to reduce the incidence of suicide along railway rights of way (including crossings)
Establish pilot programs for testing countermeasures
Develop standard protocol for documenting suicides and provide baseline data for monitoring trends
Retrospective and prospective assessments of the prevalence of suicide has been completed and comprehensive psychological autopsy data collected from 60 suicide cases. A pilot program has been initiated to evaluate use of signs as suicide prevention strategy. Data analysis is ongoing and will inform the development of additional suicide countermeasure pilot programs.
Railroad Impact:
Addresses National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (U.S. Surgeon General, 2001) to “Promote efforts to reduce access to lethal means and methods of self-harm.”
Suicide accounts for 30 – 50% of trespasser-related serious injuries/fatalities on railroads
In 2004, suicide was the leading cause of rail-related fatalities in Illinois, with 30 probable suicide deaths and 3 additional attempts involving trains in Chicago alone.
Point of Contact Information:
FRA Task Monitor: Michael Coplen
Phone Number: (202)

24. Evaluation of Education and Outreach Strategies and Methods
Project Description:
Conduct a pilot study evaluating education and outreach methods used to educate the public of the hazards of grade crossings (Operation Lifesaver, Inc.)
One recent study, involving analysis of the effectiveness of education and enforcement strategies in two communities in the state of Illinois (PEERS), revealed different effectiveness results that could be partly associated with the methods the two different communities used to reach out to their citizens.
Point of Contact Information:
FRA Task Monitor: Leonard W. Allen III
Phone Number: (202)
Railroad Impact:
Provide effectiveness estimates for different education and outreach methods
Relevant to Strategic Plan Topic “Education and Public Awareness” and Sec. 201, 206, 207, and 208 of the RSIA of 2008.

25. Trespass Prevention Research Study
Project Description:
Create and facilitate a Trespass Prevention Stakeholders User Group including all stakeholders within the West Palm Beach Florida geographical area. Conduct site visits. Develop plan for acquiring locomotive video information in line with South Florida Rapid Transit Administration (SFRTA).
Work with stakeholders in partnership to review the implementation of signs, barriers and education efforts. Evaluate potential benefits of the lessons learned from local activities. Develop strategies for further reduction of trespass events within the study area.
Evaluate additional strategies through before and after data collection efforts.
Document results via research results and reports and support the development of a US Guidance document on Trespass Reduction Strategies.
Railroad Impact:
Reduce trespass fatalities within the rail networks in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Demonstrate potential benefits, including documenting best practices and lessons learned through implementation and rigorous evaluations conducted within the study area.
Relevant to Strategic Plan Topic “Education and Public Awareness” and Sec. 201 and 208 of the RSIA of 2008.
Point of Contact Information:
FRA Task Monitor: Leonard W. Allen III
Phone Number: (202)

26. Revise Track Geometry Safety Standards
Project Description:
Establish consensus on vehicle dynamics safety limits which define adverse vehicle responses and severe loading of track structure
Apply analysis tools and simulation programs to define largest amplitude of geometry signatures that would not exceed safety limits (focus only on high speed & high cant deficiency operations)
Develop effective inspection techniques to identify critical track geometry signatures so that track/vehicle system operates within established safety limits
Railroad Impact:
Track Geometry has been identified as one of major causes of main line derailments in US (15% of Track Caused Derailments).
Improve railroad safety via reduction of track geometry conditions that cause derailments
More economic, accessible, and enforceable standards
New standards for combined geometry
Point of Contact Information:
FRA Task Monitor: Ali Tajaddini
Phone Number: (202)
Project Partner: VOLPE

27. Handheld Rail Flaw Tomographic Imaging System
Project Description:
Proposed task intends to develop advanced means to visualize the results of manual inspections of suspected internal rail flaws;
Initial phase of study would employ a technology survey to ascertain the state-of-the-art in inspection technology;
Efforts will then focus on the use of signal processing practices used in other fields, such as tomography, or alternative approaches, to process data collected with the final goal of creating a user interface that displays a 3-D image of the rail defect being interrogated.
Performs rapid sizing, type and location of rail flaws in the field.
Images Courtesy of Olympus NDT
Railroad Impact:
Following the identification of a potential internal rail defect by an inspection vehicle, detailed inspections of suspect areas are conducted to confirm the presence of the defect prior to the removal of the affected area;
Follow-up inspections are often conducted with portable ultrasonic devices that require a significant amount of experience to properly operate;
This proposed task focuses on the development of instrumentation that yield easily interpreted results that could eventually lead to automated detection and imaging of internal rail flaws.
Point of Contact Information:
FRA Task Monitor: Leith Al-Nazer
Phone Number: (202)
Project Partner: ENSCO Inc.

28. Neutral Temperature & Incipient Buckling Detection System for CWR
Large-scale test of NT/buckling
@ UCSD Powell Labs
Buckling test of steel I-beam (exp.)
Project Description:
Develop a new system for monitoring stress levels (NT) and incipient buckling in CWR by using mid- and high-frequency wave features that are little affected by rail supports.
Phase I preliminary studies (numerical FEA and experimental) showed sensitivity of certain linear and nonlinear wave features to stress levels in steel beams and rails.
In Phase II a unique large-scale testbed of CWR (70-ft long) has been constructed at the world-renowned UCSD Powell Structural Laboratories for conducting a series of heating tests in a controlled environment.
Based on the results of the large-scale laboratory tests, a prototype will be designed, assembled, and tested to determine NT & Incipient Buckling detection in CWR in motion or in a stationary manner.
Railroad Impact:
Knowledge of NT in CWR is critical to avoid breakage in cold weather and buckling/instability in hot weather. Rail buckling was responsible for 48 derailments and ~$13M in direct costs during 2006 alone in U.S.
Methods to determine rail NT today either require unfastening of ~100’s feet of rail or are very sensitive to rail fastening/support conditions (e.g. D’Stresen technique too sensitive to tie-to-tie variations).
Railroads would benefit from a system able to measure rail stress and imminent buckling of CWR that can be operated in motion or in a stationary manner.
Point of Contact Information:
FRA Project Manager: Mahmood Fateh
Phone: (202)
Project Partner: University of California, San Diego, Volpe and BNSF PI: Dr. Lanza di Scalea

29. Autonomous Track Geometry Measurement System (ATGMS)
Project Description:
Research and development program to adapt service-proven track geometry measurement technology to autonomous operation. Objectives:
Reduce capital and operating costs of geometry inspection systems
Provide routine and frequent data for safety assurance activities and track degradation analysis
Pilot system currently in service and performing well. Technology refinements currently in development to permit 90 day maintenance interval, improve automatic geo-location performance, and to perform automatic track degradation and reporting functions.
Second system is currently in development for deployment on Amtrak NE Corridor.
Railroad Impact:
Continuous, un-manned geometry data collection provides critical track data in real-time wherever the system(s) are deployed.
No impact on rail traffic operations. The system can be installed on normal revenue railcars or locomotives and run in consist.
Track testing is automatically scheduled based on normal operation of the vehicle.
ATGMS provides a reduction in complexity, size and cost of traditional geometry systems without compromising performance.
Point of Contact Information:
FRA Task Monitor: Cameron Stuart
Phone Number: (202)
Project Partner: ENSCO Inc.

30. Real-Time Measurement of Track Modulus from a Moving Car
Project Description:
The objective of this project is to design a system that will provide autonomous real-time measurements of track modulus from a moving railcar operating in revenue service (like no existing system).
Continuous modulus for large sections of track.
Currently working on commercial implementation and thresholds .
Railroad Impact:
Significant support from both UPRR & BNSF
Validation test had significant support from UPRR (20-30 UPRR personnel and work train for 3 days)
BNSF & UPRR have committed to significant testing in 2010 (at least 2 tests with UPRR and 4 with BNSF on coal lines)
Conducted bridge study on UPRR investigating pads to reduce vertical track stiffness on bridges
Has tested over 10,000 miles of BNSF & UPRR coal lines in
Point of Contact Information:
FRA Task Monitor: Mahmood Fateh
Phone Number: (202)
Project Partner: University of Nebraksa, Lincoln (UNL)- , BNSF, UPRR, OPPD, PI: Dr. Shane Farritor

31. Full-Scale Tank Car Impact testing
Protective panel added to
tank car for side
impact testing
Project Description:
To support FRA’s continuing research program to provide a technical and empirical basis for rule-making on enhanced and alternative performance standards for tank cars. This includes a review of new and innovative designs that are developed by the industry and other countries as well as full scale testing
Point of Contact Information:
FRA Task Monitor: Francisco González, III
Phone Number: (202)
Project Partner: TTCI (S Anankitpaiboon)
Railroad Impact:
Evaluate crashworthiness performance of tank cars used in the transportation of Toxic by Inhalation materials (TIH)
Evaluate a new design protective panel to increase the crashworthiness of the tank car
Improve tank car design in order to improve hazardous materials transportation safety.

32. Railroader Sleep Health and Safety Website
Project Description:
This project will develop a tailored, interactive, multi-media, web-based education program geared towards providing train crews and other railroad employees with:
Scientifically-valid information on the importance of sleep,
A customizable tool to assess personal risk for sleep disorders, and
Proven, practical strategies for improving sleep health.
Railroad Impact:
Fatigue in the Transportation Industry is a pressing problem that has been singled out by the NTSB as a high priority for education and research since 1990.
The major underlying cause of fatigue-related rail accidents is sleepiness. An educational website for railroaders focusing on the causes of sleepiness and mitigation strategies under an operator’s control should reduce sleepiness and fatigue-related accidents.
The planned website can be used by individual railroad employees and as an education component of a railroad carrier’s fatigue management plan, as required by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008.
Point of Contact Information:
FRA Project Manager: Michael Coplen
Phone Number: (202)

33. Employee In Charge Portable Remote Terminal
Project Description:
Develop a safety-critical, wireless, handheld device used by the employee-in-charge (EIC) of roadway workers to communicate with a CBTC system to:
Request and release work zones
Control entry and speed restrictions of trains allowed into the work zones
Phase 3 Objectives:
Integration and testing with BNSF’s PTC system (ETMS).
Modifying current EIC PRT prototype to comply with operating rules/procedures, desired user interface characteristics, and the ETMS environment
Verify the EIC PRT meets safety requirements
Provide documentation to support interoperability
Perform all stages of testing required
Provide necessary input to the product safety plan
EIC PRT
Current Functionality – Build 1
Accept and Display Maintenance of Way Protection (MWP)
Accept and Display Requests to Enter MWP
Transmit EIC Instructions to Locomotive
Benefit:
OBC enforcement and thereby protection is maintained through MWP with EIC specified movement parameters
Mitigates EIC working outside of MWP protected time
Prevents instructions to the locomotive by 3rd party (spoofing) through the EIC PRT communications interface.
Point of Contact Information:
FRA Task Monitor: Jared Withers
Phone Number: (202)
Project Partner: TTCI (Thom Nast)

34. Higher Performance Data Radio
Project Description:
To develop a next generation communication network to support PTC/business applications
To assist in the migration to narrow banding of 160 MHz radios-integrate voice and data
To require robustness and throughput for railroad safety critical applications
To establish 220 MHz communication standards and protocols to support interoperability
Railroad Impact:
An integrated digital communication network
Adoption of narrow-banding 160 MHz insures interoperability
Upgraded communication network in compliance with FCC ruling
Supporting train control, existing digital applications and foreseeable expansions
Point of Contact Information:
FRA Project Manager: Jared Withers
Phone Number: (202)

35. PTC/Communication Test Bed
PTC Architecture – 220 MHz Comm Links
Project Description:
Upgrade communications & testing capabilities of PTC Test Bed at TTC to support field testing of ITC-Compliant PTC 220 MHz radios.
Provide equipment for field testing 220 MHz radios
ITC-Compliant WIUs & radios for 10 WIU reporting locations, including 4 remotely controlled switches
2 ITC-compliant base stations to support hand-off testing
2 V/ETMS-equipped locomotives
Wabtec TMDS CAD system & ETMS BOS
Install required equipment
Integrate, test, and commission upgrade equipment
Perform check-out of enhanced Test Bed comms capabilities
Ensure upgrades support potential for future Test Bed expansions to provide test environments for full blown deployment testing with the communications density of a major metropolitan area
Railroad Impact:
To meet PTC communications demands, the Industry has purchased 220 MHz frequency and is specifying a new PTC 220 MHz data radio. Communications among all PTC system elements will be via the 220 MHz network using these new radios.
A venue for field testing of PTC communications using the new radios will be needed in 2011
Full implementation of PTC is contingent upon successful testing of ITC-Compliant 220 MHz radios
Point of Contact Information:
FRA Project Manager: Jared Withers
Phone Number: (202)
Project Partner: TTCI (Richard Morgan)

36. Generalized Train Movement Model
Project Description:
Development of a simulation model to replicate a rail line operation with a specific train control method.
To simulate the dispatchers’ decision on prevention of deadlock, meet and pass planning and preset train priorities.
To generate metrics of risk exposures to interface with risk assessment.
To provide capacity/rail performance output..
Railroad Impact:
Improve on risk assessment and risk mitigation analysis.
Expedient preparation of Product Safety Plan of new train control system.
Optimize railroad line usage by safely increasing capacity with minimal investment.
Promote wider deployment of Positive Train Control technology.
Provide preliminary cost estimates of adding passenger rail service to freight rail lines.
Point of Contact Information:
FRA Project Manager: Karen McClure
Phone Number: (202)