Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Agenda for 2011 Annual Meeting

2010 Annual Meeting

AP070(1) Self-Powered Rail Car Technologies Subcommittee

Tuesday January 25, 2011 7:30 – 9:30 PM

L’Enfant Room (Lobby Level)

Washington Hilton, Washington DC

David Nelson, Chairman | Secretary (Vacant)

Call to order.

Approval of Minutes from Midyear Meeting June 5, 2010

Presentations

New FRA Compliant DMU for Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit: Ken Kuriyama, Nippon Sharyo USA

“Alternative Compliance” Technical Criteria and Procedures for Evaluating the Crashworthiness and Occupant Protection Performance of Alternatively-Designed Passenger Rail Equipment: Karina Jacobsen, Volpe Transportation Systems Center

Discussion Topics

Recent Developments involving Non-Compliant Cars

Austin’s Capital MetroRail (launched March 22, 2010)

New Jersey Transit RiverLINE

Oceanside Escondido Sprinter

Ottawa O-Train

Plans for other systems?

Recent Developments involving Compliant Cars

Portland West Side Express

South Florida Tri-Rail

Trinity Railway Express

Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit

GO Transit

Other systems?

Developments in Positive Train Control, Fail Safe Separation and Track Sharing

Planning for the MidYear Meeting

Boston, Massachusetts June 12-15 2011

Research Plan and Agenda

Minutes of Mid-Year Meeting June 5 2010

Minutes of Committee Meeting

AP070(1) SELF POWERED RAIL CAR TECHNOLOGIES SUBCOMMITTEE

SATURDAY JUNE 5, 2010 at 4:00 PM

KENSINGTON ROOM, HYATT REGENCY VANCOUVER BC

David Nelson, Chairman and David Wilcock, Acting Secretary

CALL TO ORDER

The Subcommittee Chair, David Nelson (Jacobs Engineering Group), called the meeting to order at 4:05 PM.

ATTENDANCE

Members and friends of the subcommittee introduced themselves. A total of 23 people were in attendance. One (1) person was on the teleconference line. Please see the attached sign-in sheet.

AGENDA

See attached meeting agenda.

COMMITTEE BUSINESS

Review of Annual Meeting Notes (01/13/2010)

The Minutes of the Annual Subcommittee meeting held on January 13, 2010 at the Washington Hilton Hotel were reviewed.

The Minutes were accepted as presented.

Committee Secretary Position

Chairman Nelson reported that the position of Committee Secretary remains vacant. Anyone interested in filling the position should contact the Chair. David Wilcock agreed to act as the Secretary for today’s meeting.

Review of the 2011 Research Plan and Potential Session Topics

David Nelson led a discussion of the potential 2011 research and session topics discussed at the January 13th annual meeting:

· Hybrid SPRC Technologies – There are several potential hybrid technologies that may be applicable to SPRCs. This may be an area of research that the committee wishes to further explore.

· Positive Train Control – This is a major issue across the industry impacting all vehicle types. There may be an opportunity for a session focused on track sharing and non-compliant SPRC technologies implications of PTC.

Bob Doty (Peninsula Rail Program (CalTrain)) reported on the recent waiver granted for the Peninsula rail service. It was a lengthy process with many steps but the outcome has been positive. CalTrain will be permitted to operate non-FRA compliant equipment so long as certain conditions are met:

o GPS will be used to keep the trains apart

o All types of mixed traffic operations are permitted except with freight trains

o All types of mixed traffic operations are permitted north of Diridon Station

o PTC must be in place prior to commencement of new equipment operations

o Grade crossing protection systems must be upgraded

CalTrain was able to successful demonstrate the effectiveness of the crash energy management (CEM) system employed in the non-compliant vehicles

A separate discussion ensued on the continued evolution of the River Line service in New Jersey. The freight and light rail windows have more overlap now than when the service started. There is a need for both longer passenger and freight service periods. The situation now allows “on demand” freight service during the day.

It was agreed that there is a potential for a session based on these two services. The stories and potential presenters are:

o CalTrain Story – Bob Dody

o River Line (NJ) – Al Fazio

o Austin (TX) – Doug Allen

o Denton County (TX) – No one identified

· New Compliant DMU Market – There have been some recent developments in the market for orders of fully compliant DMUs. SMART is out with an RFP for compliant cars that is due this month. Portland TriMet, Houston Metro, and Denver RTD are all contemplating orders.

· Level Boarding Strategies – This is a universal issue that cuts across all modes. On the commuter rail side, the issues associated with the Plate C freight clearance envelope must be addressed. Sound Transit has elected to go with lifts built into each car.

· Volpe Center Update – David Terrell provided an update at the 2010 Committee Meeting on Volpe Center research. This update might be helpful to a broader audience.

· Crash Energy Management Versus PTC – Which is the right approach for your service? Bob Highfill and Tom Furmaniak agreed to investigate the possibility of a session built around this topic.

New Business

There was no new business reported.

COMMITTEE PROGRAM

There were no presentations made to the sub-committee.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 PM.

Distribution: Subcommittee members

Section Chair

Group Council Chair

TRB Staff Representative


2010 Mid Year Meeting

Agenda

AP070(1) Self-Powered Rail Car Technologies Subcommittee

Saturday June 5, 2010 4:00-5:00 PM

Kensington Room | Fourth Floor

HYATT REGENCY VANCOUVER BC

At APTA’s Rail Conference


1. Call to order.

2. Approval of Minutes from Meeting January 13, 2010.

3. Discussion of 2011 Research Agenda and Session Plans

  • Level Boarding: Strategies for “bridging the gap” to permit true level boarding.
  • Positive Train Control: Impacts on Track Sharing and Non-Compliant DMU Regulation
  • Documentation of best practices developed in existing services
  • New Compliant DMU Markets
    • SMART (18/72)
    • Portland TriMet (0/12)
    • Houston Metro (0/75)
    • Denver RTD (0/12)

Thursday, June 24, 2010

"Clear Iron" 1952 Newsreel on the Budd RDC

The SPRC was incarnated in the 1950's by Budd as the Rail Diesel Car (RDC). Budd's 1952 film, "ClearIron", explains the benefits of the RDC. Somethings haven't changed very much. The video provides a historical perspective on the DMU and the era when railroads occupied a more central role in passenger transport. Budd RDC Newsreel (1952)

Monday, May 24, 2010

Call In Numbers for Remote Access to Mid Year Meeting

Telephone-only audio instructions for Committee members to access the teleconference:
Step 1. Dial your Access Number
1-877-339-0018 (toll-free North America)
1-205-263-0801 (international: not toll-free, at the caller’s expense)
Step 2. Enter your Meeting Number, preceded and followed by the * key *6415092*

Friday, May 21, 2010

Tentative Agenda for 2010 Mid Year Meeting | Saturday June 5, 2010 | Vancouver, BC

2010 Mid Year Meeting

Agenda

AP070(1) Self-Powered Rail Car Technologies Subcommittee

Saturday June 5, 2010 4:00-5:00 PM

Kensington Room | Fourth Floor

HYATT REGENCY VANCOUVER BC

At APTA’s Rail Conference

1. Call to order.

2. Approval of Minutes from Meeting January 13, 2010.

3. Discussion of 2011 Research Agenda and Session Plans

  • Level Boarding: Strategies for “bridging the gap” to permit true level boarding.
  • Positive Train Control: Impacts on Track Sharing and Non-Compliant DMU Regulation
  • Documentation of best practices developed in existing services
  • New Compliant DMU Markets
    • SMART (18/72)
    • Portland TriMet (0/12)
    • Houston Metro (0/75)
    • Denver RTD (0/12)

Minutes of 2010 Annual Meeting

Minutes of Committee Meeting

AP070(1) SELF POWERED RAIL CAR TECHNOLOGIES SUBCOMMITTEE

Wednesday January 13, 2010 at 10:15 AM

WASHINGTON HILTON HOTEL, WASHINGTON DC

David Nelson, Chairman Thomas Cornillie, Acting Secretary

Webpage: http://trbsprc.blogspot.com/

Call to Order

Committee Chair, David Nelson (Jacobs Engineering), called the meeting to order at 10:15 AM.

Attendence

Members and friends of the subcommittee introduced themselves. A total of 21 people were in attendance. Please see the attached sign-in sheet.

Agenda

See attached meeting agenda.

Committee Secretary Position

Chairman Nelson reported that the position of Committee Secretary remains and requested a volunteer to fill the role for today’s meeting. Thomas Cornillie agreed to take notes and prepare minutes for this meeting. Anyone interested in filling the position should speak to the Chair.

Website

Chairman Nelson noted that the subcommittee has a website: http://trbsprc.blogspot.com where meeting notes, agenda, and other information are available.

Committee Name

Sub-committee members in attendance voted unanimously to re-affirm the sub-committee’s name: “Self-Powered Rail Car Technologies Subcommittee”

Presentations

Two presentations were made to the committee:

  1. Research to Support the RSAC Task Force: Presentation by David Tyrell of US DOT Volpe Center
  2. Introduction to US Rail: Presentation by Michael Pracht, President and CEO

Update on Research to Support the Rail Safety Advisory Committee Task Force

Mr. Tyrell gave a presentation about the US DOT Volpe Center’s efforts to develop criteria and procedures for evaluating rail vehicle crashworthiness. The results were published in the Federal Register on January 8, 2010 and are viewable at the following address: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-01-08/html/E9-31411.htm

The ensuing discussion covered collision speeds, collision survivability and car deformity, and the relationship between crash energy management and buff-strength.

Introduction to US Rail

Mr. Pratt, the President and CEO of US Railcar gave a presentation about the acquisition of the assets of the bankrupt Colorado Railcar corporation by the Value Recovery Group of Columbus, OH and the formation of US Railcar.

The presentation included an overview of the accomplishments of Colorado Railcar in developing its DMU design and their plans to adapt the design based on revenue service experience.

Recent Industry and Service Developments

The committee briefly discussed the following recent developments:

  • Challenges facing the SunRail project

  • The role in the FRA and the commencement of revenue service on the Austin-Leander MetroRail system

Mid-Year Meeting
The mid-year meeting tentatively set for mid-June in Vancouver, BC Canada


Proposed Research and Session Topics For 2010 Annual Conference

1. Strategies for “bridging the gap” to permit true level boarding.

2. Potential to use PTC to facilitate interoperability of equipment of varying structural standards

3. Documentation of best practices developed in existing services

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 11:58 AM.

Distribution: Subcommittee members

Section Chair

Group Council Chair

TRB Staff Representative


Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Subcommittee Presentation: Introduction to US Rail Car

Introduction to US Rail Car:
Annual Meeting of TRB AP070(1) the Self-Powered Rail Car Technologies Subcommittee
Presentation by Michael Pracht, President and CEO January 13, 2010

http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0ByGG0TLIU2FWOTFjOGI2ZWItOThiNC00MGYxLWJkN2EtNTQzMDAyZDcyZDk2&hl=en

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Subcommittee Presentation: Technical Criteria and Procedures for Evaluating Alternatively-Designed Passenger Rail Equipment

Overview of RSAC Engineering Task Force:
Technical Criteria and Procedures for Evaluating Alternatively-Designed Passenger Rail Equipment
Annual Meeting of TRB AP070(1) the Self-Powered Rail Car Technologies Subcommittee
David Tyrell Washington, DC Structures and Dynamics Division January 13, 2010

http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0ASGG0TLIU2FWZGd2OHA1OWtfMTEyZDV4Zzg4ZnY&hl=en

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Minutes of Joint Midyear Committee Meeting AP070 COMMITTEE ON COMMUTER RAIL TRANSPORTATION AP070(1) SELF PROWERED RAIL CAR TECHNOLOGY SUBCOMMITTEE

SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 2009 from 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

HILTON HOTEL, CHICAGO IL

David Wilcock, Chairman AP070

David Nelson, Chairman AP070(1)

David Nelson, Acting Secretary

Webpage: www.trbcommuterrail.org

CALL TO ORDER

Committee Chair, David Wilcock (VHB), called the meeting to order at 3:15 PM. Mr. Wilcock welcomed everyone to the meeting.

ATTENDANCE

Members and friends of the committee introduced themselves. A total of 17 people were in attendance. See attached attendance sheet.

AGENDA

See the attached meeting agenda.

GENERAL ITEMS FOR THE RECORD

Committee Secretary Position

Chairman Wilcock reported that Ray Tomczak will no longer be able to serve as Committee Secretary and requested a volunteer to fill the role for today’s meeting. David Nelson agreed to take notes and prepare minutes for this meeting. Anyone interested in filling the position should speak to the Chair.

Meeting Space

Chairman Wilcock thanked APTA and Art Guzzetti for providing the space for today’s meeting.

TRB Liaison Report

Peter Shaw provided a brief report from TRB. All systems are go for the 2010 Annual Meeting in Washington DC next January. Attendance was down in 2009 mostly among public agencies but increased attendance by private sector and academic attendees made the overall decline in attendance relatively modest at approximately 7 percent.

AP070 COMMITTEE BUSINESS

Membership Rotation

Chairman Wilcock noted that 2009 is a membership rotation year for the committee. Every three years, TRB requires that one-third of the committee membership turnover. The maximum number of consecutive years that someone can be a member of the committee is nine. In April 2009, seven members rotated off and six new members joined the committee to satisfy TRB's requirements. The Chair welcomed the new members and expressed appreciation to members who rotated off the committee.

Review of Annual Meeting Notes (01/12/2009)

The minutes of the annual year meeting that was held on June 12, 2009 in Washington DC were discussed. A motion was made by Tom Hickey to accept the minutes, seconded by Walter Zullig, and so approved by all present.

Passenger Rail Caucus

There will be Passenger Rail Caucus this year (Thursday November 12 – Saturday November 14) in Delaware Valley Region of the great mid-Atlantic states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. A preliminary program was provided to the attendees.

Public Transit (AP) Group Update

Chairman Wilcock provided an update from the TRB Public Transit (AP) Group. Starting this year an award in memory of Nobel Prize winning transport economist Bill Vickery will be awarded to the best paper presented in the public transit group.

There was a review and brief discussion of cross cutting issues in public transportation that of particular research interest to the overall Public Transit Group:

1. Issue 1: Environmental Impact of Transit

2. Issue 2: Mobility Management Revisited: Making an Auto-Independent Lifestyle Feasible

3. Issue 3: Societal and Mobility Impacts of a Wireless World and Implications for Public Transportation

4. Issue 4: Expanding Transferability of Innovation and Best Practices across Continents

5. Issue 5: Societal Dynamics in North America Affecting Land Use in North America and Implications for Transit (Land Use Dynamics beyond TOD)

6. Issue 6: Institutional and Funding Models for a Sustainable Future

7. Issue 7: The Changing Human Resources Landscape

8. Issue 8: Increasing and Maintaining a Secure and Safe Environment – Beyond the Modes

Rail (AP) Group Update

Chairman Wilcock also reported from the May meeting of the TRB Rail (AR) Group. That group’s overwhelming research focus this year is targeted on the 2008 Rail Safety Act and Positive Train Control (PTC). Positive train control concerns include cost, interoperability and schedule for implementation. The criteria that trigger a PTC requirement for any route segment include:

1. Presence of passenger service

2. Carriage of hazardous materials

3. Overall traffic level exceeding 5 million gross ton miles per mile.

Under these criteria, most of the nation’s Class I route miles are candidates for installation before the end of 2015.

Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Problem Statements

Chairman Wilcock led a discussion of TCRP Research Problem Statements. He discussed the need for research concerning commuter rail contracting practices for operations and maintenance. A proposed research problem statement, Best Practices in Contracting Commuter Rail Services, that had been prepared by Jim Stoetzel and the Chairman on the topic was reviewed. It had been circulated to several committee members in advance of the meeting for review and comment. The proposed statement was approved by the committee for submission to the TCRP 2010 problem statement process.

A second statement has been under development regarding the establishment of best practices for new start commuter rail services. It is hoped that this statement will be ready for the 2011 TCRP process.

Paul O’Brien suggested that the committee establish an on-going initiative to prepare and submit a TCRP problem statement on an annual basis. The suggestion met with generally favorable response from the group in attendance.

Call For Papers/Annual Meeting Session Planning

With respect to Calls for Papers, two topics have been submitted to TRB for distribution on behalf of the committee:

1. Commuter Rail to Regional Rail

2. Best Practices for Contracting Commuter Rail Service

Chairman Wilcock thanked Thom Budd and Tom Cornillie for developing the Commuter Rail to Regional Rail Call For Papers.

There was considerable discussion by Thom Budd and the Tom Cornillie concerning the topic of the commuter rail to regional rail continuum. The two gentlemen agreed to explore the potential of a session on this topic for the 89th Annual Meeting (January 2010).

Chairman Wilcock reported that on the behalf of the committee he’d agreed we’d co-sponsor a workshop on the morning of Sunday January 10, 2010 with AR040 (Local and Regional Rail Service) and other AR committees. The workshop will focus on rail capacity issues.

Committee Communications Coordinator

Chairman Wilcock introduced a new committee position requested by TRB relating to communications coordination. This individual will serve as the committee’s point of contact with TRB regarding communications techniques. TRB is interested in learning what various techniques are utilized to facilitate communication amongst the committee membership. He requested a volunteer to assume this role.

One communications related item that was mentioned as part of this discussion was the lack of a conference call option for this year’s mid-year meeting. Several members had requested a call-in option because they were unable to travel.

AP070(1) Subcommittee Meeting

David Nelson chaired a mini-meeting of the SPRC Subcommittee within the overall committee meeting. Agenda attached.

New Business

Under the topic of New Business, a request from the FRA for assistance was identified in developing a map showing passenger travel densities by segment on the national rail map. In particular the FRA would like to be able to map the density of projected 2035 travel volumes. It was suggested that this would be best accomplished by reaching out to the ~20 agencies that directly operate or sponsor such services. The committee has not assembled such a data resource.

ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION

Highlights of the Commuter Rail Round Table.

· In Salt Lake City the new commuter service is successfully operating with an approximate 45 mile southern branch in planning.

· In South Florida, construction of the Miami Intermodal Center is underway. An intermodal center in West Palm Beach opened in March. The SFRTA is experiencing severe pressure on its operating budget.

· In Virginia, VRE is completing its capacity enhancement projects on its CSX main line. Second station platforms are being built. An Alexandria WMATA/VRE transfer station is in the works. The committee discussed platform heights and ADA accessibility for a considerable period. A request for general relief from the ADA level boarding rules was briefly discussed.

· In Seattle there is funding for more rolling stock.

· In Ann Arbor, the planned commuter rail service is suffering from the economic malaise centered on the State of Michigan

· Ontario is investing very heavily and rapidly in rail transport systems for the Toronto region. Services are taking on a more regional orientation beyond simple center city commuting. GOTransit is under a new governance structure and service name, Metrolinx. The province is trying to expedite transit investment by limited the amount of time and effort spent on environmental review and approval of expansion plans.

· In Quebec, AMT is working on electrification initiatives. Quebec City is starting to explore the implementation of commuter rail.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:45pm.

Distribution: Committee members

Subcommittee members

Section Chair

Group Council Chair

TRB Staff Representative