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

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

RSAC Proposed Engineering Task Force: Technical Criteria and Procedures for Evaluating Alternatively-Designed Passenger Rail Equipment

David Tyrell of US DOT will be discussing the work of the Task Force at the Annual Meeting on January 13, 2009

Proposed Task Force

The Engineering Task Force reports to the Passenger Safety Working Group of the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee.

Mission - The mission of the Task Force is to produce a set of technical evaluation criteria and procedures for passenger rail equipment built to alternative designs. The technical evaluation criteria and procedures would provide a means of establishing whether an alternative design would result in performance at least equal to the structural design standards set forth in the Passenger Equipment Safety Standards (49 CFR Part 238). The initial focus of this effort will be on Tier I standards.

When completed, the criteria and procedures would form a technical basis for making determinations concerning equivalent safety pursuant to 49 CFR § 238.201 and provide a technical framework for presenting evidence to FRA in support of any request for waiver of the compressive (buff) strength requirement set forth in 49 CFR § 238.203. See, generally, 49 CFR Part 211 (Rules of Practice). The criteria and procedures could be incorporated into Part 238 at a later date after notice and opportunity for public comment.

Approach - The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), with support from the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, has been reviewing and comparing the performance of domestic, conventional equipment with equipment designed to international standards in evaluating requests, both current and anticipated, for waivers or rules of particular applicability for the use of passenger equipment not compliant with FRA’s structural standards. Based in part on knowledge gained from this effort and similar evaluations conducted at least over the past ten years since Part 238 was promulgated, FRA will present a strawman technical proposal as a starting point for the Task Force. This initial strawman will be heavily influenced by current state-of-the art research results as well as established, international performance standards. The Task Force should either confirm or modify each of the technical and the design verification requirements proposed in the strawman to better meet the goals outlined below.

The Task Force will convene as many times as necessary over an approximate 60-day period to transform the FRA strawman into consensus-recommended engineering criteria and procedures to which petitioners and FRA can refer.

Goals - The Task Force will strive to meet the following goals:

Ø Benefit from the collective “best” thinking in the passenger rail industry

Ø Produce clear, realistic technical requirements for demonstrating performance equivalent to that expected of equipment built to structural requirements set forth in the regulations

Ø Define the analyses and testing required to demonstrate the integrity of any specific design

Ø Provide clear pass/fail criteria for analyses and tests

Ø Work expeditiously so that sponsors of potential passenger service recognize available equipment options

It is not intended that the Task Force attempt to identify every possible means of determining the performance of alternative designs, nor does FRA anticipate that availability of technical criteria and procedures will eliminate the need to apply sound engineering judgment in reviewing requests for special approvals or waivers. However, it is anticipated that availability of technical criteria and procedures could substantially reduce the uncertainty associated with demonstrating alternative compliance/equivalent safety.

Task Force Membership - Task Force membership is open to designated representatives of RSAC member organizations participating in the Passenger Safety Working Group. FRA encourages participation through one of those organizations by:

Ø any car builder with capability to produce vehicles that will meet the proposed criteria, including those builders that can meet the current standards and any railroad or public authority that may procure new, alternatively-designed equipment

Ø any consultant with extensive passenger rail car structural design experience; and

Ø others who are valuable to the success of the Task Force, specifically including rail labor representatives

The focus of this effort will be the derivation of technical criteria suitable for determination of equivalent safety against existing standards. Accordingly, Task Force members will continue to be expected to apply engineering principles neutrally and professionally.

Presented to the Passenger Safety Working Group: August 5, 2009

Revised Agenda for January Meeting

AP070(1) Self-Powered Rail Car Technologies Subcommittee

Annual Meeting Wednesday January 13, 2010 10:15AM- 12:00PM

Hilton, Lincoln South, Washington Hilton, Washington, D.C.

David Nelson, Chairman | Paul Stangas, Secretary

Minutes of the Mid-Year Meeting – Saturday June 13 2009, Chicago, Illinois

Committee Business

Presentations

Research to Support the RSAC Task Force: Presentation by David Tyrell of US DOT Volpe Center

Introduction to US Rail: Presentation by Michael Pracht, President and CEO

Discussion Topics

FRA Compliant DMUs: Recent Developments affecting Supply and Demand

Updates on Non-compliant DMU planning and development

Positive Train Control , Fail Safe Collision Avoidance, and the Future of Light Passenger Rail Cars in the Shared Track Environment

Plans for Midyear Meeting

Vancouver, British Columbia 6/6/2010 - 6/9/2010

Research Plan and Agenda

Annual Meeting Agenda: Wednesday January 13, 2010 10:15AM- 12:00PM Washington Hilton (Lincoln South)

Agenda
AP070(1) Self-Powered Rail Car Technologies Subcommittee
Annual Meeting
Wednesday January 13, 2010 10:15AM- 12:00PM

Hilton, Lincoln South, Washington Hilton, Washington, D.C.
David Nelson, Chairman Paul Stangas, Secretary


Minutes of the Mid-Year Meeting – Saturday June 13 2009, Chicago, Illinois

Committee Business
A. Discussion Topics
· FRA Compliant DMUs: Recent Developments affecting Supply and Demand
· Updates on Non-compliant DMU planning and development
· Positive Train Control , Fail Safe Collision Avoidance, and the Future of Light Passenger Rails in the Share Track Environment
· What’s after TCRP 130?
· US Rail Car

B. Research Update
· FRA Crashworthiness Research
· 2007 FRA ITS Report

C. Plans for Midyear Meeting
· Vancouver, British Columbia 6/6/2010 - 6/9/2010

D. Research Plan and Agenda

Reflections from the 2009 TRB Rail Caucus: Phila PA

Saturday November 14, 2009 3:43 pm
Track 6 Suburban Platform 30th Street Station Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA

I’m sitting in the suburban nave of an art deco cathedral to the American economy. The ancient arched steel and glass canopy filters a soft grey light onto the twenty patient passengers waiting for the 4:04 R1 train to the airport. The tranquil atmosphere is hushed between infrequent weekend trains. The air is cool but not cold. A middle aged woman chats quietly in French with her aged mother. The incessant rain of the last two days has blessedly relented.

This will be the 26th passenger train I’ve boarded in the last 54 hours on a whirlwind tour of Philadelphia’s rail network organized by the Transportation Research Board. The tour gave me a chance to reconnect with old friends, renew acquaintances and make new contacts. It also provided a hands-on opportunity to ride some services and see some facilities that I’ve only read about or haven’t seen in a long time.

The Ninth TRB Rail Passenger Caucus included a joint business meeting of the passenger
rail-oriented committees in the TRB Public Transport and Rail Groups and provided an opportunity to learn more about rail transit
systems, programs, and policies through a concentrated combination of
technical presentations and field tours.

The itinerary for the Rail Passenger Caucus provided in-service demonstrations and briefings of the following modes and agencies:

Thursday, November 12
Amtrak, DART & SEPTA Commuter Rail, SEPTA Light Rail & 25th Anniversary
Ceremonies for the Center City Commuter Connection

Friday, November 13
SEPTA Commuter Rail, Rapid Rail Transit, Light Rail, Streetcar, Electric Bus.

Saturday, November 14
PATCO Rapid Rail Transit, NJ Transit Commuter Rail and Light Rail.

PARTICIPATING AGENCIES
Delaware River Port Authoriity
Delaware Transiit Corporatiion (DART)
Delaware Valley Regiionall Planning Commiissiion
National Rail Passenger Corporatiion (Amtrak)
NJ Transiit Corporation
Port Authority Transit Corporatiion (PATCO)
Southeastern Pennsylvaniia
Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
Southern New Jersey Rail Group

A few quick observations: Philadelphia, like Boston has an extensive light rail and trolley network but in contrast to Boston it generally serves the city’s lowest economic stratum rather than its highest. The biggest surprises were the odd Norristown High Speed Line, the quaint Sharon Hill and Media lines, the newly reopened Girard Street car, the vitality of NJTransit’s RiverLINE and SEPTA’s 21st century operations control center. I never realized that Philadelphia had an extensive network of underground pedestrian passages.

Philadelphia’s investment in transport infrastructure continues to lag other major America cities, and like other cities in these times, the prospects of meeting their transport funding needs are dim for the foreseeable future. But unlike other cities they have a number of underutilized transport facilities that they continue to support at no small expense. If asked, I’d advise Philadelphians to focus their economic development efforts on employment, education and safety in neighborhoods and areas that are rich in transport capacity but socially and economically deprived.

David O. Nelson
Chair Subcommittee for Self Powered Railcar Technologies AP070(1)

45 annotated photos from the caucus are found at http://picasaweb.google.com/DAVID.NELSON.AT.JACOBS/TRBPassengerRailCaucusPhilaPANovember12142009?feat=directlink

US Railcar to Resume Production of Former Colorado Railcar DMU

In the aftermath of the shutdown of Colorado Railcar Manufacturing late last yer, private investors affiliated with Value Recovery Group Inc. (VRG) of Columbus, OH, announced that they have formed a new firm, US Railcar LLC, that will resume the manufacture of Colorado Railcar’s Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) later this year in a new manufacturing facility to be established.

Michael P. Pracht, a rail industry veteran with experience at Siemens and Ansaldo, will serve as president and CEO of US Railcar. Assets acquired by the firm include the former Colorado Railcar DMU proprietary rights and information, manufacturing documentation, inventory, and other equipment necessary for production.

“US Railcar intends to re-establish passenger train production in the United States,” said Barry H. Fromm, chairman of VRG. “We want to keep American jobs and U.S. public investment at home.”The company plans to manufacture both single- and bi-level DMUs, which are self-propelled railcars that eliminate the need for locomotive-hauled push-pull trains in lower density corridors. The US Railcar DMU was prototyped through a demonstration project in 2002 and is available in both regional and intercity configurations.

VRG is an asset recovery and management firm that specializes in asset management, advisory, and asset recovery services for state and local governments, commercial banks, private investors, and several federal agencies.

(Appeared in APTA Passenger Transport Online July 20 2009)