More Of Our Rail Safety Contracts
Perhaps you have heard about the FRA approval of BNSF's Electronic Train Management System (ETMS). This is an example of a PTC system. HCRQ has significant experience with ETMS's predecessor - the Illinois Department Of Transportation (IDOT) PTC.
The purpose of the IDOT PTC was to prevent:
- train-to-train collisions,
- derailments due to over-speed, and
- collisions between trains and roadway workers or their equipment while working within their authority limits.
The current operating time between Chicago and St. Louis is about 5½ hours, and IDOT would have contributed towards reducing this time to about 3½ hours. This reduction in running time requires that the current top speed limit of 79 mph, imposed by the current signal technology, be increased to 110 mph by the application new technology.
The IDOT PTC architecture comprised five major systems. Four of these systems were the information processing systems that included:
- the IDOT PTC Server,
- locomotive on-board computers and peripherals,
- a track force terminal on board work vehicles, and
- in the field, Wayside Interface Units (WIUs) interfacing with control points, intermediate signal sites, highway crossing warning systems and train defect detectors.
The fifth system, and the IDOT PTC keystone, was a data communication system which tied the various information processing systems together.
HCRQ has significant first-hand system safety and software safety analysis experience with Positive Train Control and 49CFR236 Subpart H.
We have provided guidance and input on:
- SSPP
- PHA
- hazard log
- Safety Assurance Concepts
- FFT Analysis
- FTA
- SSHA
- O&SHA
- PSP
For more information regarding our PTC experience contact Charles Walken.
EIC PRT
TTCI is developing an Employee In Charge (EIC) Personal Remote Terminal (PRT).
The EIC PRT is a hand-held portable computer terminal for use by the roadway worker who establishes on-track safety for others in roadway work groups and lone workers who establish their own protection. Its initial functionality will enable an EIC to authorize train entry into and set the speed limit within a Maintenance of Way Protection (MWP).
The EIC PRT must comply with 49CFR236 Subpart H.
Due to its experience with the IDOT PTC, and its expertise in system safety and software safety, TTCI retained the services of HCRQ to guide the system safety effort, software safety effort and to assist with the preparation of the project documentation.
HCRQ also provided software safety training to the EIC PRT Project Team.
Acela Tilting System
Bombardier Transportation Systems and GEC Alstom provided 18 trainsets that traverse the Washington, D.C. - New York City - Boston route at speeds up to 150 mph (240 km/h).
The Acela uses a tilting system. Tilting the body of a rail passenger car during curve negotiation offers the possibility of increasing the speed of a trainset in a curve without exceeding the maximum allowed steady state lateral acceleration felt by the passengers. Typically, the centrifugal acceleration must be lower than 1 m/sec/sec. This feature reduces the overall travelling time without requiring track modification.
We provided consulting assistance in connection with the safety of the tilting system.
RAMS Management
For 3 years, HCRQ fulfilled the role of Safety Manager for Bombardier's Transportation Transit Systems Division.
Leading a team of Bombardier analysts and engineers, HCRQ was responsible for Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Safety (RAMS) of:
- JFK AirTrain
- Vancouver SkyTrain Extension
- Kuala Lumpur LRT System 2
- Jacksonville Automated Skyway Express
- Ankara Rapid Transit System
Kuala Lumpur LRT System 2
Bombardier provided a driver-less Linear Induction Motor-powered train system which was one of the longest fully-automated rail systems in the world.
The Platform Screen Door System (PSDS) requires accurate alignment of the train doors such that both open and close in unison, much the same as elevator doors.
The Brake Assurance Monitor (BAM) responds to emergency brake commands by instigating Level I braking. It monitors and controls Level I braking to ensure a sufficient braking rate and reverts to guaranteed emergency braking (Level II) if the Level I braking rate is insufficient or cannot be assured.
HCRQ performed safety audits on the Alcatel SELTRAC CBTC System, PSDS, and BAM.
Jerusalem LRT
HCRQ provided advice on structuring the O&M documentation including the safety management plan, safety analysis, rule book, safety case, operations center manual, safety manual, emergency procedures, emergency response familiarization plan, failure management plan, system maintenance plan, training plan, staffing plan, mobilization plan, and system key plan.
CANAC Beltpack System
HCRQ was responsible for consulting on system safety and software safety of the CANAC Remove Control Locomotive (RCL) system which allows ground-based yard employees to control a locomotive equipped with an on-board computer via a RF link.
HCRQ was also responsible for planning and estimating the effort required to obtain European EN 50126, EN 50128, and EN 50129 rail standards compliance.
Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) Regional Rail Project
HCRQ provided advice on system safety analysis, reliability analysis maintainability analysis, fire & smoke analysis, and software.
Cattron-Theimeg RCL-II System
HCRQ was responsible for consulting on system safety and software safety of Cattron's RCL-II RCL system.
If your interest is in light rail systems, we suggest you look here.