FRA – Page 18 – Railfanning.org

Marshall University Receives FRA Grant to Test Mobile Integrated Track Technology

September 12, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Marshall University in West Virginia is receiving a $286,650 grant from the Federal Railroad Administration to demonstrate and test the integration of different track inspection technologies on a mobile platform or high-rail vehicle to assist rail inspectors in identifying track flaws. The project will combine high-accuracy differential GPS with technologies that can evaluate subsurface areas under the track ballast, identify potential track buckling locations, measure track gage widths, and assess weak rail segments among other capabilities. Marshall University is partnering with CSX Transportation in the performance of this project.

FRA to Study Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Locomotive Crews

September 12, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The potential for locomotive crews to develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) when involved in highway-rail grade crossing accidents and trespasser incidents where individuals may be severely or fatally injured is a growing concern. As such, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is awarding a $100,000 grant to the American Association of Suicidology to determine the prevalence of PTSD in, and the current and best practices in the railroad industry for the treatment of, locomotive engineers and other train crew members following such events.

FRA Grant Supports Highway-Rail Project in Vicksburg, Miss.

September 12, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The City of Vicksburg, Miss., is receiving a $4.3 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to make significant improvements where the Washington Street highway bridge crosses over Kansas City Southern Railway (KCS) tracks. The project involves constructing a tunnel for KCS trains above which the existing highway bridge will be removed and replaced with an at-grade roadway. As a result, heavy trucks can resume operating on Washington Street, KCS will straighten its right-of-way, and a new connector road will be built to accommodate the closure of the Lee Street highway-rail grade crossing. The City of Vicksburg

Portland & Western Railroad to Use FRA Grants for Bridge and Track Work

September 12, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is awarding two grants to the Portland & Western Railroad (PNWR). The first is $129,431 to supplement a larger, ongoing project to replace over eight miles of track between Willamina and Whiteson, Oregon with continuous welded rail capable of handling heavier rail car loads and accommodating higher train speeds. These federal funds will be used specifically to rehabilitate a siding and improve several highway-rail grade crossings. The PNWR is providing $32,358 in matching funds for this project. The second grant is in the amount of $1,386,766 to continue work on a project to

New England Central Railroad Receives FRA Grants for Bridge and Tunnel Upgrades

September 12, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is awarding two grants to the New England Central Railroad (NECR). The railroad will receive $960,000 with the NECR is providing $240,000 in matching funds for structural repairs to a 1860s vintage rail tunnel located in Burlington, Vt. The repairs include removing old brick, installing tunnel liner, and improving drainage which is intended to extend the life of the tunnel by up to 20 years. The tunnel is located on a branch line of the railroad which has a critical rail interchange with the Vermont Railway that serves northern Vermont. The second grant

FRA Grant to West Virginia University Continues Research into Strengthening Railroad Crossties

September 12, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — West Virginia University at Morgantown is receiving a $191,100 grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to continue research into upgrading or rehabilitating deteriorated wooden railroad crossties with thermoplastic reinforcements. The grant funds will specifically be used to manufacture and perform full-scale field-testing of the crossties under normal rail traffic conditions on the South Branch Valley Railroad as well as subject them to freeze-thaw cycles. The results of the research may be applied to strengthen materials used for timber constructed railroad bridges.

Washington DOT Receives FRA Grants for Produce Rail Car Leasing Program, Track Upgrades

September 12, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Washington Department of Transportation is receiving two grants from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The first is in the amount of $990,000 to support an ongoing state program that leases 30 refrigerated rail cars to agricultural producers of perishable food products. The grant funds will be used to extend the existing program to the year 2014. The second grant is for $754,600 for various infrastructure improvements on the City of Tacoma-owned Tacoma Rail operation. Specifically, the funds will be used to inspect and repair three rail bridges and two highway-rail grade crossings as well as replace cross

FRA Continues Research into Train Wheel/Rail Interaction

September 12, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is awarding a $250,000 grant to the National Research Council of Canada to continue ongoing cooperative research into the interaction between the wheels of locomotives and railcars and the track they operate over. The purpose of the research is to prevent train derailments resulting from issues such as a wheel climbing over the rail when moving through track curves. The work will examine the problems of rolling contact fatigue and will assess wheel/rail profiles, friction and lubrication, rail grinding maintenance practices, as well as determining the relationship between vehicle response and track geometry

FRA Joins Norfolk Southern in Research of Battery Powered Electric Locomotives

September 12, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is awarding a $50,000 grant to Norfolk Southern Railway (NS) to support the railroad’s effort to design a prototype battery powered electric locomotive which can reduce emissions and lower fuel costs. The grant funds will be used to design the lead-acid battery packaging system and perform Failure Modes and Effects Analysis to address potential safety risks associated with the high voltages and electric current arising from large numbers of batteries cabled together. The technology is being developed for locomotives used in rail yard switching operations. In addition, NS is providing $65,000 toward this

FRA Grant Supports Continued Research into PTC Wireless Communication Systems

August 29, 2008 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is issuing a $1.4 million grant to the Railroad Research Foundation to continue development and testing of wireless communications devices and systems for use with Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) technology. CBTC is a form of Positive Train Control (PTC) that can automatically control train speed and movements to ensure safe movements should a locomotive engineer fail to take appropriate action. In addition to advancing technical development of such technologies, grant funds will be used to: continue work on a portable remote operation device so employees on the ground can authorize a PTC-equipped