Positive Train Control (PTC) for railway safety in the United States: Policy developments and critical issues

Zhang, Zhipeng; Liu, Xiang; Holt, Keith

doi:10.1016/j.jup.2018.03.002

Cited by 29 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Current railroad industry implementation of PTC is expected to substantially reduce the occurrence of many of these accidents. 101 PTC is therefore a crucial element in SRC implementation. Consequently, further research on the specific types and circumstances of accidents that PTC is intended to prevent may enable further refinement of its capabilities and those circumstances where other approaches to improving train safety will be more effective.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative causal analysis of mainline passenger train accidents in the United States

Lin

Saat

Barkan

2019

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F:

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The need for shared freight and passenger rail corridors in the United States is increasing due to the growing demand for regional and intercity passenger transport. Several researches have been conducted on reducing the risk of freight train accidents, but little research has been done on the risk of passenger train accidents. The accident rates of passenger trains have declined in the past two decades; however, faster and more frequent passenger train services require even higher safety standards, and therefore further reduction to the risk of passenger train accidents is needed. The research presented in this paper analyzed the passenger train accidents in the United States using the Federal Railroad Administration train accident database to understand the trend of passenger train accident rates, the frequency and severity of different types of accidents, and to explore the major factors that cause them. Derailments and collisions were identified as the most significant types of passenger train accidents, and track failures and human factors, respectively, were the primary causes of those accidents. Accidents caused due to human factors and train operations such as train speed violations and failure to obey signals are often high-consequence accidents and therefore pose the greatest risk. Higher risk infrastructure-related factors include track geometry defects and broken rails or welds. This study on passenger train accidents provides a solid foundation for further research on improving the safety of passenger rail and shared-use rail corridors.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative causal analysis of mainline passenger train accidents in the United States

Lin

Saat

Barkan

2019

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F:

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“…Here, it is assumed that the position of trains on the rail network is continuously monitored. While this is not always the case yet, positional tracking is commonly used as part of Positive Train Control (PTC) systems [30] and might utilise GPS (Global Positioning System) [31] [32] or alternative systems such as the Galileo satellite navigation system [31].…”

Section: B Schedule Implementation; Output From Scheduling Modulesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-Layer Event-Based Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Scheduling With Short Term Predictive Capability Within a Modular Aggregator Control Structure

Krueger

Cruden

2020

IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol.

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In this work a novel method of event-based V2G scheduling is devised that is suitable for dynamic real time aggregator control in large scale V2G applications within centrally controlled EV car parks. The method is applicable in deterministic systems where a V2G network provides or receives electricity in reoccurring and predictable patterns (events). The scheduling strategy shown is based on a robust modular high-level aggregator control structure and a proposed communications and data management system. The scheduling consists of three algorithm layers, differentiating between predictive scheduling for in-event periods, smart charging for out-of-event periods and reactive scheduling for ongoing adjustments in real-time to account for uncertainty. The scheduling process is described in terms of its underlying rules for prioritising EVs to be either charged or discharged. It's behaviour is then analysed using a simulated car park of up to one thousand connected EVs for an example application in which a V2G network is used to support nearby electrified rail infrastructure, providing power for train acceleration and accepting power from regenerative braking. The departure or arrival of a train of known type and speed pattern can be regarded as a reoccurring event and its effect on the V2G network is therefore predictable due to train schedules and tracking.

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“…The monetary estimation structure is plotted in Figure 2. The categories include casualties, equipment damage, track and right-of-way damage, damage off the right-of-way, hazardous materials cleanup, evacuations, loss of lading, wreck clearing, and train delays ( 9 ). Since the amount in each cost factor deriving from FRA is in 2009 dollars, the estimated safety benefits have also been adjusted into 2017 constant dollars using the GDP inflator ( 5 , 10 ).…”

Section: Benefit-cost Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevention of End-of-Track Collisions in Passenger Terminals via Positive Train Control: Benefit-Cost Analysis and Operational Impact Assessment

Zhang

Liu

Holt³

2020

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation R

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End-of-track collisions at passenger terminals have raised safety concerns because of their potentially severe consequences such as infrastructure and rolling stock damage, service disruption, and even casualties. As introduced in the previous study sponsored by the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration, the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) systems at passenger terminal stations could potentially prevent end-of-track collisions. As the second phase of that project, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the proposed concept of operation via quantitatively identifying the safety benefits, incremental costs, and operational impacts associated with PTC enforcement on terminating tracks. The benefit-cost analysis indicates that the safety benefits may exceed the incremental costs over a 20-year period under specified circumstances and assumptions. In addition, the preliminary results disclose that the operational impact in PTC enforcement should be negligible, except for the rare occurrence of wayside interface unit (WIU) failure or radio failure in the Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS)-type PTC system that would result in a stop well short of the targeted point and potentially delay both onboard passengers and inbound/outbound trains. Both benefit-cost analysis and operational impact assessment methodologies are implemented in a decision tool that can be customized for different terminals with heterogeneous infrastructure and operational characteristics and be adapted to other transportation modes.

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Positive Train Control (PTC) for railway safety in the United States: Policy developments and critical issues

Cited by 29 publications

References 11 publications

Quantitative causal analysis of mainline passenger train accidents in the United States

Quantitative causal analysis of mainline passenger train accidents in the United States

Multi-Layer Event-Based Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Scheduling With Short Term Predictive Capability Within a Modular Aggregator Control Structure

Prevention of End-of-Track Collisions in Passenger Terminals via Positive Train Control: Benefit-Cost Analysis and Operational Impact Assessment

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