Angela Schwarz

📌 Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT Addressing Service Delays ⏳ #Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT are proactively investigating the root causes of service #delays in New Jersey and New York Penn Station.This examination focuses on parts of the Northeast Corridor (NEC), with the goal of improving reliability and on-time service. 📋 Details - Extensive inspections of #catenary systems, signals, and switches, alongside NJ TRANSIT equipment, particularly the pantographs. - Installation of high-resolution #cameras at key stations for detailed inspection of pantographs. - Expansion of #helicopter inspection programs to capture high-resolution images for meticulous review. - Ongoing #consultations with industry experts to identify and address chronic delay issues. - Testing enhancements for transformers, and expanding overnight work windows for accelerated repairs. - Regular reports detailing progress and identified issues. Source: Rtands #Infrastructure #PublicTransport #NJTRANSIT _ _ _ 👍 Like if you find value, re-post ♻️, and follow for more interesting tech, and innovation insights.

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Has the US finally figured out how to do high-speed rail? As work begins on building the US’s first #highspeedrail service – linking #LosAngeles to #LasVegas – analysts say the project could serve as a blueprint for similar projects across the country #Construction began today on the first true high-speed #rail line in the #US, which will connect Los Angeles suburbanites to the bright lights of Las Vegas, #Nevada. Not only should the project enable people in the US to finally experience #European and #Asian standards of speedy passenger trains, it could also offer a commercial model for building high-speed rail lines elsewhere in the US. With a targeted completion in four years – just in time for the 2028 Summer #Olympics in Los Angeles – Brightline West Trains is expected to whisk passengers at speeds of up to 320 kilometres per hour down the median of the Interstate 15 highway, bypassing lines of cars stuck in weekend traffic jams. The $12 billion project may seem like a bold gamble for Brightline and its owner, Fortress Investment Group, even with a $3 billion federal grant announced by President Joe Biden back in December 2023. But there are several reasons why Brightline West may succeed where other US high-speed rail projects have fallen behind. A hydrogen fuel revolution is coming – here's why we might not want it Brightline is focused on connecting major markets separated by about 400 to 550 kilometres, according to a report by the infrastructure consultancy AECOM. That represents a sweet spot where high-speed rail is very competitive with driving and flying. The 350-kilometre Brightline West trip from Las Vegas to the Los Angeles suburbs is supposed to take just over 2 hours – representing an attractive alternative to the 4-hour drive that 50 million people travelling between the cities make each year. A reduced risk of delay can also keep overall project costs down over time. California’s own high-speed rail project, which was first approved by voters in 2008 to link San Francisco to Los Angeles, has seen estimated project costs skyrocket from $33 billion to $128 billion. Other high-speed rail projects are currently being considered for Texas and the Pacific Northwest. One lesson that US state rail authorities could learn from Brightline is to “value the cost of delay and indecision” by avoiding a lengthy planning phase, says Russell Jackson, global transit director at AECOM. And although Brightline’s approach focuses only on the most potentially profitable routes, he suggests that government funding can fill the gap for other cases. “The public purse can be used for those projects that are still needed to connect city pairs that are a little bit too close together for airline travel and too far apart for cars,” says Jackson. https://lnkd.in/db3C94Sr

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CARB's new "In-Use Locomotive Regulation" is set to force railroads to replace locomotives over 23 years old with zero-emission versions. While this regulation aims to reduce particulate matter in the air and nitrogen oxide levels, many short lines in the industry may go out of business due to the high cost of compliance. Larger railways could also be forced to put $800 million per year into "spending accounts" to pay for the switchover. But there is a solution. Our 6-in-1 green fuel technology can deliver 10%-23% net savings on fuel spend, while also unlocking power gains and slashing emissions. And with a money-back guarantee, there's no risk in giving it a try. Whether you're looking to enhance your locomotive fleet's performance, comply with emissions regulations, or simply cut down on fuel costs, our solution is tailored to meet your needs. Let's discuss how our proven technology can drive results for your rail operations.

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Extreme heat can cause railroad tracks to #expand rapidly, leading to rail buckling or #bending, disrupting train operations and posing safety #risks. Rail companies mitigate this risk through monitoring, speed restrictions, and regular #maintenance. #Railway #trackinstallation #RailSafety #HeatHazards

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Extreme heat can cause railroad tracks to #expand rapidly, leading to rail buckling or #bending, disrupting train operations and posing safety #risks. Rail companies mitigate this risk through monitoring, speed restrictions, and regular #maintenance. #Railway #trackinstallation #RailSafety #HeatHazards

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Innovative engineering solutions to protect bridges are here! 🌉🚢 On March 26, 2024, the serene waters near the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore turned chaotic as the MV Dali, a colossal cargo ship, collided with the bridge, leading to a section of it collapsing. This incident brings to light the critical issue of safeguarding bridges against ship collisions, prompting discussions on preventive measures and structural resilience. ➡️ Ship-bridge collisions, while rare, have left their mark in history. According to University of Michigan civil engineer Sherif El-Tawil, there have been approximately 40 recorded instances of such collisions in the past 65 years worldwide. El-Tawil sheds light on the mandated protocols for new bridge constructions and their adequacy in confronting modern behemoth cargo ships. He emphasises the necessity of designing structures capable of withstanding colossal forces, citing the impact force of the MV Dali estimated at a staggering 30 million pounds. ✅ To withstand such forces, innovative designs such as cable-stayed bridges with robust towers become imperative. ✅ Beyond design innovations, El-Tawil emphasises the importance of mitigation strategies to minimise the impact of collisions. What is your opinion about it? Share your thoughts in the comments ✍️ #infrastructure #ships #transport

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ESSENTIAL MESSAGE ⚖️. USE COMMON SENSE if you are a regulator Cheers! Jim A proposed state rule (the “In-Use Locomotive Rule”) would mandating that BNSF and Up use ‘zero-emissions’ (ZE) or all-electric locomotives by 2035. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) wants to snuff out diesel locomotive exhaust, which accounts for an almost negligible 1% of all GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions nationally? Have the folks at CARB have been inhaling smoke from funny cigarettes while trying to cut down on other types of smoke. There’s nothing inherently wrong with cutting diesel locomotive exhaust emissions, but let’s be practical. Would CARB rather see all that intermodal traffic shift from rail to truck? What would that do to emissions in the State of California? And even if all the big trucks running on California’s highways were to go 100% electric (which they won’t in the foreseeable future), what about traffic congestion and pavement/bridge damage? — because, all stakeholders need to join forces to throw gasoline (or ethanol) on this pending CARB rule and light it up with a blowtorch. Up in smoke, as they say! HMmm?

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BRT projects can contribute to enhanced #mobility by providing efficient, accessible and sustainable #transportation. HNTB's Sean Libberton and E. Gregory Thorpe, PE share insights on a collaborative program management approach that can streamline delivery to bring that vision to reality. https://bit.ly/3xM7eS5

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U.S. DOT Announces SMART Grants Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced that it is accepting applications for the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program. As a part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the program will fund up to $500 million in grants over five years to conduct demonstration projects focused on advanced technologies and systems to improve transportation safety and efficiency. “The SMART Grant program has helped communities, states, and tribes across America deploy new kinds of transportation technology solutions to improve safety and resilience,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “As the program enters its third year of funding, we’re excited for even more communities to get funding and support to develop technological solutions to their most pressing transportation challenges.” USDOT will accept applications for Stage 1 Planning and Prototyping grants. During Stage 1, the SMART program will fund technology demonstrations and prototypes that solve real-world transportation problems and build data and technology capacity for State, local, and Tribal governments. Later this year, recipients of Stage 1 grants will be eligible to expand their projects through the first of several Stage 2 grant opportunities. The funding opportunity is open to public sector entities seeking to carry out transportation projects that demonstrate at least one of the following technology areas: Coordinated automation Connected vehicles Sensors Systems integration Delivery/logistics Innovative aviation Smart grid Traffic signals “From Alaska to Maine to Puerto Rico, the SMART program has supported locally driven solutions across the country to make communities safer for all users and more connected and accessible. The popularity of this program demonstrates the demand for purpose-driven technology solutions, and we are excited to open the opportunity for another round of applications,” said Dr. Robert C. Hampshire, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology and Chief Scientist at USDOT.

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We seriously need to talk about vehicle to pedestrian intergreens (red times) at portable signal deployments. This is a widespread unsafe practice that appears to be being employed without any consideration of the associated risk. It really isn't ok to configure portable signals such that traffic travels 100m or more beyond a vehicular signal before then travelling through a pedestrian crossing that is called to green as the next phase / stage in the cycle. The industry needs to learn to spot this problem and ensure it is avoided. The attached image shows an example of a vehicle pedestrian intergreen you really don't ever want to run. It is over 130m long! Why should we avoid these intergreens? The intergreen period (red time) is at best an educated guess at how long it will take a vehicle to travel through the site. The problem is, in the real world there are many reasons why vehicles can be delayed, especially within a shuttle. This then means you have vehicles passing through a crossing whilst the green figure is being displayed to pedestrians. You had better hope those pedestrians look before stepping into the road! Some examples of scenarios that regularly delay traffic include: - A vehicle stops briefly in the shuttle. Bin lorries and buses do this regularly without understanding the consequences. People also stop to allow pedestrians to cross or let someone out of a driveway. - An emergency vehicle passes through the site and traffic moves out of it's way, then moves off again once it passes. - A cyclist is particularly slow moving through the site and has vehicles stuck behind it. - A cone has moved out of place post the initial deployment and is causing a pinch point where large vehicles have to slow down to squeeze through and therefore delay all traffic behind them. With the right equipment and configuration there are ways to deploy pedestrian crossings anywhere they are required without incurring this risk. The issue needs to be removed at the scheme design stage. Our Evo1 and Metro products include a range of capabilities to solve this problem. For our 'Pro' range of products, our traffic signal engineers design your signalling to avoid risks like this and our internal scheme review process makes doubly sure that nothing unsafe gets onto the road. Get in touch to find out more. https://lnkd.in/eMAKduD5

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Simple examples of basic RAMS principles #vasudevGK #RAMS #Safety #railways #trains

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Watching this, you could be misled to believe there's an emergency, but in reality, it's the rail operator intentionally setting their tracks ablaze. The flames actually come from gas-fed heaters that run alongside the rails and keep them warm. Metra, the rail operator for the commuter trains in Chicago (USA), uses a tubular heating system and hot air blowers to heat up cold track. Why❓ Tracks are affected by extreme cold in two ways: 1️⃣ In some cases the tracks experience what's called "pull-aparts." This kind of rail defect occurs when two rails separate at their connection. The extreme cold shrinks the metal and the rails literally pull apart from each other. Heating the tracks with fire expands the metal until the two rails can be put back together again. 2️⃣ Points can also become clogged with ice and snow in subzero conditions, so the heating system is used to unclog them. Maintenance crews light the heaters by hand and can control the flow of the gas. The crew members, working 12-hour shifts, remain in the area when the heating systems are being used so they can monitor the flames. Video credit: Unknown Source: CNN -- ➡️ I created #AmineA to track my previous posts ➡️ If you want to be notified when I post, visit my profile and then tap the subscription bell 🔔 ➡️ Learn more about railways via All Things Railways 🚂📩 Newsletter (link: https://bit.ly/3BtguZD) #technology #engineering #transport #rail #railway #future #creativity #construction #futurism

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#TransformationNation- Resilience is knowing who you are and the critical role you play in your family, on your team, and in the greater world. Keep showing up. You got this! ✨️ Today's inspiration was brought to you by the change whisperer himself, Mr. Joe Hinrichs. 🎯 Learn more about Resilience at: https://lnkd.in/g2hyQrrb. Gayle 🌺

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🚃 Germany's famous suspended monorail - Wuppertal Suspension Railway The Schwebebahn runs along a route of 13.3 kilometres (8.3 mi), at a height of about 12 metres (39 ft) above the river Wupper between Oberbarmen and Sonnborner Straße (10 kilometres or 6.2 miles) and about 8 metres (26 ft) above the valley road between Sonnborner Straße and Vohwinkel (3.3 kilometres or 2.1 miles). At one point the railway crosses the A46 motorway. The entire trip takes about 30 minutes. The Schwebebahn operates within the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR) and accepts tickets issued by the VRR companies including the Deutschlandticket. Credit : Letsgrowup #zorail #railway #maintenance #innovation #management #digitalmarketing #technology #creativity #futurism #startups #marketing #socialmedia #socialnetworking #motivation #personaldevelopment #jobinterviews #sustainability #personalbranding #education #productivity #travel #sales #socialentrepreneurship #fundraising #law #strategy #culture #fashion #business #networking #hiring #health #inspiration

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It is that time again for my friends in Florida. Keep in mind that being prepared for the next hurricane is essential because it’s difficult to predict what will happen during the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. But planning ahead will give you some peace of mind. Being prepared is essential to making it through a bad hurricane season. https://ow.ly/AY6230sBBYy #AMUinsight #EmergencyManagement #PublicSafety

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It’s been a year since Gov. Joe Lombardo vetoed Assembly Bill 456, which aimed to strengthen #railsafety in Nevada. With projects like Brightline West on the horizon, our state stands at a critical crossroads. In our latest piece for the Nevada Current, Matthew Parker and I discuss the urgent need for rail safety measures like train length limitations, improved defect detection, and clearing blocked crossings. These measures are not just regulatory tweaks; they are essential for preventing derailments and ensuring public safety. Investigative reports continue to highlight systemic failures in rail safety, and recent incidents in Nevada underscore these risks. It’s imperative that we prioritize public safety over corporate profits. Nevada has the opportunity to lead by example and set new rail safety standards. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gYx6faGW

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U.S. High Speed Rail Coalition unveils roadmap with guidance on how to launch high-speed rail project June 17, 2024 The first-of-its-kind action plan is intended to equip advocates with practical tips, realistic expectations and strategic support as they work to launch new high-speed train projects in their regions. The U.S. High Speed Rail Coalition unveiled a roadmap with guidance on how to launch a high-speed rail project. The first-of-its-kind action plan is intended to equip advocates with practical tips, realistic expectations and strategic support as they work to launch new high-speed train projects in their regions.  “High-speed rail lines are complex megaprojects with unique challenges,” said Bernard Cohen, senior advisor for planning and operations at Alternate Concepts Inc., as well as former Massachusetts Department of Transportation secretary and the principal author of the roadmap. “We’ve created a practical guide that demystifies what’s involved in launching a new high-speed rail project.”  The report, “High-Speed Rail Projection Initiation: A Roadmap for Advocates”, focuses on five key building blocks of success:   Organization   Technical planning   Strategic engagement   Project funding   Compelling communications  The report argues that long-term, strategic advocacy campaigns are required to launch new high-speed projects. When designing campaigns, advocates must be fully aware of potential pitfalls, as well as likely sources of support and opposition.    The roadmap notes that a recent survey by Public Policy Polling for the Coalition found that 72 percent of U.S. registered voters support the creation of a nationwide high-speed rail network in the U.S. According to Ezra Silk, political director of the U.S. High-Speed Rail Coalition, a major goal of the report is to help build a grassroots movement for a national high-speed rail network.  “Launching high-speed rail involves technical experts but you don’t need to be a transportation planner to take the lead in bringing high-speed rail to your community,” Silk said. “Millions of Americans want high-speed rail and this report will help give them the tools they need to turn their bullet train dreams into reality.”  The roadmap was designed by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. In May, the 600,000-member union announced a voluntary recognition agreement with Siemens Mobility to represent workers who will build the trainsets for the Brightline West high-speed rail project that will connect Las Vegas, Nev., to southern California by 2028. 

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