Transportation Technology Center Inc. was contracted by the Federal Transit Administration to develop a database that identifies and documents all qualification or acceptance tests for new passenger rail vehicles that may be required to be performed prior to their deployment in service in the United States. The database includes three major vehicle categories: intercity/commuter rail, heavy rail and light rail/street cars.
Qualification and acceptance testing of passenger rail vehicles is typically specified by the transit/commuter agency obtaining the vehicles and/or by government agencies. During the 1970s the Urban Mass Transportation Administration developed the General Vehicle Test Plan (GVTP). The GVTP listed extensive test and instrumentation requirements for performing transit vehicle qualification tests, which occurred at different locations, including revenue service and/or the Transportation Technology Center )near Pueblo, Colorado. In 1991, UMTA was reorganized into the Federal Transit Administration and the requirements as specified by UMTA for testing transit cars no longer were required.
The Federal Railroad Administration has defined specific qualification and acceptance testing based on the maximum speed of the vehicle (>90 mph). For vehicles operating below 90 mph, transit agencies and local regulatory authorities have responsibility to define their own specifications. These agency-defined specifications usually are outlined in requests for proposals that are distributed when new vehicles are to be procured. These RFP specifications can vary widely from one agency to another, but frequently contain updated parts of UMTA’s original GVTP requirements.
TTCI identified past and current requirements for qualification and acceptance tests and analyses using multiple sources. Sources of the tests and analyses include American Public Transportation Association standards, FRA regulations, transit agency procurement specifications, discussion with transit agencies and car builders, experience in testing passenger vehicles at TTC, and other international sources such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
All tests and analyses identified were categorized into a public database that can be downloaded at www.fta.aar.com. This database is searchable and is categorized by the following:
- Mode of Operation/Vehicle Category
- Operating Speed Range
- Test/Analysis Category
The database is updated annually as new information and details about current requirements, tests and capabilities become available. In addition to the searchable database, a link to the full FTA report is available. Additional information is also included on passenger rail testing facilities where qualification tests may be performed, comparison of rail vehicle dynamic modeling software packages, summary of rail vehicle propulsion systems, and the TTC’s current capabilities related to passenger rail testing.
MaryClara Jones is a senior engineer II, manager - Software Services Dept. at the Transportation Technology Center Inc.
