Passenger Equipment Safety Standards

Subpart C

Specific Requirements (Design Standards) for Tier I

Module 3

Module 3

*

Module 3

Module 3

*

Module Objectives
        - Apply FRA Passenger Equipment Safety Standards when inspecting passenger equipment
        - Identify deviations from the standards

Module 3

Module 3

*

Scope / Alternative Compliance for Tier I238.201
        - Unless otherwise noted, the specific items presented in the following slides apply to Tier I equipment,  operating at speeds not exceeding 125 mph,  ordered on or after September 8, 2000 or placed in service for the first time on or after September 9, 2002
        - The structural standards do not apply to passenger equipment if used exclusively on a rail line;

With no public highway-rail grade crossings,

On which no freight operations occur at any time,

On which only passenger equipment of compatible design is utilized, and

On which trains operate at speeds not exceeding 79 mph.

Module 3

Module 3

*

Structural standards are; 238.203, 238.205, 238.207, 238.209, 238.211, 238.213, 238.217, 238.219, 238.223. 

Module 3

Module 3

*

Alternative Compliance
        - Passenger equipment of special design (Talgo), is deemed to comply with Subpart C with the exception of 238.203 - Static end strength, if the FRA Associate Administrator deems that the equipment provides an equivalent level of safety for the occupants in the event of derailment or collision 

Module 3

Module 3

*

Module 3

Module 3

*

Structural Requirements
        - Static end strength – 238.203
        - Anti-climbing mechanism – 238.205
        - Link between coupling and car body mechanism – 238.207
        - Forward-facing end structure of locomotives – 238.209
        - Collision posts – 238.211
        - Corner posts – 238.213
        - Rollover strength – 238.215
        - Truck-to-car-body attachment – 238.219
        - Glazing – 238.221
        - Locomotive fuel tanks – 238.223
        - Electrical system – 238.225
        - Suspension system – 238.227
        - Safety appliances – 238.229
        - Brake system – 238.231
        - Interior fittings and surfaces – 238.233
        - Doors – 238.235
        - Automated monitoring – 238.237

Module 3

Module 3

*

Module 3

Module 3

*

Structural RequirementsValidation
        - With a few exceptions and excluding a post collision or derailment investigation, most  structural design (components), requirements cannot be validated by casual observation
        - Many of the structural standards incorporated in this rule were designed to meet or exceed specific load criteria during collision or derailment
        - These criteria are based on empirical analysis and mathematical models which generally, will not require validation by the FRA Field Inspector

Module 3

Module 3

*

Validation could occur subsequent to a collision or derailment

Let’s take a look at a few components that you can validate by casual observation

Module 3

Module 3

*

Anti-climbing Mechanism238.205
        - Passenger equipment placed in service for the first time after September 8, 2000 shall be equipped with an anti-climbing mechanism at both ends of the car unless car is equipped with AAR Type H and Type F tight-lock couplers
        - Locomotives ordered after September 8, 2000, or placed in service for he first time after September 9, 2002 shall be equipped with an anti-climbing mechanism at the forward end unless locomotive is equipped with AAR Type H and Type F tight-lock couplers

Module 3

Module 3

*

Truck Car-body Attachment 238.219 
        - Each truck shall be equipped with a truck-to-car-body attachment

Module 3

Module 3

*

Glazing – 238.221
        - Compliance with Part 223, and
        - Each exterior window on a locomotive cab or passenger car shall remain in place when subjected to forces due to air pressure differences when two trains pass in opposite directions at minimum separation traveling at maximum authorized speed

Module 3

Module 3

*

Electrical System – 238.225
        - Main battery shall compartments be isolated from cab and passenger seating areas by a non-combustible barrier
        - Batteries that produce explosive gasses shall be vented to prevent explosive concentrations of these gases
        - Power dissipating resistors shall be adequately vented to prevent overheating under any loaded condition
        - Power dissipation grids shall be designed and installed to prevent combustion

Module 3

Module 3

*

Safety Appliances – 238.229
        - Conformance with existing 231 regulations

Module 3

Module 3

*

Brakes – 238.231General
        - A passenger train's primary brake system shall be capable of stopping the train with a service application from its maximum authorized operating speed within the signal spacing existing on the track over which the train is operating

Module 3

Module 3

*

Brakes Locomotives
        - Locomotives in passenger service ordered before September 8, 2000 or placed in service for the first time before September, 9, 2002, and except for MU locomotives, all locomotives shall be equipped with a hand or parking brake that can;

Be applied or activated by hand,

Be released by hand, and

Hold the loaded unit on the maximum grade anticipated by the operating railroad.

Module 3

Module 3

*

Module 3

Module 3

*

Brakes – Passenger Equipment
        - All passenger equipment excluding private cars, but including MU locomotives, shall be equipped with a hand or parking that can;

Be applied or activated by hand,

Be released by hand, and

Hold the loaded unit on the maximum grade anticipated by the operating railroad.

Module 3

Module 3

*

BrakesEmergency Operation
        - Passenger equipment shall be provided with an emergency brake application feature that produces an irretrievable stop, using a brake rate consistent with prevailing adhesion, passenger safety, and brake system thermal capacity
        - An emergency brake application shall be available at any time, and shall be initiated by an unintentional parting of the train

Module 3

Module 3

*

Emergency Brake Valve
        - Passenger cars shall be equipped with a means to apply the emergency brake that is accessible to passengers and located in the vestibule or passenger compartment
        - The emergency brake shall be clearly identified and marked

Module 3

Module 3

*

Doors – 238.235Existing Passenger Cars
        - Each exterior powered side door in a vestibule partitioned from the passenger compartment shall have a manual override device that can;

 Capable of releasing the door to permit it to be opened without power from inside the car,

Located adjacent to the door which it controls, and

Designed and maintained so that a person may readily access and operate the override device from inside the car without requiring the use of a tool or other implement.

Module 3

Module 3

*

Doors – Passenger CarNew Cars
        - Each passenger car ordered on or after September 8, 2000, or placed in service for the first time on or after September 9, 2002 shall have a minimum of two exterior side doors, each door providing a minimum clear opening with dimensions of 30 inches horizontally by 74 inches vertically
        - Each powered, exterior side door on each such passenger car shall have a manual override device that can;

Capable of releasing the door to permit it to be opened without power from both inside and outside the car,

Located adjacent to the door which it controls, and

Designed and maintained so that a person may access the override device from both inside and outside the car without requiring the use of a tool or other implement.

Module 3

Module 3

*

DoorsManual Override Device Cover
        - A railroad may protect a manual override device used to open a powered, exterior door with a cover or a screen capable of removal without requiring the use of a tool or other implement

Module 3

Module 3

*

Automated Monitoring – 238.237
        - Controlling locomotive cabs in passenger service operating in other than cab signal, automatic train control, or automatic train stop territory, shall be equipped with a working alerter or deadman control
        - Controlling locomotives ordered on or after September 8, 2000, or placed into service for the first time on or after September 9, 2002, a working alerter shall be provided 

Module 3

Module 3

*

Alerter or Deadman ControlTiming
        - Both shall be set by the railroad taking into consideration maximum speed and capabilities of the signal system
        - The railroad shall document the basis for setting alerter or deadman control timing and make this documentation available to FRA upon request

Module 3

Module 3

*

Alerter or Deadman ControlFunction
        - If the train operator does not respond to the alerter or maintain proper contact with the deadman control, it shall initiate a penalty brake application

Module 3

Module 3

*

Alerter or Deadman ControlEnroute Failures
        - A second person qualified on the signal system and brake application procedures shall be stationed in the locomotive cab, or
        - The engineer shall be in constant communication with a second crewmember until the train reaches the next terminal

Module 3

Module 3

*

Alerter or Deadman ControlTagging Requirements
        - A tag shall be prominently displayed in the locomotive cab to indicate that the alerter or deadman control is defective, until such device is repaired, and
        - When the train reaches its next terminal or the locomotive undergoes its next calendar day inspection, whichever occurs first, the alerter or deadman control shall be repaired or the locomotive shall be removed as the controlling locomotive in the train

Module 3

Module 3

*

End of Module 3
        - Take a break!!!

Module 3