# US Passenger Rail

Informative Presentation on the Operations and Equipment for Intercity 

### Passenger and Commuter Rail Service

# Overview

• Objective
• Overview of Passenger Rail Service in US

– Equipment Overview

– Equipment Design and Safety

– Operations


### • Summary


### • Open Discussion (Q&A)

# Objective

• Provide an overview of passenger rail service in the US to inform the US Access Board Rail Vehicle Accessibility Advisory Committee of the characteristics of equipment used and operations.
• Highlight some safety requirements for 

### passenger rail equipment and operations

# Equipment Overview Intercity Passenger and Commuter Equipment (Typical) (Dimensions of passenger cars are directly related to clearances and track negotiation ability)
• Single
- level, Bi
- level, Multi
- level cars
• Length: 85’ to 85’ 4”
• Exterior Width: from 9’10”’ to 10’ 6”
• (There is a difference in exterior width and interior width to accommodate side crash elements, insulation, window attachment, etc. )

– Limited by clearance and construction type

– Cars with high floors (51”) can have an extreme width of up to 10’6” above the floor line but are limited to 10’ wide below the floor line

– Multi
- level cars with low floors are limited to 10’ • Interior Width controls the seating and aisle width

– Widening aisles can result in reduction in seating capacity

# Equipment Overview Cont. Intercity Passenger and Commuter Equipment (Typical) 

### (Dimensions of passenger cars are directly related to clearances and track negotiation ability)

• Height: 12’6” (single
- level) to 16’2” (bi
- level)
• Equipment length, width and height are controlled by clearance limits of the track
• Seating (controlled by interior width)

– 68 to 182 passengers

– 1x2, 2x2 or 2x3 seating

– Workstation table between seats

• (frangible for crashworthiness on new equipment)

# Equipment Design and Safety

• 30 Year design life
• Equipment maintained using preventative maintenance practices

– Periodic inspection, maintenance and replacement cycle for propulsion, brakes, HVAC, lighting, truck systems

– Mid
- life overall
• Varies with each service provider • 49 CFR Part 238 and 239

– Passenger rail equipment are designed with structural crash management systems at each end of the car
• Protect passengers during collision
• Limit modification of cars
• Limit space in end areas of the car

– All interior fixture must be secured and designed for loading
• withstand 8g longitudinal, 4g lateral and 4g vertical loading

# Operations

• Amtrak and Commuter rail service providers operate trains in various lengths (depends on demand)

– Acela: 6 cars

– Regional: 6
- 8 cars

– Intercity: 3
- 15 cars

– Commuter: 4
- 10 cars
• Intercity and commuter rail trains typically share track with freight trains

– Limits the positioning of high level platform close to tracks
• Station platform length depends on the service demand

# Operations

• Intercity and commuter t rains traverse tracks with varying configuration and characteristics: high gradient, tight c urves in various configuration, superelevation , turnouts or a combination of

– Can result in elimination of clearance between cars (at end inter
- car connection)

– Periodic tilt in the car

# Summary

• Passenger rail (Intercity and Commuter) operations in the US utilizes a variety of equipment types and operates over a wide range of track structure
• Equipment and tracks are designed to ensure safe transportation of passengers

# Open Discussion

Any Questions?