Rail Systems Center-Energy Cost Reduction for Elect. Electric powered transit systems, especially those which have been designed in recent times, are not energy-efficient. Optimizing energy consumption while maintaining system performance can reduce transit operating costs. Educate electric powered rail transit authorities in the implementation of strategies which reduce energy cost. Electrical energy costs for rail transit authorities continue to grow faster than overall operating costs.
Energy costs are second only to labor costs in the rail authorities' annual operating budget.
This was part of the U.S. Department of Transportation effort to help rail transit systems control energy costs. Through additional FTA funding and contracts with several transit authorities, the RSC expanded its capabilities in this discipline to include the development of energy management tools and methodologies. The RSC became independent of Carnegie Mellon University in May 1996. These methodologies reflect the typical electrical energy cost-reduction strategies used by industrial customers of electric utilities, with particular emphasis on the unique nature of the rail transit system. Simulate the traction performance of the system and match the audit results.