Federal Railroad Administration l Railroad Safety Advisory Committee

Federal Railroad Administration l Railroad Safety Advisory Committee l Track Safety Standards l (Rail Integrity & Concrete Ties Task Forces) l Working Group Report l September 10, 2008

Track Safety Standards Working Group Background • February 22, 2006 – With the RSAC approval of Task 0602, the Track Safety Standards Working Group was established to review and revise the CWR related provisions of the Track Safety Standards • February 22, 2007 - RSAC approved Task 07 -01, and Working Group was tasked to; • Review controls applied to reuse of “plug rail” • Review the issue of cracks emanating from bond wire attachments • Consider improvements in the Track Safety Standards related to fastening of rail to concrete ties • Ensure a common understanding within the regulated community concerning requirements for internal rail flaw inspections

Track Safety Standards Working Group • CWR – • FRA is preparing NPRM based on recommendations adopted at the February 20, 2008 meeting of the full Committee

Track Safety Standards Working Group Background The WG organized two Task Groups to act on the four items of Task 07 -01 : Rail Integrity Task Group will discuss the three rail related items; and • Concrete Tie Task Group. •

Track Safety Standards Working Group l 4 Meetings held by each Task Force – – November 26 -29, 2007 - Washington D. C. February 12 -14, 2008 - Washington D. C. April 15 -17, 2008 – Omaha, NE July 8 -10, 2008 – Silver Spring, MD Next meetings planned for Sept 16 -18 – Silver Spring, MD • Track Standards WG has not met since 01/08 •

Track Safety Standards Working Group Rail Integrity Task Force Problem Statement and Task Force Objectives • • Review controls applied to reuse of “plug rail” • TF reviewing FRA issued Safety Advisory Review the issue of cracks emanating from bond wire attachments • Reviewed accident data • Reviewed bond application process and procedures • Reviewed new FRA accident and defect codes

Track Safety Standards Working Group Rail Integrity Task Force Problem Statement and Task Force Objectives • Clarifying a common understanding of requirements for internal rail flaw inspection process • Study “Loss of Bottom” condition for frequency of occurrence, affect on production, and consequences of invalid test • Make recommendations that define an invalid test • Define test car operators role in determining invalid test areas

Track Safety Standards Working Group Concrete Tie Task Force Problem Statement and Task Force Objectives • Respond to NTSB report calling for concrete crosstie standards in lower track classes • Develop lower speed standards (LSS) track class 2 - 5 concrete crosstie definition / requirements • Understand the science of concrete crosstie failure • Review VOLPE research modeling and analysis

Track Safety Standards Working Group Concrete Tie Task Force • • Develop concrete crosstie definition and application (what constitutes a defective crosstie? ) Performance-based system approach (crosstie and fastener) Develop both Manual and Automated inspection procedures / applications (safety versus maintenance) Railroad, Labor, and FRA have introduced draft concrete crosstie language

Track Safety Standards Working Group Questions and Discussion