Railroad Safety Advisory Committee Railroad Bridge Working Group
Railroad Safety Advisory Committee Railroad Bridge Working Group Final Report and Recommendations
Results from the Railroad Bridge Working Group • One informational item – Bridge count methodology and interim numbers. • Two recommendations – Essential Elements for a Bridge Management Program – Continue existence of Railroad Bridge Working Group
Partial Bridge Count 2008
Bridge Population by Type 1993 vs 2008 US Railroad Bridge Superstructure Materials by Length 1993 US Railroad Bridge Superstructure Materials by Length Timber 24% Metal 53% Metal Timber 36% Masonry 23% Metal 47% Metal Masonry Timber Masonry 17%
Bridge Population by Type Class I vs Smaller Railroads 2008 US Railroad Bridge Superstructure Materials by Length - Class 1 2008 US Railroad Bridge Superstructure Materials by Length - Regional & Short Line Timber 19% Metal 55% Masonry 26% Metal 40% Masonr y Timber Metal Masonry Timber 52% Masonry 8%
Essential Elements of a Railroad Bridge Management Program • RBWG recommends that RSAC further recommend to FRA that these Elements be incorporated into FRA Bridge Safety Guidelines in the Track Safety Standards.
Essential Elements of a Railroad Bridge Management Program • Assignment of responsibility for decisions regarding integrity of structures. • Have a bridge inventory that indicates party responsible for management of each bridge. • Known capacity of railroad bridges as determined by rating by competent engineer or by design documents.
Essential Elements of a Railroad Bridge Management Program • Procedures for the control of movement of high, wide or heavy loads exceeding the nominal capacity of bridges • Maintenance of permanent records of design, construction, modification, and repair • Railroad specific procedures for design and rating of bridges
Essential Elements of a Railroad Bridge Management Program • Inspection of railroad bridges – Inspector Qualifications – Type and frequency of inspection – Inspection schedule – Inspection Report Review Process – Record retention – Tracking of critical deficiencies to resolution
Essential Elements of a Railroad Bridge Management Program • Protection of train operations following an inspection noting a critical deficiency, repair, modification or adverse event – Qualifications of personnel permitted to authorize train operations. • Program audit procedures
Continuation of Railroad Bridge Working Group • Railroad Bridge Working Group recommends to RSAC that the Working Group be continued in existence, in an inactive status, to be available should additional bridge safety issues arise.
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