Title: THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX: INCORPORATING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE BEST PRACTICES DURING EARLY STAGES OF THE DESIGN OF A NEW COMMUTER RAIL SYSTEM
Abstract: This paper will provide operations and maintenance best practices that are being used to drive design concepts for a new Regional Rail system in the Triangle Region of North Carolina. The Regional Rail project consists of a 35-mile long, mostly double-tracked rail alignment, which will connect North Raleigh and Duke Medical Center in Durham, NC. Sixteen station stops, with high level boarding are anticipated to be served by approximately 24 selfpropelled, bi-directional diesel multiple unit (DMU) rail cars. The alignment runs parallel to a freight railroad and no street running section is anticipated. Over 40 highway at-grade crossings and equipment will be shared with two operating freight railroads. A new maintenance facility and control center will be built in Durham from where all vehicle and system maintenance and dispatching of Regional Rail operations will be conducted. This paper will first highlight key operations and maintenance strategies that are driving design concepts. Second, service reliability and maintainability approaches and their importance in the selection of technology choices, balancing capital and O&M costs, and specification development will be discussed. Third, service flexibility in abnormal operations and the resulting impacts in selecting single-track sections, number and placements of interlockings, sidings, etc. will also be presented. This paper will conclude by highlighting design choices that are being made in anticipation for future expansions of the Regional Rail system.
Publication Year: 2004
Publication Date: 2004-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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