Completed
Description
REVISED:
In the first phase of this project, an ad hoc committee will review a test and analysis plan prepared by DOT and comment in a letter report on whether the proposed tests will provide objective, accurate, and reliable results to test the assumptions that DOT has identified in its comparison of the emergency braking performance of railroad tank car Electronically Controlled Pneumatic (ECP) brakes to conventional brakes or braking systems such as distributed power and two-way end of train devices. The committee will provide a written explanation detailing the need for any additional or alternative testing. The key question is whether ECP brakes would reduce the incidence and severity of spills of crude oil or ethanol from derailments compared with the alternative braking systems examined.
In the second phase of this project, the committee will review the conduct of DOT’s tests, reports of test results, and, based on DOT’s test results and analysis, provide its findings and conclusions addressing the performance of ECP brakes relative to other braking technologies or systems tested by DOT. The committee's reviews and letter reports will be limited to these tasks; the committee will not make recommendations about which braking systems should be required of railroads in revenue service.
ORIGINAL:
An ad hoc committee will recommend appropriate analysis and testing methods to compare the emergency braking performance of railroad tank car Electronically Controlled Pneumatic (ECP) brakes to conventional brakes or braking systems such as distributed power and 2-way end of train devices. The key question is whether ECP brakes would reduce the incidence and severity of spills of crude oil or ethanol from derailments compared with the alternative braking systems examined. The committee will examine the cost-effectiveness of simulation and testing options that take into account budgetary limitations and recommend a general plan for testing and simulation that can best answer this question. The committee’s recommended approach will be subsequently refined and carried out by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
In subsequent phases of this project, to be brought back to GBEC for consideration, the committee will also review FRA’s subsequent analysis and test plan, conduct of the analysis and testing, and report summarizing the results. The committee’s reviews and reports will be limited to these tasks; the committee will not make recommendations about which braking systems should be required of railroads in revenue service.
Contributors
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Chair
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Conflict of Interest Disclosure
Disclosure of Conflict of Interest: Gerhard Thelen
In accordance with Section 15 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the "Academy shall make its best efforts to ensure that no individual appointed to serve on [a] committee has a conflict of interest that is relevant to the functions to be performed, unless such conflict is promptly and publicly disclosed and the Academy determines that the conflict is unavoidable." A conflict of interest refers to an interest, ordinarily financial, of an individual that could be directly affected by the work of the committee.
As specified in the Academy's policy and procedures (http://www.nationalacademies.org/coi/index.html), an objective determination is made for each provisionally appointed committee member whether or not a conflict of interest exists given the facts of the individual's financial and other interests and the task being undertaken by the committee. A determination of a conflict of interest for an individual is not an assessment of that individual's actual behavior or character or ability to act objectively despite the conflicting interest.
We have concluded that for this committee to accomplish the tasks for which it was established its membership must include among others, at least one individual with up-to date operational experience and expertise in railroad braking systems, and specifically in the use of alternative braking systems such as Electronically Controlled Pneumatic (ECP) brakes.
To meet the need for this expertise and experience, Gerhard Thelen is proposed for appointment to the committee even though we have concluded that he has a conflict of interest because he has a financial interest in the railroad industry.
As his biographical summary makes clear, Mr. Thelen’s career at Norfolk Southern spanned 15 years during which the company analyzed ECP brakes and adopted their use in selected settings. During this time, Mr. Thelen served as assistant vice-president for research and tests, vice-president for mechanical, and vice-president for operations planning and support. We believe that Mr. Thelen can serve effectively as a member of the committee and that the committee can produce an objective report, taking into account the composition of the committee, the work to be performed, and the procedures to be followed in completing the work.
After an extensive search, we have been unable to find another individual with the equivalent combination of practical operational experience and expertise with ECP brakes as Mr. Thelen who does not have a similar conflict of interest. Therefore, we have concluded that this potential conflict is unavoidable.
Sponsors
Department of Transportation
Staff
Ray Wassel
Lead
Major units and sub-units
Transportation Research Board
Lead