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Title:

EQUIPMENT INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS FOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AND OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENT

Accession Number:

00662853

Record Type:

Component

Availability:

Find a library where document is available


Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309055032

Abstract:

This paper discusses the future needs of equipment infrastructure in the railroad industry. It begins with some basic generalities concerning the rail environment in the next few decades. This environment will include passenger traffic. The freight equipment will be sharing track of similar design as the passenger equipment. Because passenger transportation is, by its nature, a just-in-time delivery system, the freight equipment operating in the same environment must be reliable in order to minimize delays. It must also provide reduced dynamic loads to avoid rapid or catastrophic track degradation in conjunction with passenger traffic. The goals of freight and passenger rail transportation are essentially the same--to reduce the overall transit time while retaining a cost structure that allows them to maintain a cost competitive advantage. Factors that will have a great impact on the future design of equipment include availability and reliability, as well as customer needs. Ride quality will be a major driving force for customer satisfaction. Specific areas that need improvement are the braking system and the coupling system. Scheduled maintenance should be addressed when future equipment design is considered. The vehicle and track system should be considered as a whole. In conclusion the paper provides a list of the characteristics of a "perfect rail vehicle", a list of the steps that must be taken to ensure that future rail equipment meets or exceeds the requirements of the railroad industry and its customers, and a list of the actions that must be taken now relative to equipment to ensure the survival of the railroad industry.

Supplemental Notes:

Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Monograph Accession #:

00662847

Language:

English

Corporate Authors:

Transportation Research Board

500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 United States

Authors:

Lovette, P M

Pagination:

p. 54-58

Publication Date:

1994

Serial:

Transportation Research Board Conference Proceedings

Issue Number: 2
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
ISSN: 1073-1652

Conference:

Railroad Freight Transportation Research Needs

Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Date: 1994-7-12 to 1994-7-14
Sponsors: Transportation Research Board; American Association of Railroads; and Federal Railroad Administration.

ISBN:

0309055032

Media Type:

Digital/other

Features:

References (2)

Uncontrolled Terms:

Availability

Old TRIS Terms:

Subject Areas:

Design; Freight Transportation; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Planning and Forecasting; Railroads; Research; Vehicles and Equipment

Files:

TRIS, TRB

Created Date:

Jul 18 1994 12:00AM

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