TRAIN graduate researchers were well represented at the annual UT Austin Center for Transportation Research (CTR) Symposium held at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus in early April.
MS student Juliana Johnson presented the results of her RTC simulation experiments investigating the capacity and performance of shared passenger-freight rail corridors under modern freight rail operating practices. This work is supported by the FRA via the National University Rail Center of Excellence (NURail CoE).
PhD student Qianqian Tong presented her investigation of differences between intermodal terminal size, layout, and resources required to support shorter platoons of Self-Propelled Autonomous Railcars (SPARCs) in comparison to longer conventional intermodal trains. This work is supported by the Department of Energy ARPA-E.
MS student Matthew Friar presented his analysis of recent temporal trends in the track geometry characteristics and location of train handling and make-up derailments. This work is supported by the NURail CoE.
PhD student Heyang Zhang presented his comparison of different alternative energy technologies, including hydrogen fuel cells, hydrogen internal combustion, batteries and overhead catenary, to replace current diesel multiple-unit (DMU) operations on the CapMetro commuter rail corridor in Austin. This work was partially supported by the NURail CoE.
Newly arrived MS student Aluisio Fernando de Oliveira Filho presented the initial results of his comparison of yard accident trends between Class 1 and shortline railways. This work will be part of the pending FRA-funded Rail Center for Research Enhancing Shortline Transportation (RailCREST).