BLE-T Perspective on VLT (Very Long Train) Operations January 19, 2023 - Long Train Study Committee National Academy of Sciences

BLE-T Perspective on VLT
    (Very Long Train)
       Operations
Long Train Study Committee

National Academy of Sciences

    January 19, 2023

 BLE-T Legislative and Regulatory
           Department
        Washington, D. C.

What is a VLT (Very Long Train)?

• Although FRA oversees various aspects of freight railroad safety, it has
  no specific regulatory requirements that limits train length or defines
                      what constitutes a “long” train

• The average number of railcars per train cannot be used to precisely
     estimate train-length in feet due to variations in cars’ lengths

VLT Methods of Operation

          • Conventional – All locomotives at the front of the train
Under conventional operation, excessive train length will eventually cause draft (tensile) or buff
          (compression) forces to grow too great for the train to be operated safely

   • Distributed Power (also referred to as DP or DPU Trains) – Power
             interspersed at the front and throughout the train

Locomotives may be placed at front and rear of train, front and mid train, or combination of both

 Distributed power is intended to spread train forces more evenly, allowing greater train length

Distributed Power Trains

                   • Most common method of VLT operation

• Has become widespread practice under the Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR)
                                operating model

• Locomotives may either be operated in Synchronous mode (all distributed power
  locomotives mimicking control inputs of lead locomotive), or Asynchronous mode
      (lead and distributed locomotives operated independently of each other)

   • Asynchronous mode has become a more common operating practice, over
                             synchronous mode.

Safety Concerns for VLT Operation

• Communications limitations of equipment (rear of train device, loss of radio signal to trailing
  Distributed Power locomotives, problem of kinked air hoses)

• Inability to maintain radio communications with crew members or wayside defect detectors-no
  regulatory standards for wayside detectors.

• No standardized practices on VLT train handling procedures

• Impacts of VLT size on braking performance

Case Study:
Train with 18,000 Tons
9500 Ft Long
No DPU
Ordered to leave yard post repair-
Professionalism saved the day-
Air set-nothing on rear, more air set
nothing on rear-train placed in
emergency.

The following pictures are after a enroute repair from personnel-
Crew requested to set car out. Dispatcher was told to order crew
on.

After Repair-this is a repair?
Simple-car needed to be set out and this was recommended.

Why is this important?

Granite Canyon, Wyoming

Blocked Air Hose
Improper Arming of End of Train Device
Communication Loss between EOT and Locomotive 5412’s
HTD Displaying Front to Rear No Communication (‟FR NO
COMM”)

Another example
Kinked air hose.

• Lack of adequate training procedures for train crews and pressure on support personnel for
  train crews-e.g. maintenance and dispatching under enormous pressure due to business
  concerns, new business model.

• Task overload (engineer having to divert attention to PTC and Distributed Power Control
  screens constantly)

• Excessive train size causing engineers to struggle with procedures or rules compliance
• Pressure to expedite at the expense of short cuts, job security and mistakes associated with
  anxiety that “being in a hurry” is the only way to be.

• At what point does a VLT simply become too big for safe operation?

Picture from Granite Canyon Collision
Communication problem-kinked air hose and no communication with rear.

Two deceased
employees and
$3.5 Million in
damages.

Public risks of VLT Operation

• Blocked crossings – longer trains means higher probability of blocking a crossing

• Increased response times for EMS, police, or firefighters due to blocked crossings

• Does longer wait times/blocked crossings increase likelihood of risky behavior?
  (motorists ignoring crossing warning devices, trespassers climbing over stopped trains, etc.)

• Increased likelihood of catastrophic derailments (Lac-Mégantic)

Questions?

BLE-T Perspective on VLT
    (Very Long Train)
       Operations
Long Train Study Committee

National Academy of Sciences

    January 19, 2023

 BLE-T Legislative and Regulatory
           Department
        Washington, D. C.