Minimising lateral impact derailment potential at level crossings through guard rails

Derailments due to lateral collisions between heavy road vehicles and passenger trains at level crossings (LCs) are serious safety issues. A variety of countermeasures in terms of traffic laws, communication technology and warning devices are used for minimising LC accidents; however, innovative civil infrastructure solution is rare. This paper presents a study of the efficacy of guard rail system (GRS) to minimise the derailment potential of trains laterally collided by heavy road vehicles at LCs. For this purpose, a three-dimensional dynamic model of a passenger train running on a ballasted track fitted with guard rail subject to lateral impact caused by a road truck is formulated. This model is capable of predicting the lateral collision-induced derailments with and without GRS. Based on dynamic simulations, derailment prevention mechanism of the GRS is illustrated. Sensitivities of key parameters of the GRS, such as the flange way width, the installation height and contact friction, to the efficacy of GRS are reported. It is shown that guard rails can enhance derailment safety against lateral impacts at LCs.

Auditory message studies for route diversion. Final report.

Mode of access: Internet.

Highway advisory radio in construction areas. Final report.

Mode of access: Internet.

Examination of reduced visibility crashes and potential IVHS countermeasures. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Research on vehicle-based driver status/performance monitoring: seventh semi-annual research report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Further studies on auditory messages. Final report.

Mode of access: Internet.

Model regulations and public education for rural-suburban pedestrian safety. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

On-board vehicle sensor technology. Volume I--summary report. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

On-board vehicle sensor technology. Volume II--technical report. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Static brake inspection investigation. Volume 3 - appendices. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

An evaluation of existing tire pressure monitoring systems.

Mode of access: Internet.

Human factors requirements for real-time motorist information displays. Volume 5: bibliography and selected annotations: audio systems. Final report.

Federal Highway Administration, Office of Research, Washington, D.C.

Human factors requirements for real-time motorist information displays. Vol. 1 - design guide. Final report.

Federal Highway Administration, Office of Research, Washington, D.C.

Injuries associated with continuous miners, shuttle cars, load-haul-dump and personnel transport in New South Wales underground coal mines

In the three years to June 2005, 959 injuries associated with continuous miners (CMs), shuttle cars (SCs), load–haul–dump and personnel transport (PT) were reported by NSW underground coal mines, comprising 23% of all injuries reported. The present paper reports an analysis of the narrative field accompanying these reports to determine opportunities for controlling injury risks. The most common combinations of activity and mechanism were: strain while handling CM cable (96 injuries); caught between or struck by moving parts while bolting on a CM (86 injuries); strains while bolting on CM (54 injuries); and slipping off a CM during access, egress or other activity (60 injuries). For the other equipment considered, the common injury mechanism was the vehicle running over a pothole or other roadway abnormality causing the driver or passengers to be injured (169 injuries). Potential control measures include: monorails for CM services; hydraulic cable reelers; handrails on CM platforms; redesign of CM platforms and bolting rigs to reduce reach distances during drilling and bolting; improvements to guarding of bolting controls; standardisation and shape coding of bolting controls; two handed fast feed; improvements in underground roadway maintenance, vehicle suspension, visibility and seating; and pedestrian proximity warning devices.

Potential means of cost reduction in grade crossings motorist-warning control equipment. Volume II: comparison of solid state and relay devices and techniques. Final report.

Transportation Systems Center, Cambridge, Mass.