Suicide Prevention

With approximately 140,000 public grade crossings in the United States, improving grade crossing safety is a top industry priority. Over the last decade, suicides on railroad rights-of-way have increased. The impact of these suicides on witnesses, surviving loved ones and railroads can be traumatic. Because of the emotional and economic impact of suicides, identifying effective measures to prevent them is a critical component of railroad safety initiatives.

The Railroad Research Foundation has undertaken a multi-year study funded by the Federal Railroad Administration to determine the prevalence of and causal factors in rail-related suicides. Accurate documentation of the true extent of the problem will support the development of effective prevention strategies. The study will identify a range of intervention and education projects that can be adopted by the railroads to prevent railroad suicides. Options may include activities such as signage, rail personnel training and enhanced surveillance.

The project has been funded by the FRA as a Cooperative Agreement for five years. The current award’s funding is in the amount of $225,000. The project is scheduled for completion in 2012.

Wireless Communications

An important component of designing systems to allow for implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) is providing support through wireless communications for the needs of users of PTC systems designed to prevent train-to-train accidents. Through funding provided by the FRA, the RRF is supporting research, development, and testing of communications-based train control (CBTC) and wireless communications systems, with the goal of improving efficiency and safety throughout the railroad industry. The project includes design and development of software, testing and a formal demonstration of all systems in a simulation environment.

The project has been funded by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) as a Cooperative Agreement for seven years. The current project’s funding is in the amount of $9,476,769. This project is scheduled for completion in 2012.