raildepot-blog

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Metro Worker Struck By Train At Shady Grove

https://sites.google.com/site/railsmgroup/blog/metroworkerstruckbytrainatrailyardflowntohospital

AITHERSBURG, Md. — A Metro transit employee has been struck by a train at a rail yard in suburban Maryland.

Metro says the worker, a mechanic who’s been with the transit agency for more than 25 years, suffered serious injuries and was flown to a trauma center. The man was pinned under a train for about an hour before crews could free him.

The accident occurred shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Shady Grove rail yard, where trains are brought overnight and brought in for maintenance. The train was not in service.

The accident is under investigation, and the National Transportation Safety Board has been notified.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/metro-worker-struck-by-train-at-rail-yard-flown-to-hospital/2012/05/29/gJQA7w9VzU_story.html

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Meet Zonegreen's team of safety experts at Infrarail Stand No. H21 www.zonegreen.co.uk www.zonegreen.co.uk

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Australias first-ever National Rail Safety Regulator is one very significant step closer to being delivered at the end of this year with the recent passage of critical legislation through South Australias lower house. The Rail Safety National Law (South Australia) Bill passed the South Australian House of Assembly, and will now head to the Legislative Council for approval. The Rail Safety National Law establishes Australias new National Rail Safety Regulator (NRSR). South Australia is the first state to pass legislation and implement the NRSR. The other jurisdictions are now expected to do so over the course of the year. The new Rail Safety National Law is a major safety, regulatory and productivity reform. It replaces the previous model Rail Safety National Law, which was implemented by states and territories in different ways, leading to confusing red tape and duplication. The new law will replace seven separate regulatory authorities and 46 pieces of state, territory and Commonwealth legislation. In this sense, it will overcome the multiple sets of rules and laws which Australian railways have been governed by for over 110 years. However, Australasian Railway Association (ARA) director government relations, Phil Sochon, emphasised to Rail Express that there was still the temptation for some jurisdictions to make tweaks to the new law. There has been a massive amount of work being undertaken in the last two years where the NTC and NRSR project office have engaged with government and industry to review the model law we already have in place around the country," Sochon explained. The task has been to settle on what is effectively a revised version of the model law that is now both current and more appropriate for today, having learnt I suppose, from the implementation of the model law by the various jurisdictions in the past. The ARA welcomes the strong support of the states to keep moving forward with the new Rail Safety National Law. However, noting that one or two states have already varied from the consistent national model by instituting service level agreements, we urge all states and territories to move forward with this incredibly important reform and approve the law that had just been passed by South Australian House of Assembly. Benefits From January 1, 2013, for the first time in Australias history, Australian railways will come under one single NRSR with one set of national regulations. The NRSR will be based in Adelaide with a presence in all other locations where regulators currently function and will have regulatory oversight of the Australias entire passenger, freight, bulk and heritage rail operations. Rail operators will be able to get national accreditation instead of having to apply in each state and territory. Sochon said the knock-on positive effects stemming from this include consistent, appropriate, efficient and effective rail safety regulatory practice throughout Australia delivered in a co-regulatory manner. This will assist industry as it continues to expand to meet the growing freight and passenger task, Sochon said. More at: http://www.railexpress.com.au/archive/2012/april/april-18th-2012/massive-rail-reform-on-the-way?M=d1f2de50-c793-4557-b913-0559dab413b0

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@railaus UK-based Zonegreen has been awarded a contract in Australia to supply its SMART Depot Personnel Protection System in partnership with Australian firm Andrew Engineering. The contract sees Zonegreens highly-advanced SMART DPPS system being installed on 13 roads at one of Sydneys newest train care depots in Auburn. The system will be used to protect staff and equipment from harm when working within the depots, and works using intelligent control and communication technology. Electronic personnel datakeys identify staff working in different safety zones, helping minimise accidents and promote safe working practices within the workplace. Leading Australian rail company Andrew Engineering is due to carry out the installation works, under the guidance of Zonegreens expert researchers and engineers. The partnership with Andrew Engineering allows Zonegreen the scope to meet the needs of the rapidly expanding Australian rail market. Zonegreens managing director, Tony Hague, said: We are delighted to bring our extensive knowledge and experience in designing safety systems for rail depots to the Australian market. Theres significant potential for improved safety and efficiency within Australias growing number of traincare depots, and we are well placed to assist in that process. Quality, safety and reliability are at the core of our company values; by developing long-term working relationships with our clients, we ensure our products consistently meet the highest standards of safety.

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@Rail.co A complete Zonegreen electronic depot protection system is installed to provide security for anyone working on top of a vehicle. The gates to all access steps and gantries are interlocked so it is impossible for a fitter to enter a danger zone while the overhead line is energised. Read More

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Derailments Workshop summary

The first Derailment Investigations and Analysis Workshop, held on February 20-24 in Canberra, provided an opportunity for rail safety investigators to gain an insight in the area of derailment investigations.

Investigating a derailment scene is a complex task. Accordingly it is important to set a practical and realistic environment for attendees to learn the skills required to be competent in railway accident investigations. It is critical that rail safety investigators correctly identify the mechanisms of derailment and the contributing factors that caused the loss of guidance.

@ Rail Express

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SAFETY BRAKING SYSTEM

Similar to what Zonegreen's Safety Braking System ( rail depot version of TPWS - Train Protection Warning System) "PTC Positive Train Control (USA) is a system that will automatically apply the brakes on trains that are about to collide or enter the wrong track, and includes train separation or collision avoidance; line speed enforcement; temporary speed restrictions; and rail worker wayside safety."

"According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, some 40% of railroad accidents are caused by human error. Starting in 1990, to mitigate these human error accidents, the NTSB put a new system called “Positive Train Control” or PTC on its Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements. "

http://kansascity.injuryboard.com/mass-transit-accidents/did-you-know-railroad-companies-are-fighting-safety-improvements.aspx?googleid=297950

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Views from Chester Traincare Depot

After listening to the timeline, we got our personal protective equipment and headed for our tour around the depot. We went back downstairs and saw that there is a great level of health and safety in place to keep the Alstom staff safe.

Also, we saw how many ways that Alstom measure their targets and how they achieve customer satisfaction. One method was the SQCD board which measures safety, quality, cost and delivery. This helps keep an efficient service running and is reviewed when handing over to a night shift or day shift.

On the workshop floor we first took a look around a 175 which was undergoing an engine overhaul. Being a three-car unit, this takes almost a week to complete. Any worn parts are replaced and any required servicing is done whilst they give it a thorough deep clean.

http://www.cliconline.co.uk/en/news/alstom-train-care/07238.html

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Defining Innovation

Innovation is about new ways of service delivery to make the entire system more cost effective and efficient.

Innovation is an interesting term in the Australian rail industry that needs a clear definition and careful scrutiny in the context of the local market, writes Francis Dwornik*.

Innovation in Australia is not about creating new products – there are plenty of global companies that can deliver the latest technology cheaper than we can create it. Innovation is about new ways of service delivery to make the entire system more cost effective and efficient.

Innovation does not mean starting everything from “scratch”, but it does require an Australian technical solution. Currently, the Australian rail industry is not responding to the latest developments from around the world and innovation is being lost in small budgets and “patching together” out-of-date systems.

http://www.railexpress.com.au/archive/2012/january/january-25th-2012/top-stories/defining-innovation?M=31f1f1d2-6d99-492b-aa9e-5799411566ce

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Etches Park Rail Depot Upgrade

View of Etches Park Depot where Zonegreen Safety Systems are installed.

SMART DPPS

Safety Interlocking

East Midlands Trains' new £22m railway depot in Derby has been officially opened.

The modernisation project of the Etches Park site, included the construction of two new maintenance sheds and a major upgrade of the existing engine shed

Please see the following video:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/derbyshire/8693693.stm

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China-Shanghai-Bullet Trains-Maintenance

Rail Depot In Shangai. Train Maintenance.

A China Railway High-speed bullet train is seen in a maintenance center in east China's Shanghai Municipality, Dec. 28, 2011. (Xinhua/Niu Yixin)

http://www.cncworld.tv/photos/show/2909.shtml

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Transportation's development through better maintenance.

Zonegreen believes that rail transportation’s move toward the further development of passenger rail networks in New Zealand and Australia is providing growing demand for intelligent rail safety technology of the kind Zonegreen specialises in.

SMART DPPS (Depot Personnel Protection System)

www.zonegreen.co.uk

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Time to share love (and Innovation)

Despite considerable money being ploughed into the interstate rail network in recent years and predictions of large increases in the amount of freight to be moved, to date there has been little indication of any growth in rail’s share of the general freight market, especially on the North South corridor..

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Dubai Metro Rail Depot Systems

Smart technology

Here is a list of some smart features that make the Dubai Metro one of most advanced in the world.

Auto coupler: A coupler is used during emergency when a train is stranded in the middle of the track and cannot be moved either automatically or manually. In such a case, another train will couple with the stranded train through the device ‘coupler’ and then tow it to the nearest station.

Stinger: A stinger is a device that is connected to the trains to feed it with power during its stay in the depot. It moves with the train wherever it goes around the maintenance depot. Collector shoe: It is a device that connects with the third rail and supplies power to the train when on the run.

Obstacle detector: It’s a device equipped under the trains to monitor the tracks for obstacles and alerts the Operation Control Centre if the train hit something even if it is very minute.

Primary suspension: It’s a system that keeps all the bogies of the train at one level irrespective of the number of people travelling on each bogie. It also makes sure the floor of the train is aligned to that of the platform at stations.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle11.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2011/December/theuae_December479.xml&section=theuae

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SMART DPPS Installed in the three Depots of Dubai Metro.

www.zonegreen.co.uk