Rail Operations

GFT&RS is structured to offer a premier team of planning, operations, simulation, and analysis professionals who are recognized as leaders in their fields.

Our demonstrated planning, operations, and simulation capabilities provide:

Operations Analyses for:

• Operating plan development and testing
• Rail line/train control system capacity
• Integration of regional transit service
• Integration of freight and commuter rail
• Intermodal transit scheduling 
• Rail transit integration with air or other ground  transit
• Transit or freight rail acquisitions
• Cost/benefit
• Systems upgrades to support future operations.

Alternative Operations Analyses

• Environmental impact assessments.

Operations Analyses Based Upon Ridership

• Environmental impacts vs. ridership demand and diversion from single-occupant vehicles (SOVs)
• Vehicle performance evaluations using simulation.

Design-Build Project Delivery Operations Analyses for:

• Staging construction "under traffic"
• Staging multi-phased projects
• Goal setting and proposal evaluation against operational criteria
• "Up front" evaluation to lower overall construction costs.

Track & Right-of-Way Analyses Using our InXpress™ Tools

• Supporting operational control needs
• Interlocking, station, or terminal reconfiguration for maximized operations.

Signals and Train Control Evaluations Using our Powerful RAILSIM® Capability

• Signal/train control system capacity analysis
• Signal block layout design and evaluation
• Need for advanced signaling application to sustain or upgrade throughput.

Network Simulations

Featuring Rail Traffic Controller (RTC) and RAILSIM® network simulation software tools

• Resolution of train dispatching conflicts/protocols for proposed service enhancements or existing issues
• Network capacity analysis
• Operations planning for major construction
• "Turn-key" development and calibration of network simulation models  
• Freight/passenger operations interfacing.

Communication Needs Based Upon Multiple Operational Scenarios

• Operational needs
• Passenger information needs
• ADA requirements
• Security requirements.

Interoperation of Intermodal Intelligent Transportation Systems

• Rail and highway crossings in conjunction with the unique VISSIM® simulation tool.

Traction Power Networks, Sizing and Siting for Multiple Scenarios Using RAILSIM®; and

• Carnegie Mellon's Energy Management Model (EMM) modules:
• Train Performance Simulator (TPS) tool
• Electrical Network Simulator (ENS) tool.

Catenary as Adjunct to Track, Right-of-Way and Interlocking Operating Requirements

• In conjunction with the GFT&RS CatPro2™ design program.

Maintenance and Yard Facility Operations

• Facilities to support operational changes or expansions
• Yard configuration based upon operational needs.

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