Knowledge Hub

June 2024 — Mass Transit

Transit Cybersecurity and Threat and Vulnerability Assessments, Public Transit Risk Assessment Methodology

By Erin Plemons, Director, Center for Critical Infrastructure Protection, ENSCO, Inc.

The integration of the PT-RAM process into transit agencies’ operational security strategies helps providers address both physical and cyber threats and vulnerabilities.

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June 2024 — Railway Age

FLIRT H2 Sets a Guinness World Record at TTC

By Matthew Dick, P.E., Chief of Strategy & Development, ENSCO, Inc.; and Stefan Bernsdorf, C. Eng., Senior Project Manager, Stadler

Sustainable rail transport is crucial to combatting climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. FLIRT H2's Guinness World Records title is an historic milestone for sustainable rail transportation. Collaborations with innovative companies like Stadler, supported by the TTC, drive the transition to a more efficient future for rail transportation.

May 2024 — RT&S

Building and Maintaining Robust Software Systems in Rail Technology

By Matthew Dick, P.E., Chief of Strategy & Development, ENSCO, Inc.

The rail industry, like modern software development, prioritizes resilience to prevent failures. Diligent software quality assurance practices are essential as software complexity grows. At the Transportation Technology Center (TTC), a commitment to safety and resilience is evident in efforts to simulate and test infrastructure and software in protected environments before deployment, ensuring uninterrupted operations.

April 2024 — Mass Transit

The Transportation Technology Center: A Hub for Advanced Passenger Train Testing

By Matthew Dick, P.E., Chief of Strategy & Development, ENSCO, Inc.

TTC evaluates operational readiness of Stadler's FLIRT DMU, as well as the innovative ZEMU, which will support the future of sustainable passenger rail transportation.

April 2024 — Railway Age

FURSST for Safety & Security

By Dr. Przemyslaw Rakoczy, Senior Rail Research Engineer; and Matthew Dick, P.E., Chief of Strategy & Development, ENSCO, Inc.

A versatile underground tunnel at the Transportation Technology Center (TTC), while designed for confined space blast tests, allows for a range of security and safety-related testing that is vital to the rail and transportation industry.

March 31, 2024 — RT&S

Boosting Rail Safety and Efficiency: Pioneering Autonomous Inspections and Predictive Maintenance with ENSCO

By Jackie van der Westhuizen, Division Manager of ENSCO Rail

In the rapidly evolving world of rail infrastructure management, a groundbreaking approach is revolutionizing safety and efficiency. ENSCO, a leader in inspection technologies and engineering solutions, is at the forefront of this transformation.

March 2024 — RT&S

AI and What it Means for the Rail Industry

By Matthew Dick, P.E., Chief of Strategy & Development; and Serkan Sandikcioglu, AI ML Business Area Lead, ENSCO, Inc.

With the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI), tools like algorithms, big data, and machine learning are being increasingly utilized by rail professionals to work more efficiently. However, with the advantages come limitations the industry needs to be aware of.

February 2024 — Railway Age

Up Close at the Impact Wall

By Matthew Dick, P.E., Chief of Strategy & Development; and Przemyslaw Rakoczy, Ph.D., Senior Rail Research Engineer, ENSCO, Inc.

The first annual Transportation Technology Center (TTC) Conference and Tour offered the public unprecedented access to the facility. The experience included an in-depth look at one of TTC’s largest test sites — a vertical wall made of concrete and steel.

January 2024 — RT&S

Crossing-i System by Michigan Tech Demonstrated at the Transportation Technology Center

by Colin N. Brooks, Senior Research Scientist, Michigan Tech Research Institute/MTRI Inc, Ann Arbor, MI

The Crossing-i System, a drone inspection technology for grade crossing recently developed by the Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI) at the TTC aims to combat the inappropriate grade crossing design, inadequate sight distance triangles, and vehicles stuck on humped grade crossings that lead to thousands of accidents annually. Read more about the crucial role the TTC played in this life-saving technology.

December 2023 — Railway Age

Alternative Power, Specialized Response

by Lee Nelson, Director of Ambipar Response Training Center (ARTC); and Matthew Dick, P.E., Chief of Strategy & Development, ENSCO, Inc.

The Ambipar Response Training Center (ARTC) at the Transportation Technology Center (TTC) is a key player in providing specialized hazardous materials (HAZMAT) response training for the ever-evolving landscape of lithium-ion battery powered and hydrogen-fueled railway vehicles.

November 2023 — RT&S

High-Speed Adjustable Perturbation Test Track for Vehicle Testing at the Transportation Technology Center

by Radim Bruzek, R&D Program Manager, ENSCO, Inc.; Sean Woods, R&D Project Manager, ENSCO, Inc.; Jennifer Zahacewski, Project Manager, ENSCO, Inc; Alexandra D’Andrea, Program Manager, Track Research Division, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Office of Research, Development, and Technology

A specially designed adjustable track at the Transportation Technology Center (TTC) in Pueblo, Colorado can be configured to introduce known geometry perturbations. The track, known as the High-Speed Adjustable Perturbation Test Track (HS-APTT), represents a unique capability for Track Geometry Measurement System (TGMS) development, assessment, and calibration.

October 2023 — RT&S

OSU Researchers Work with ENSCO, Inc. to Develop Railroad Track Monitoring Methods

Since 2019, Oklahoma State University has collaborated with ENSCO, Inc. and FRA on pioneering non-invasive railroad track monitoring methods. Their recent study at ENSCO's Chambersburg facility focused on precise measurement of train-induced loads and tie support reactions using differential shear strain, avoiding invasive installation techniques.

October 2023 — Railway Age

First U.S. Hydrogen Powered Passenger Trainset Testing at TTC

By Boris Nejikovsky, Special Advisor, ENSCO, Inc.; Matt DeGeorge, Senior Railway Research Engineer, ENSCO, Inc.; and Lucy Andre, Chief of Staff, Stadler US Inc.

Decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in transportation is a pressing challenge facing the government, rail industry, and public. Making groundbreaking advancements in sustainable rail transportation, ENSCO is leading the charge within the industry.

September 2023 — RT&S

Ballast Studies at the Transportation Technology Center

by Radim Bruzek, R&D Program Manager, ENSCO, Inc.; Sean Woods, R&D Project Manager, ENSCO, Inc.; and Hugh Thompson, Program Manager, Track Research Division, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Office of Research, Development, and Technology

Throughout the years, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has sponsored numerous research projects aimed at enhancing the understanding of ballast behavior and performance. The FRA's Transportation Technology Center (TTC) in Pueblo, Colorado is the site of recent innovative programs.

August 2023 — Railway Age

Crashworthiness for Alternative Fuel Powered Vehicles

by Przemyslaw Rakoczy, Senior Rail Research Engineer; and Matthew Dick, P.E., Chief of Strategy & Development, ENSCO, Inc.

TTC has been instrumental to the introduction of alternative fuel and battery-powered trains to the rail network. Having provided a technical basis for crashworthiness assessments in the past, TTC is ready to aid alternative fuel and battery-powered train suppliers in the future, by ensuring safe operations while reducing fuel emissions.

July 2023 — RT&S

Case Study of Autonomous Track Inspection Technology with MARTA and FTA to Gain Enhanced Safety and Asset Management

by Matthew Dick, P.E., Chief of Strategy & Development, ENSCO, Inc. Jennifer Streets Zahaczewski, Engineer, ENSCO, Inc. Abhay "A.J." Joshi, Director of Expansion Program Management, MARTA; and Raj Wagley, General Manager, Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), and ENSCO teamed up to demonstrate how autonomous technologies can be successfully implemented in transit operations. The goals are to decrease manual walking during track inspection and increase overall safety and state of good repair.

June 2023 — Railway Age

Railway Cybersecurity Regulations & Standards

by Matthew Dick, P.E., Chief of Strategy & Development; Jeffery Baca, Sr. Staff Cyber Systems Engineer; and Erin Plemons, Staff Cybersecurity Engineer, ENSCO, Inc.

Cybersecurity is a vital component to comprehensive railroad safety. Here, you’ll learn how it relates to the railroad industry and the roles of relevant regulatory agencies. This companion article in the January 2023 issue of RT&S provides discussion on cyber attackers and example attacks made to railways.

May 2023 — RT&S

FRA Tools and Training for Continuous Welded Rail (CWR) Management

by Radim Bruzek, R&D Program Manager, ENSCO, Inc.; and Robert Wilson, Program Manager, Track Research Division, Federal Railroad Administration Office of Research, Development, and Technology, Amherst, MA

Proper Continuous Welded Rail (CWR) is a challenging but crucial aspect to railroad management. These advanced web applications are also accessible from mobile devices and available to the rail industry at no cost.

April 2023 — Railway Age

Fortis Prototype Fabrication and Testing

by Przemyslaw Rakoczy, Senior Research Engineer; and Matthew Dick, P.E., Chief of Strategy & Development, ENSCO, Inc.

TTC, operated by ENSCO and its partners, is aiding the DOE to fabricate and test an eight-axle spent nuclear fuel cask-carrying railcar. This project is the first of many where TTC, under ENSCO’s operation, provides AAR qualification testing for future freight rolling stock.

March 2023 — RT&S

Advanced Track Geometry Condition Forecasting Using ML/AI

by Radim Bruzek, R&D Program Manager; Serkan Sandıkçıoğlu, Product Manager, ENSCO, Inc.; and Jay Baillargeon, Program Manager, FRA Office of Research, Development, and Technology

Track geometry is one of the most common measurements utilized to assess track condition. With the emergence of Advanced Track Geometry Measurement Systems (ATGMS), the volume of harvested data has risen significantly the past few years. At TTC, forecast models are being evaluated for degree of accuracy.

February 2023 — Railway Age

Operational Testing of Stadler FLIRT DMU Trainsets

by ENSCO’s Senior Railway Research Engineer Matthew DeGeorge and Stadler US Chief of Staff Lucy Andre

Working in conjunction with ENSCO, Stadler US is completing qualification testing at TTC. This enables Stadler to ensure safe and reliable operation of its FLIRT Diesel Multiple-Unit (DMU) Trainsets, without interfering with Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s (DART) revenue operations. The testing is an example of the vast opportunity available to passenger rail at the facility.

January 2023 — RT&S

Cybersecurity and What It Means to Track, Structures, and Signals

by Matthew Dick, P.E., Chief of Strategy & Development; Jeffery Baca, Sr. Staff Cyber Systems Engineer; and Erin Plemons, Staff Cybersecurity Engineer, ENSCO, Inc.

Cyberattacks are a threat to the rail industry, just like any other. Implementing proper cybersecurity practices is necessary to keeping track, structures, and signal systems protected. TTC’s new Center for Critical Infrastructure Protection (CCIP) aims to aid organizations in their mission for cybersecurity.

September 2022 — RT&S

TTC’s Second Half-Century: An Expanded Role

by Dr. Maryam Allahyar Wyrick and Sean Woody, Director, Office of Research, Development and Technology, FRA

With ENSCO at the helm of TTC for more than a year, its research and training capabilities have expanded to encourage collaboration across federal agencies. Through the change, ENSCO and FRA have remained committed to providing important safeguards on data privacy and protection for the facility’s commercial partners.

July 2022 — International Railway Journal

ENSCO embarks on new era at TTC

ENSCO’s president Jeff Stevens sat down with the International Railway Journal to discuss the company’s five-year plan to manage TTC. Stevens highlighted ENSCO’s commitment to the confidentiality of proprietary information, and the creation of world-class training facilities for federal personnel.