COST EFFECTIVENESS OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT RELATED TO RAILROAD ELECTRIFICATION IN THE UNITED STATES

The object of this report is to determine the impact of research and development on railroad electrification in the United States. It is presumed that electrification is economically viable and that a prior commitment has been made to electrifying the high density mainlines. Research and development topics are identified from a series of government/industry workshops. Those near-term and mid-term topics found to have major impact include substation and railroad/utility interface improvements to reduce energy costs, improvements in catenary design and construction techniques, improvement in locomotive power density and adhesion, and reduction in electromagnetic interference. Their impact on a postulated network is measured by the savings which could accrue if the research and development accomplishments were implemented when available. Additional non-hardware topics identified for the near term include system engineering, standards, and socio-economic and environmental impact. Far-term topics identified include linear motors and brakes, dc electrification, and improvements for electrification of lighter density routes. The cost benefits of dc electrification for the second increment of the postulated network are presented.

• Record URL:
  https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/cost-effectivieness-research-and-development-related-railroad-electrification-united
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared for U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Research and Development, Washington, D.C.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Systems Center

  55 Broadway, Kendall Square
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02142

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Research and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Raposa, F L
  • Spenny, C H
• Publication Date: 1977-12

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 166 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adhesion; Catenaries (Railroads); Development; Electric locomotives; Electric substations; Electromagnetic interference; Linear motors; Public utilities; Railroad electrification; Research; Specifications
• Uncontrolled Terms: Research and development; Utilities
• Old TRIS Terms: Linear electric motor
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Research;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00170575
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Railroad Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT-TSC-FRA-77-22 Intrm Rpt., FRA/ORD-77/62
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Feb 16 1978 12:00AM