Comparison of FRA Regulations to International High-Speed Rail Standards

This report compares international standards with selected parts of Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Code of Federal Regulation Title 49 CFR Transportation. The parts were preselected by FRA and are meant to reflect those areas of the regulations that most influence operational safety. The comparisons in this paper identify gaps and open points relative to European standards. Notable differences were found in the areas of vehicle track interaction, noise, safety glazing, locomotive safety, locomotive crashworthiness, aerodynamics, and emergency exit requirements. The report also reviews the more accessible Far East standards from China, Taiwan, and Japan. Transportation Technology Center, Inc., recommends formal translation and study of the Korean standards at a later time, possibly in conjunction with a study of railroad regulations in India, Central Asia, and Australia.

• Record URL:
  https://www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/details/L04577#p1_z50_gD_lRT_y2013
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Technology Center, Incorporated

  55500 DOT Road
  Pueblo, CO  United States  81001

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Research and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Railroad Policy and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Witte, Matthew
  • Wilson, Nicholas
  • Fries, Robert
  • Wu, Huimin
• Publication Date: 2013-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 158p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerodynamics; Crashworthiness; High speed rail; International; Locomotives; Noise; Railroad safety; Railroad tracks; Regulations; Standards
• Identifier Terms: United States Code. Title 49
• Geographic Terms: China; Europe; Japan; South Korea; Taiwan
• Subject Areas: Design; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01482568
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT/FRA/ORD-13/30
• Contract Numbers: DTFR53-00-C-00012, Task Order 258
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: May 24 2013 10:31AM