Supply Side: TTC, ASLRRA/Wi-Tronix, Spark TS, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions

TTC

The FRA has awarded partners of the TTC more than $84 million in CRISI funding.

TTC partner projects that have been selected for the 2023-2024 CRISI grant awards are:

• East Erie Commercial Rail (Pennsylvania): Development of Enabling Technologies for Hydrogen Adoption in Rail (Up to $48,412,512).
• University of Delaware (Delaware): Center for Hands-On Training and Learning Environment for the Next Generation Railroad Technical Workforce at the High Tonnage Loop (HTL) Center (Up to $14,483,892).
• Colorado State University, Pueblo (Colorado): Safety Assessment, Testing, and Workforce Development for Hydrogen/Natural Gas Motive Power (Up to $11,671,781).
• Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (Virginia): Next Generation PTC-Integrated Onboard Smart Technologies and Training for Rolling Stock Condition Monitoring to Mitigate Train Derailment (Up to $9,679,655).

ENSCO, Inc., the operator of TTC, says it is proud to support these partner organizations in fulfilling the FRA’s strategic goals: “advancing railway workforce development and accelerating research for safety and sustainability.”

“We are honored to have the TTC support the FRA and our partners to help advance railway safety, sustainability, and workforce development,” said ENSCO President Jeff Stevens. “With more than 50 miles of test track, hands-on training, leading subject matter experts, and industry support – the TTC is the perfect choice for implementing these initiatives.”

In total, FRA awarded $2.4 billion in CRISI funding to applicants across the United States.

ASLRRA/Wi-Tronix

ASLRRA, in conjunction with project partner Wi-Tronix, has been awarded a FY2023-24 CRISI Program Grant by the FRA. The $20.5 million grant, the company says, will play a crucial role in modernizing America’s short line railroads through the implementation of Wi-Tronix’s innovative digital onboard system, the Violet Edge, in more than 600 short line locomotives.

The CRISI Grant program, administered by the FRA, “aims to enhance the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the nation’s rail infrastructure.” Short line railroads, which are vital to the U.S. transportation network, Wi-Tronix says, often lack access to advanced technologies that can significantly improve their operations.

By implementing Wi-Tronix’s modern onboard technology, the company says short lines can benefit from “proactive safety measures, proactive troubleshooting, and enhanced communication capabilities.”

The Violet Edge platform provides real-time access to more than 100 locomotive signals from any device. This data can be used to create an immersive experience, allowing users to see, hear, and experience rail operations as they occur. This tool can be used to remotely assist in enhancing safety, reporting emissions, “ensuring regulatory compliance, and enabling proactive maintenance of locomotives,” according to Wi-Tronix.

The grant will benefit more than 75 short line railroad operations across 33 states. The onboard platform will allow users to remotely monitor their locomotives, securely store, retrieve, and analyze time-synchronized vehicle data from anywhere, at any time, and on any device. This newfound data, Wi-Tronix says, “will enable railroads to identify maintenance needs before they occur, reduce at-risk behavior, and ensure compliance with both internal best practices and federal regulations.”

Many of the installations will include integration of inward- and outward-facing cameras and event recorders, important tools for enhancing safety on the rail network. An important benefit of the systems will be reductions in fuel usage and emissions, “helping to improve the efficiency of freight logistics and benefit public health and the environment,” the company noted.

“This grant is a monumental win as it unlocks the opportunity for short line railroads to equip their locomotives with advanced onboard technology,” said Wi-Tronix VP of Sales and Customer Experience, Chad Jasmin. “By unlocking these previously unknown data insights, we are paving the way for enhanced safety, reliability, efficiency, and sustainability. The implementation of the Violet Edge onboard platform not only modernizes short line railroads but also sets new standards for operational excellence, creating unprecedented opportunities for growth and innovation across the entire industry. This technology will revolutionize short line railroads through advanced monitoring and modernization, meeting customer demands for critical first- and last-mile information.”

“Implementing advanced technology is often beyond the financial means of short line railroads, which is why we are so appreciative of this CRISI award,” said ASLRRA President Chuck Baker. “Wi-Tronix’s Violet Edge platform will allow for the collection and analysis of information, including energy usage, idling, and emission data. The results will bring significant advancements in safety, efficiency, and overall operational effectiveness for short lines, and deliver better service to the thousands of customers we serve.”

Spark TS

Spark TS, a provider of transportation SaaS (software-as-a-service) safety, compliance, and drug and alcohol testing, recently announced the launch of Rail Tasker 2.0, a comprehensive SaaS product designed to “modernize drug and alcohol testing management for the railroad and transportation industries.”

This new version, Spark TS says, builds upon the success of the original Rail Tasker, offering enhanced features and modules to “streamline compliance, improve safety, and increase efficiency.”

Rail Tasker 2.0 offers a suite of new features and enhancements, including:

• “Onboarding Dashboard: Centralize and simplify employee lifecycle management, tracking all DOT and company requirements for new hires, transfers, and returning employees in one location.
• “Enhanced DAT-e Module: Streamlines the management of non-negative testing events, referrals, and DUI convictions, ensuring seamless tracking and follow-up for employers.
• “Paperless Efficiency: Easily automate and track drug and alcohol (DAT) test results, forms, and records for a complete audit trail.
• “Enhanced Compliance Tools: Automated alerts for critical compliance deadlines and tasks, ensuring timely adherence to safety regulations.
• “Streamlined Audit Preparation: Comprehensive reports and dashboards for easy access to all testing and compliance-related documentation.
• “User Permissions: Role-based access for various stakeholders, including supervisors, Designated Employer Representatives (DERs), and compliance officers.”

“We are excited to introduce Rail Tasker 2.0, a game-changer for railroad safety and compliance,” said Holly Rainwater, VP of Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs at Spark TS. “This innovative SaaS solution enables railroad professionals to streamline operations, enhance workforce safety, and ensure regulatory compliance with ease.”

Rail Tasker 2.0 was built specifically for the railroad and transportation industries, ensuring organizations can maintain high safety standards while reducing the administrative burden on their teams, Spark TS noted. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features, Rail Tasker 2.0 is “the ideal solution for railroad and transportation companies of all sizes,” according to the company.

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions recently debuted its Tran-SECURE™ elastomer manway nozzle gaskets for chemical transportation customers.

These high-grade elastomer gaskets, the company says, are specially designed with superior sealing capabilities and simplified manufacturing processes, “providing exceptional performance for appropriately torqued tank car manways transporting the most aggressive chemicals.”

The manway nozzle gaskets are made from high-grade fluoroelastomer (FKM) materials, “offering enhanced chemical resistance, robust mechanical strength and a wide temperature range” Their single-piece design with a chevron profile ensures excellent sealing and simplified manufacturing. Leveraging material science and fully integrated engineering, they are developed with advanced materials and in-house manufacturing, helping to prevent non-accident releases (NARs). Produced in ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified facilities, they ensure consistent quality and full traceability from formulation to final product, the company noted.

According to Trelleborg, the chemical industry faces many challenges both in the processing of materials and in the transportation of these materials to customers. According to the Association of American Railroads (AAR), the manway is the leading cause of NARs, meaning it is critical that the industry has a readily available and reliable source for high-quality gaskets.

“For decades, shippers, tank car manufacturers and railcar repair shops have relied on Trelleborg to provide high-performance seals and repair kits, material testing and root cause analysis support,” said Trelleborg Global Segment Director, Chemical & Processing Thijs Menzel. “To fulfill their need for a single-source supplier for all their sealing requirements, we developed the new Tran-SECURE™ elastomer manway nozzle gaskets. Our engineers designed these gaskets to stand up against aggressive chemicals and exhibit exceptional durability and longevity for transporting a broad range of chemicals and other liquid commodities.” 

The elastomer nozzle gasket is part of a broader portfolio of products for chemical transportation. Trelleborg’s Turcon® Tran-SECURE™ polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) manway lid gasket is a thin, compressed gasket placed between the nozzle and manway cover designed to seal the entry and loading point into the tank car under a sufficient level of surface pressure. The portfolio also includes Tran-SECURE™ flat gaskets in a wide range of standard and custom materials.

Additional features and benefits of the elastomer manway lid and nozzle gaskets include:

• “Turcon® glass-reinforced PTFE delivering improved compressive and tensile strength while minimizing creep relaxation to ensure a tight seal over an extended period.
• “Turcon® PTFE material enables use without retraining.
• “Lid gasket featuring “J” style design in FKM provides enhanced chemical resistance, robust mechanical strength and a leak-tight seal.
• “Cost-effective sealing solution.
• “In-stock for shipment within 24 hours at www.chemtransportsealsshop.com.
• “Made in the USA.”