A Review of the Department of Transportation Plan for Analyzing and Testing Electronically Controlled Pneumatic Brakes (2017)

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33 Appendix E Analysis and Test Plan Assess the Effectiveness of ECP Brakes in Reducing the Risks Associated with High-Hazard Flammable Trains (Version 0.9 with notes on status, as of October 11, 2016) [The plan and brief notes on status were provided by Kevin Kesler, Federal Railroad Administration, on October 11, 2016.] 1. INTRODUCTION Section 7311(b) of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) directs the Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT) to conduct tests to provide data to inform a review of the costs, benefits, and effects of electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brakes that were used in the Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) for the “Enhanced Tank Car Standards and Operational Control for High-Hazard Flammable Trains” final rule (HHFT Rule; 80 FR 26643) published on May 8, 2015. DOT developed this analysis and test plan to provide the necessary data to allow the Secretary to determine if ECP brakes are jus- tified. The plan involves additional analysis (including computer simulation) and full-scale, physical tests. DOT has contracted with the Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academy of Sciences to provide independent oversight of the planned analysis and test work. TRB has formed a committee of ex- perts to: 1. Familiarize itself with the analysis and testing that DOT relied upon for the HHFT Rule; 2. Review the detailed test and analysis plan DOT proposes and, in a letter report, confirm it meets the FAST Act’s requirement to “objectively, accurately, and reliably measure the performance of ECP brake systems relative to other braking technologies or systems, such as distributed power and 2-way end-of-train devices” or recommend changes; 3. Review and oversee the testing procedures used by DOT or its contractors; 4. Review the test reports provided by DOT following the completion of testing and hold an open meet- ing to discuss the results; and 5. Provide a final letter report to DOT analyzing results of the testing and making findings and conclusions. The output from the analysis and testing described in this plan will be a series of reports describing methods and results. DOT will use the results, once confirmed by the TRB committee, to update the discus- sion of ECP brakes in the RIA for the HHFT Rule. DOT has contracted with suppliers to conduct the analysis and testing specified in this plan. Some of the tests are to be conducted at the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA’s) Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado, due to the unique testing infrastructure available at the facility. 2. ANALYSIS PLAN 2.1 Coefficient of Friction-(Post derailment tank car kinetic energy dissipation) The HHFT RIA used results of computer models of tank cars sliding along the ground after derailment until they came to rest or collided with another tank car. DOT will test the sensitivity of the benefits of ECP