William Browder Director of Operations, Association of American Railroads William Browder Director of Operations, Association of American Railroads WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Railway Perspective
PRECIPITATION TEMPERATURES VISIBILITY WINDS PRECIPITATION TEMPERATURES VISIBILITY WINDS OVERVIEW Weather Information Needs / Requirements Results
Frozen Precipitation - General ConditionAction * Lead-time –Frozen PrecipitationMaintain safe Operator's transportation. Discretion –Freezing Rain/IcingClear tracks and 2-hrs power rails/wires. –Inclement weatherRail schedules 1-2 hrs leading to early altered. Add release of commuterspassenger cars. –Snowfall/Drifting snowMobilize staff. 24 hrs (optimum) Icing/Freezing RainStage equipment.8-hrs (minimum) * Accumulation and lead-time affect the decision process Frozen Precipitation - General ConditionAction * Lead-time –Frozen PrecipitationMaintain safe Operator's transportation. Discretion –Freezing Rain/IcingClear tracks and 2-hrs power rails/wires. –Inclement weatherRail schedules 1-2 hrs leading to early altered. Add release of commuterspassenger cars. –Snowfall/Drifting snowMobilize staff. 24 hrs (optimum) Icing/Freezing RainStage equipment.8-hrs (minimum) * Accumulation and lead-time affect the decision process WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Precipitation
Frozen Precipitation - Specific Condition (Preparation) Action * Lead-time –Snowfall 0-2"Mobilize staff. Stage24-hrs equipment.8-hrs min. –Snowfall 2-6"Initiate appropriate action12-hrs plan. –Snowfall 6-8"Initiate appropriate action12-hrs plan. –Snowfall > 8"Initiate appropriate action12-hrs plan. * Accumulation and lead-time affect the decision process Frozen Precipitation - Specific Condition (Preparation) Action * Lead-time –Snowfall 0-2"Mobilize staff. Stage24-hrs equipment.8-hrs min. –Snowfall 2-6"Initiate appropriate action12-hrs plan. –Snowfall 6-8"Initiate appropriate action12-hrs plan. –Snowfall > 8"Initiate appropriate action12-hrs plan. * Accumulation and lead-time affect the decision process WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Precipitation
Frozen Precipitation - Specific Condition (Execution) Action * Lead-time –Snowfall 0-2"Mobilize staff. Stage24-hrs equipment. Maintain Ops.8-hrs min. –Snowfall 2-6"Maintain Ops. RailReal-time. restrictions optional. –Snowfall 6-8"Maintain Ops. ServiceReal-time. delayed or altered. –Snowfall > 8"Reduced operations. Real-time. Suspend operations. * Accumulation and lead-time affect the decision process Frozen Precipitation - Specific Condition (Execution) Action * Lead-time –Snowfall 0-2"Mobilize staff. Stage24-hrs equipment. Maintain Ops.8-hrs min. –Snowfall 2-6"Maintain Ops. RailReal-time. restrictions optional. –Snowfall 6-8"Maintain Ops. ServiceReal-time. delayed or altered. –Snowfall > 8"Reduced operations. Real-time. Suspend operations. * Accumulation and lead-time affect the decision process WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Precipitation
Liquid Precipitation - General Condition Action Lead-time –Heavy precipitation Speed reductions. Operator's Discretion –Heavy precipitationMaintenance checks forOperator's roadbed washout.Discretion –Flooding Protect trains. Warn Minimal engineers. Adjust schedules, re-route traffic, or cancel routes; as necessary. Liquid Precipitation - General Condition Action Lead-time –Heavy precipitation Speed reductions. Operator's Discretion –Heavy precipitationMaintenance checks forOperator's roadbed washout.Discretion –Flooding Protect trains. Warn Minimal engineers. Adjust schedules, re-route traffic, or cancel routes; as necessary. WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Precipitation
Liquid Precipitation - Specific ConditionActionLead-time –Flooding Alter or delay rail schedule,1-hr as necessary. Check pumps in flood prone areas. –FloodingInspect bridges, trestles, 1-hr tunnels, and other structures for operational integrity. Liquid Precipitation - Specific ConditionActionLead-time –Flooding Alter or delay rail schedule,1-hr as necessary. Check pumps in flood prone areas. –FloodingInspect bridges, trestles, 1-hr tunnels, and other structures for operational integrity. WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Precipitation
General ConditionActionLead-time –Severe ThunderstormDelay routes, adjust Operator's schedules; as necessary.Discretion –LightningCease refueling operations.Operator's Cease switching operations.Discretion Curtail rail car inspections. General ConditionActionLead-time –Severe ThunderstormDelay routes, adjust Operator's schedules; as necessary.Discretion –LightningCease refueling operations.Operator's Cease switching operations.Discretion Curtail rail car inspections. WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Thunderstorms / Lightning
Air Temperature ConditionActionLead-time < 32 deg FMonitor personnel and 6-12hrs equipment stress, crew comfort and safety. > 85 deg FCatenary problems Operator’s in older railwayDiscretion installations--reduce speed. > 85 deg FMonitor personnel and 6-12hrs equipment stress, crew comfort and safety. > 90 deg FTrack inspections. Slow orReal-time suspend operations. Air Temperature ConditionActionLead-time < 32 deg FMonitor personnel and 6-12hrs equipment stress, crew comfort and safety. > 85 deg FCatenary problems Operator’s in older railwayDiscretion installations--reduce speed. > 85 deg FMonitor personnel and 6-12hrs equipment stress, crew comfort and safety. > 90 deg FTrack inspections. Slow orReal-time suspend operations. WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Temperatures
Railway Temperature ConditionActionLead-time < 32 deg FTrack inspections. SlowReal-time or suspend operations deg FNo maintenance action.N/A > 85 deg FMonitor personnel and Real-time equipment. > 90 deg FTrack Inspections. Slow orReal-time suspend operations. –Extreme temperature gradients over time is critical to rail expansion and contraction. Railway Temperature ConditionActionLead-time < 32 deg FTrack inspections. SlowReal-time or suspend operations deg FNo maintenance action.N/A > 85 deg FMonitor personnel and Real-time equipment. > 90 deg FTrack Inspections. Slow orReal-time suspend operations. –Extreme temperature gradients over time is critical to rail expansion and contraction. WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Temperatures
Type of obscuration to vision (fog, smoke, haze, glare) is not important. ConditionActionLead-time <3 mileRail speed reductions.Operator's (depends on speed andDiscretion length of train). Type of obscuration to vision (fog, smoke, haze, glare) is not important. ConditionActionLead-time <3 mileRail speed reductions.Operator's (depends on speed andDiscretion length of train). WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Visibility
General ConditionActionLead-time Blown debrisClear routes. Delay Operator's operations. Discretion mph, crosswindsRail service delays, asOperator's necessary. SuspendDiscretion operations, as necessary. –Sustained strong wind is more of a factor than gusts. General ConditionActionLead-time Blown debrisClear routes. Delay Operator's operations. Discretion mph, crosswindsRail service delays, asOperator's necessary. SuspendDiscretion operations, as necessary. –Sustained strong wind is more of a factor than gusts. WEATHER INFORMATION NEEDS / REQUIREMENTS RESULTS Winds