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Course Outline
Block Signal Design
- Minimum system and signal requirements
- Recommended practices (AREMA, APTA)
- System characteristics
- Minimum FRA signal system requirements
- Common signal plan symbols
- Rail system plans
- Cab signals
- Fixed block layouts (design, capacity, modeling)
- Safe braking distances, formulas, charts, and speed commands
Traffic Control Systems (TCS)
- Basic elements of TCS
- Primary functions and accomplishments
- Types of TCS
- Automatic block signal locations and equipment
- Minimum signal requirements
- Block signal requirements
- Moving block signaling
- FRA automatic block definitions
- Traffic control systems and functions
- Basic principles and signal systems
- Route and aspect chart
Electrical Fundamentals
- Resistance and current
- AC vs DC
- Resistors, inductors, capacitors
Track Circuit Theory
- FRA track circuit criteria
- DC track circuit
- AC power frequency circuit
- Audio track frequency circuits
- Track circuit based traffic control systems
Safety Assurance
- Safety analysis and objectives
- Fail-safe
- Training
Interlockings
- Interlocking overview and signaling
- FRA interlocking requirements
- Understanding switches
- Route locking and FRA requirements
- Detector and traffic locking
- Interlocking design and logic
- Interlocking examples
Positive Train Control
- What is PTC and how does it work
- How did we get here?
- PTC legislation and FRA
- Status of regulation and implementation
- PTC system architecture and operation
- Functional overview of operation
- PTC system components
- PTC systems
- ITEMS
- ACSES II
- ITCS
- Deployment status
Instructors and Program Director
Instructors
James Hoelscher
President
James R. Hoelscher is President of Hoelscher Consulting. Hoelscher has experience in development, implementation, and integration of railway signal and train control systems with a number of transit agencies, railroads, consultants, and contractors including Alstom and Invensys. He participated in the FRA RSAC meetings to develop the rules for PTC (236 Subpart I).
Timothy Heywood
Principal Safety Engineer
Tim Heywood is a Principal Safety Engineer with Critical Systems Analysis (CSA). He has more than 25 years of experience in the rail industry providing safety and reliability analysis, and product design and implementation of safety-critical signaling and communications systems for train control. He is a subject matter expert for safety analysis and risk assessment of CBTC and PTC systems. He is a member of AREMA Committee 39 developing recommended practices for PTC Systems.
Peter Matiukas
Pete Matiukas is retired as Principal Signal Designer responsible for transit and railroad system designs, including signaling and train control, rail operations, communications, and systems integration. He is experienced with light rail and heavy rail transit, commuter rail, and freight rail. He was active in AREMA Committees 37 and 39.
James Balliet
Principal Safety Engineer
James Balliet is currently the Principal Rail Safety Engineer for TUV in Rochester, NY. He has experience in the rail safety industry involving the development of vital signaling equipment (e.g. interlocking, track circuits, onboard communications) and evaluation of rail systems safety assurance (e.g. RAMS and Standards and Regulatory and Agency Certification Compliance).
Program Director
Dave Peterson