Bridge Inspection

This seminar is designed to give the railway professional an understanding of what is involved in inspecting bridges, culverts and tunnels to ensure they are safe for the passage of trains. This seminar will give you a basis for knowing when to ask an expert about a potential concern.The instructors teach the participant how to recognize early signs of issues that, if not addressed, can develop into serious problems. The Bridge Inspection Seminar is based on the New AREMA Bridge Inspection Handbook Second Edition©  published in 2017. Instructors are experienced railroad bridge professionals.

PDH Hours: 21.75


Building the Steel Interstate

Rail Electrification and Expanding Capacity of U.S. Railways for Express Freight and Passenger Service
This seminar provides electrification and added higher class track for long-haul express (>80mph) mixed freight and regional passenger service. The economics and funding mechanisms are also explored.

This seminar is designed for rail electrification engineers, renewable energy engineers, railway construction professionals, rail vehicle engineers and electrical engineers.

PDH Hours: 6.75

Derailment Cause Finding & Derailment Prevention

This seminar will introduce participants to the important principles of effective derailment cause-finding. Topics will include wheel/rail interference, site investigation, derailments at switches, making station measurements, evaluating mechanical condition of equipment, train handling, data analysis and documenting the cause.

This seminar is designed for Track Inspectors, Assistant Track Supervisors, Roadmasters, Track Supervisors, Assistant Division Engineers, Division Engineers, Managers and Directors of Track Maintenance for all size railroads and anyone interested in learning more about the principles of effective derailment cause-finding.

PDH Hours: 10

Environmental Permitting Issues In Railroad Construction Projects

This one day seminar will discuss how to manage the myriad of environmental and permitting issues that apply to railroad construction projects. The instructors will explain how to know what permits or approvals are needed and discuss strategies for minimizing effects to your schedule and budget. Much of the afternoon session will focus on practical applications and discussions of real and typical projects.

PDH Hours: 7.5
 

Intermodal Terminal Design (Formally Intermodal Facility Design)

What are Intermodal Facilities? The operations, equipment, technology and design of Intermodal Facilities will be discussed in this seminar. What is happening today and what does the future look like for Intermodal Facilities?

What are the environmental impacts and sensitivities for Intermodal Facilities? If you are a Civil or Rail Engineer with varying experience levels this seminar is for you.

PDH Hours: 6.5

Introduction to Practical Railway Engineering

Participants benefiting the most from this course are those with limited exposure to the railway industry or railroaders with highly specialized positions. For example, a structural engineer well versed in highway bridge design but with some exposure to railway bridge design would gain valuable knowledge about track, signals, and railway operations typically unfamiliar to those outside
the industry.

The benefits from this seminar include contact with other railroad professionals through our low student/instructor ratio. Participants will gain a greater appreciation for the technical and not-so-technical aspects of railroad engineering and operations.

Registration fee includes a workbook containing printed copies of the presentation and a digital copy of the Practical Guide to Railway Engineering ($125 value) - an 800-page text published by AREMA.

PDH Hours: 20

PTC 101 - Introduction to Positive Train Control (PTC)

This half day seminar is intended to give the audience an introduction to Positive Train Control (PTC) as mandated by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008. Some of the topics are: aspects of the law, the affected railroads, PTC Segments, ITC, AAR and AREMA standards, practices, and resources, 220MHz network deployment, PTC training and FCC ruling on wayside towers. This course is intended for the person seeking a basic understanding of PTC including suppliers, consultants, agencies, officials, railroad management and staff from departments not affected by PTC, as well as new hires that will be engaged in PTC activities.

PDH Hours: 3.75


Rail Bulk Terminal Design Seminar

Participants benefiting the most from this course are industrial consultants, utility plant designers including process design, railroad consultants and industrial development staff.
This seminar will discuss designs of selected types of railroad bulk terminals, including simple sidings, loop tracks, multiple function petrochemical terminals and grain terminals.

PDH Hours: 6.75

Railroad Bridge Worker Safety (Fall Protection) Orientation for Shortlines, Contractors & Consultants

This seminar is designed for bridge supervisors, bridge maintenance personnel, designers, bridge contractors and consultants, trainers, shortline supervisors, safety managers or any other personnel subject to the FRA 214 Part B Workplace Safety (Railway Bridge Worker Fall Protection) regulation. Participants familiar with OSHA or CSA Fall Protection Regulations will recognize the differences between the FRA and other regulations.

This seminar will provide an in-depth overview using railway photos and common applications of the 214 Part B Regulation including current FRA interpretations. Note: This orientation program cannot fully meet the training requirements of the regulation as bridge workers must be trained on the use and proper fit-up & adjustment of the specific equipment they are using as well as the rescue equipment and procedures they will use. In most cases, this can be accomplished locally after completion of the AREMA orientation program. A workbook with CD-ROM containing this program is provided.

PDH Hours: 3.75

Railroad Surveying 101 Course

This course has shown that typical participants benefiting the most from this course are those with limited exposure to the railway industry, or railroaders with highly specialized positions. For example, a surveyor-engineer well versed in highway/street design but with some exposure to railway boundaries would gain valuable knowledge about track, railroad cadastre, railroad terminology, theory and railway operations typically unfamiliar to those outside the industry.

The course begins with the "dirty dozen", a list of the 12 most common blunders, poor assumptions and bad guesses that railroad professionals see on an everyday basis coming to them from non railroad professionals and agencies that kill or delay projects that involve crossing or bordering a railroad. Upon completing this seminar, the surveyor should be much more aware of the issues and requirements to be addressed prior to tackling a railroad related project. The surveyor should now be more confident that railroad related work can be managed under his area of expertise.

FRA 214:  Roadway Worker On-Track Safety

This workshop has been developed for any potential roadway worker or contractor to a railroad.

FRA 214:  Roadway Worker On-Track Safety is required by the 49CFR FRA 214 Regulations. This workshop will meet all FRA requirements relating to On-Track Safety using video, PowerPoint presentation and is instructor led.

PDH Hours: 3.75

Seismic Design of Railroad Bridges

This seminar will teach the practicing bridge designer how to apply the seismic design procedures of AREMA Chapter 9 to railroad bridges. The seminar will be conducted by current members of AREMA Committee 9 with practical experience designing railroad bridges in high seismic regions of North America. The seminar will provide the practicing bridge designer with the skills necessary to design typical railroad bridge structures for seismic loads.

PDH Hours: 6

Streambed Erosion Hazard Recognition & Countermeasures for Railroad Embankments and Bridges Seminar

The knowledge gained in this seminar will result in real savings for the railroad as well as increased survivability of railroad infrastructure to natural hazards. The most common natural hazard that will take a railroad out of service is erosion of the track embankment and bridges. A track wash out is very costly to repair and results in long periods of service interruption. This seminar teaches the participants to recognize early signs of impending streambed instability. You will also focus on design procedures to mitigate erosion. The cost to repair the damages after the track has washed out are many times greater than the cost to mitigate erosion at the first sign of unstable streambeds. This is a one-day seminar focusing primarily on inspecting for scour and knowing how to prevent or repair it.

PDH Hours: 6.75

Track Alignment Design

Participants will learn design approaches of typical rail service, capacity, and routing problems with a sharp focus on development and evaluation of horizontal and vertical alignment geometric design. A case study approach provides incrementally higher levels of difficulties with multiple constraints, building on concepts learned in prior modules. 9 real world situations are presented to the participants, who are walked through the project from the concept phase through alternative analysis to the final resolution. The interface of signal design and constructability with track alignment design are discussed.

This 2 day seminar is best for individuals that are responsible for track design production work, with 1-5 years of railroad or track design experience, or more experienced railroaders and engineers moving into track design responsibilities. Participants should have a rudimentary knowledge of railroads and railroad terminology. The IPRE or equivalent is an ideal precursor to this class.

Attendees will receive a certificate of participation, a workbook, and copy of the program on CD-ROM

PDH Hours: 16


Track Assessment Tools and Techniques

This one day seminar will discuss briefings on how to inspect tracks using handheld tools and how to use the data from automated inspection systems, including the use of computer and web based data management tools and to conduct follow-up inspections on tracks.
This workshop is geared toward professions within the railroad industry who inspect track or uses track inspection data.

PDH Hours: 6.25

FRA 213: Track Safety Standards

This seminar is designed to teach the FRA 213 – Track Safety Standards with a fresh, innovative and interactive approach. AREMA, recognizing the special needs of short lines and contractors, developed this workshop specifically for short lines with Class 1 – 3 trackage. Using the format of its successful workshop for Class 1 – 5, the program has been completely retooled with photos depicting short line situations, problems and case studies geared only to Class 1 – 3 trackage.

Special emphasis is placed on:  Excepted track, drainage, defective ties and vegetation

Attendees will receive a certificate of participation, a workbook, copy of the program on CD-ROM and a copy of the FRA 213 Track Safety Standards.

PDH Hours: 21

Train Accident Investigation Cause-Finding & Prevention

Topics for this seminar will include wheel/rail interfence, site investigation, derailments at switches, making station measurements, evaluating the mechanical condition of equipment, train handling, data analysis and documenting the cause.

The target audience for this course includes track inspectors, roadmasters, track supervisors, track managers, transportation managers, inexperienced railroad managers, and anyone interested in learning more about cause-finding and prevention of train accidents.

PDH Hours: 11.5