Making It Happen: Technical

Refurbished and Additional Track

Here a Union Pacific track gang is rebuilding a section of track south of Pontiac, IL to 110 mph standards. In many cases, all that's required to replace ties and ballast and realign the track, sometimes the rail is also replaced.

Many projects will require replacing track that was removed during a period of downsizing by the freight carriers. The downsizing also created an opportunity for states to upgrade duplicate mainlines to be used almost exclusively for passenger trains.

Modern Trains

This a train that operates in a variety of services in Norway.

Advanced Signaling Systems

Most trains are controlled by a series of signals very similar to highway traffic signals. Current federal regulations limit these passenger trains to 79 mph. There are several locations across the country, where duplicate signals are located in the locomotive cab and the train will stop automatically if a red signal is passed, where trains can operate at 90mph.

On the east coast, between Washington, New York and Boston, an advanced signal system that uses radio signals transmitted in the rails allows speeds up to 150 mph.

Illinois and Michigan are both developing the next generation of train control system that will allow speeds in excess of 100 mph.

Rehabbed Bridges and New Flyovers

Just as major highway intersections separate crossing flows of traffic, reliable passenger service will require separating major rail lines. This flyover built to smooth access to the San Bernadino railroad station is just one example.

The City of Chicago, the state of Illinois and the nation's major railroads are cooperating on a project to that will improve rail traffic nationwide.

Improved Stations and Local Connections

Stations should function as a gathering location for as wide a geographic area as possible. In addition to a good walkable location, this means a large, safe parking lot, good transit access and connections to intercity bus routes.

In addition to a good walkable location, this means a large, safe parking lot, good transit access and connections to intercity bus routes.

CREATE - The Chicago Rail Development Plan

Safer Crossings

While the safest highway/railroad crossing is bridge, budgets and local access issues will keep most grade crossings open. Most crossings on the proposed high-frequency passenger rail routes will receive substantial safety improvements.

This is a recently upgraded crossing in Gardner, IL on the Chicago to St. Louis corridor. It uses lessons about changing driving behavior learned by the work of the North Carolina Department of Transportation.