Washington County Commuter Rail Nears Completion

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WAYSIDE SIGNAL ADJUSTMENT

Rail Systems Solutions (RSS) was selected in early 2006 to design, furnish and install the train control system for the Washington County Commuter Rail (WCCR) corridor in Portland, Oregon.  The signal system is being implemented on live Portland and Western Railroad (P&WRR) right-ofway.  RSS scope also includes retrofitting the entire P&WRR fleet of locomotives with system compliant cab signal equipment. During this project RSS was trained by the railroad, became rules qualified, and thus approved to perform their own Employee-In-Charge activities.

Overall project construction is 100% complete. Testing and in-service operation is complete on 39 grade crossings that were upgraded with new warning systems. Wayside construction and field level pretest was completed in the spring of this year. Dynamic testing was successfully performed jointly between RSS, TriMet and P&WRR. As a result, absolute block signaling with full dispatch control was placed into service on June 15, 2008.

The carborne system has been fully verified and P&WRR locomotives began revenue service under the new cab signal system October 25, 2008. Dynamic testing in the field is 90% complete for the commuter vehicles. Revenue service is planned for February of 2009.

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CP WILSONVILLE INTERLOCKING AND HOUSE

RSS performed initial operations personnel training in April and detailed maintenance training in May of this year. Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon and P&WRR operational training was completed in June. 

The system is approximately 14.5 miles in length and is signaled for a top commuter train speed of 60 mph.  This cab signal system actively monitors the performance of trains and warns operators if they exceed allowable speeds. Additionally, the system stops the train if warnings to the operator are not responded to in the allowable time. The project includes 10 interlockings and 39 grade crossings.

 

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FIELD TRIP TO PWRR LOCOMOTIVE REINFORCES IN-CLASS TRAINING CONCEPTS

About Us:

Rail Systems Solutions (RSS) was incorporated in the State of Colorado in 2001.  Headquartered in Denver Colorado, RSS was initiated to serve the rail industry throughout North America and the world. Our primary focus is the train control disciplines, but our capabilities extend to the communications, power distribution and rail operations disciplines as well.

Our teams of seasoned experts are capable of providing a wide range of services to customers in the rail transportation industry.  We possess extensive experience in program management and controls, systems integration, signal design (conceptual through final), construction, commissioning, training and maintenance of complex systems in the transit and freight industry.  Our management team possesses an enviable record of delivering wide ranging projects consistently on time and on budget.