DEVELOPING STANDARDS FOR SYSTEM AND SUBSYSTEM INTERFACES IN ELECTRIC RAIL PASSENGER VEHICLES

The Transportation Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) is sponsoring a two year project which will implement a process for developing consensus standards (physical, logical and electrical) for system and subsystem interfaces for elements of electric rail passenger vehicles (light rail, heavy rail and commuter rail vehicles). Using the process, one or more standards will be produced. The TCRP contract has been awarded to Thomas J. McGean, P.E., an engineering firm with 20 years experience in high technology transit. The team also includes LTK Engineering Services, specialists in rail vehicle procurement and specifications for over 75 years, Linda Sue Boehmer, president of the IEEE Vehicular Technology Society, and Tom Sullivan, formerly director of the New Technology Signal Systems program for New York City transit and now with PB Transit & Rail Systems. This paper identifies major issues and constraints which will have to be dealt with in this standardization effort, describes the approach which will be taken to establish an ongoing rail standardization activity under the aegis of the IEEE, and provides a status report on committee activities to date.