FTA Passenger Rail
Vehicle Qualifi cation Test
Compendium
The TTCI online database is a resource available to rail transit
organizations and details information about current requirements
and tests for new passenger rail vehicles.
OCTOBER 9, 2017 | MassTransitmag.com | Mass Transit | Expo Daily | 17
ransportation Technology Center
Inc. was contracted by the Federal
Transit Administration to develop
a database that identifi es and documents
all qualifi cation or acceptance
tests for new passenger rail
vehicles that may be required to be
performed prior to their deployment
in service in the United States. Th e
database includes three major vehicle
categories: intercity/commuter rail,
heavy rail and light rail/street cars.
Qualifi cation and acceptance testing
of passenger rail vehicles is typically
specifi ed by the transit/commuter
agency obtaining the vehicles and/
or by government agencies. During
the 1970s the Urban Mass Transportation
Administration developed the
General Vehicle Test Plan (GVTP).
Th e GVTP listed extensive test and
instrumentation requirements for
performing transit vehicle qualifi cation
tests, which occurred at diff erent
locations, including revenue service
and/or the Transportation Technology
Center )near Pueblo, Colorado.
In 1991, UMTA was reorganized into
the Federal Transit Administration
and the requirements as specifi ed by
UMTA for testing transit cars no longer
were required.
Th e Federal Railroad Administration
has defi ned specifi c qualifi cation
and acceptance testing based on the
maximum speed of the vehicle (>90
mph). For vehicles operating below
90 mph, transit agencies and local
regulatory authorities have responsibility
to defi ne their own specifi -
cations. Th ese agency-defi ned specifi
cations usually are outlined in
requests for proposals that are distributed
when new vehicles are to be
procured. Th ese RFP specifi cations
can vary widely from one agency
to another, but frequently contain
updated parts of UMTA’s original
GVTP requirements.
TTCI identifi ed past and current
requirements for qualifi cation and
acceptance tests and analyses using
multiple sources. Sources of the
tests and analyses include American
Public Transportation Association
standards, FRA regulations, transit
agency procurement specifi cations,
discussion with transit agencies and
car builders, experience in testing
passenger vehicles at TTC, and other
international sources such as the
International Organization for Standardization
(ISO).
All tests and analyses identified
were categorized into a public database
that can be downloaded at
www.fta.aar.com. This database is
searchable and it is categorized by
the following:
• Mode of Operation/Vehicle Category
• Operating Speed Range
• Test/Analysis Category
Th e database is updated annually
as new information and details
about current requirements, tests
and capabilities become available.
In addition to the searchable database,
a link to the full FTA report
is available. Additional information
is also included on passenger rail
testing facilities where qualifi cation
tests may be performed, comparison
of rail vehicle dynamic modeling
soft ware packages, summary of rail
vehicle propulsion systems, and the
TTC’s current capabilities related to
passenger rail testing.
By MaryClara Jones T
RAIL RESOURCES
The TTCI
database
is updated
annually as new
information
and details
about current
requirements,
tests and
capabilities
become available.
MaryClara Jones is a
senior engineer II,
manager - Software
Services Dept., at
the Transportation
Technology Center Inc.
» Visit Transportation Technology Center Inc. at booth 6324.
