Intermediate Rail Studies North America
·
Greater Rockford Airport Authority: High Speed Rail Link to O’Hare Airport
This study analysed the operation of the state supported Amtrak services. This phase investigated the operations and costings involved.Transheldrake staff were responsible for
Kremmling Township: Kremmling Station Preliminary Economic Impact Analysis
This study with TranSystems Corporation analysed the impact of opening a rail station at Kremmling CO.Transheldrake staff were responsible for the preliminary economic analysis which evaluated
State of Maine Departments of Transportation: Boston-Portland Rail Service Restoration Study
This study a joint venture with VHB and TEMS assessed the viability of restoring the rail service to the old Boston and Maine route Boston to Portland, using Amtrak as a service provider. Transheldrake staff were responsible for
· Development of a zone system and the socioeconomic database
· Development of the rail operating plan and schedules
· Development of a system of integrated bus services
· The alternatives analysis involving the costings of three service scenarios
· The FTA liaison with respect to Section 13 implications.
· Liaison with the private bus operators as to potential operations
Commonwealth of Virginia: Bristol Rail Study
This study undertaken by TEMS and F.R Harris studied the feasibility of restoring a rail service between Bristol Va and Washington DC with a connection at Lynchburg to Richmond. The study established basic engineering criteria and demand.Transheldrake staff were responsible for all rail operation issues and the following.
· Establishment of zone system and socioeconomic data base
· Selection of train technology with analysis with ABB on the suitability of adoption of a high speed rail concept to operate at normal Amtrak speeds, on a class 4 railroad subject to heavy curvature.
· This involved using tilt and steerable bogie’s to enable cant deficiency levels to be raised, thus permitting higher speeds than the current track speed restrictions.
· This enabled train time overall to be reduced from 9 hours to 4 hours, even though a top speed of 80 mph was selected.
· Development of timetables and schedules
· Development of train utilization and operation plans
· Analysis of customer service issues required for rolling stock and stations
· Development of a operational costing system
· The production of costings for the life of the project, compared to revenues from demand model
This study in partnership with Alfred Benesch & Co investigated the options open to establish a rail link between downtown Rockford, Rockford Airport and O’Hare Airport. The study was undertaken with cooperation from METRA and a full civil engineering, operations and demand study was undertaken. Transheldrake staff were responsible for
· Creation of fine zone system for the City of Rockford
· The establishment of route and inventory of engineering improvements necessary
· The creation of a timetable and schedule compatible to existing METRA and CP Soo line operations
· Establishment of an operational costing system acceptable to METRA’s accountancy department
· Creation of operational costing based on both operation of DMU IC3 technology and that of using METRA stock
State of Illinois, Department of Transportation: Illinois Passenger Rail Service Operating Cost Analysis
· Assessment of the unbalance between Chicago and Quincy for speed increases and time savings
· Assessment of the passenger flows between Carbondale and Chicago and evaluation of the proposed timetable change
· Assessment of connectivity between routes
· Establishment of a unit cost system and operating costs to compare operation by Amtrak, Metra and an independent operator
Amtrak, State of Oklahoma: Rail Service Study Fort Worth, Oklahoma, Tulsa, Kansas City
This study analysed the possible introduction of a rail service from Chicago to Fort Worth via Kansas City, Newton Ka, Wichita Ka and Oklahoma City with a connection to Tulsa. The concept was to attach extra cars to the Southwest Chief ex Chicago to Newton and visa versa. The study examined the potential demand, operational factors and operational costs. Transheldrake staff were responsible for
· Analysis of connection timetable to serve Tulsa
· Establishment of provisional costings
VIA Rail : Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec Incremental Improvement Analysis
This study analysed the relationship between time saved and demand for improvements in timetabled speed of under twenty minutes. The VIA Rail system in Ontario and Quebec was analysed.Transheldrake staff were responsible in this study for
· The development and execution of the stated preference and origin-destination surveys, and the socioeconomic database
· Analysis of alternative timetable options
Hamilton Airport Authority: Outline Analysis of Rail Connection to Toronto
This study established the possible rail connections available to connect Hamilton Airport to the main CN line to Toronto downtown. Two routes were selected one via downtown Hamilton. Transheldrake staff were responsible for
· Designing a timetable and proposed journey times for the two options
· The traveller and community benefits
