Metrolink peer review report - Ventura County Star

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METROLINK COMMUTER RAIL SAFETY PEER REVIEW PANEL Final Report – January 5, 2009 Issue Paper #5: Infrastructure and Maintenance a. Maintenance of Way (MOW) Issue Papers Observations The contractors at the primary level of performing track maintenance are experienced and have qualified senior staff managing the various tasks for their assigned responsibilities. In addition, the contractors appear to have sufficient staffing levels to accomplish the work duties assumed in the contract. The engineering standards that are applied in the contract documents are appropriate and compliant with FRA regulations. A few limited physical inspections were conducted, but given the time constraints of this review it was not possible for the Panel to inspect Metrolink’s approximately five hundred mile rail network. Rather, the Panel relied on a review of reports to determine if there was evidence of chronic rail problems that compromised system safety. Such defects could include track geometry, track strength, supporting structures, substructure and drainage. No chronic defects were evident that would pose an immediate safety concern. Metrolink maintenance is tied to funding sources from six separate entities, a situation complicating planning and scheduling of maintenance for given segments within the system. The Panel also noted concerns that specific segments of the system do not have assured funding to maintain the current and anticipated level of operations into the future. Recommendations a. Implement an electronic right-of-way asset management system that identifies trends and assists in hazard analysis. b. Require joint inspections by Metrolink staff and the contractor, which act as a check and balance in the system. c. Evaluate the adequacy of qualifications testing. Background Panel members, along with the Technical Team, interviewed senior staff from Metrolink and its various contractors in the MOW and signal department. Metrolink’s passenger service requires Class 4 define track but the agency maintains to a higher Class 5 standard. The Panel reviewed numerous documents that involve engineering track standards and regulatory compliance for the Class 5 standard. In addition, the team reviewed staff levels and management processes required to realize a safe, effective and compliant MOW function. In and of itself, the MOW function is complex on any major railroad -- especially those involving higher speed (79 mph to 90 mph) passenger services. Metrolink has chosen to implement this function employing several independent contractors. This implementation model adds a burden for contract specification development and contractor oversight. An internal audit process is recommended to determine contractor performance and assess safety performance frequently. The MOW department is required to adhere to a very large set of regulations and personnel qualifications promulgated by the FRA to ensure safety. All contractors functioning in this department must have a shared communication forum that allows for system wide risk assessment. Both the contractor and SCRRA staff could 42
METROLINK COMMUTER RAIL SAFETY PEER REVIEW PANEL Final Report – January 5, 2009 Issue Papers accomplish this through periodic joint inspections. The Panel recommends that Metrolink and its contractors conduct joint periodic inspections of track and signal facilities. This is evident in Appendix Q – Schedule of Reporting Requirements - contained in the MOW contract - which does not require the Metrolink MOW District Manager to have joint inspections with the contractor. Joint inspections, if structured properly, can be a useful quality control mechanism. Metrolink should make use of a systematic approach to trend analysis and inspection analysis. Inspections are being performed regularly, yet there is no system to tabulate the data and establish a baseline trend that would address engineering related maintenance issues. The relationship of maintenance expenditures to track condition (as revealed by inspections) is currently maintained by the individual’s familiarity with a given part of the system. This can create problems when there are changes in Metrolink management or contractor staff. In order to ensure that the infrastructure is efficiently maintained, a comprehensive data collection and storage system should be incorporated. This system will allow a more sophisticated trend analysis in support of capital maintenance programs and further strategic program management. Metrolink currently has five locomotives running equipment to determine ride quality issues on a given segment of track. This has been effective in determining maintenance issues and possible defects. While this equipment is only on the five locomotives, it is assumed that these locomotives travel over the entire Metrolink system within a week’s time and accurate and timely information is provided to the MOW team. It was noted that these locomotives are generally not specifically dispatched over designated segments of the Metrolink system, but that these locomotives tend to cover all operating territory in a given time period. 43
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Metrolink peer review report - Ventura County Star

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