Research today at TTCI making a difference on tomorrow ’ s railroad
Future Tracks
Research today at TTCI making a difference on tomorrow ’ s railroad
The Transportation Technology Center , Inc ., spans 52 square miles in a remote area near Pueblo , Colo . There , TTCI accomplishes isolated testing for all categories of freight and passenger rolling stock , vehicle and track components and safety devices .
On a remote swath of land near Pueblo , Colo ., the future of modern railroading is undergoing test after test by engineers and doctors dressed not in white lab coats , but jeans and Polo shirts . Locomotives run again and again over stressed bridges ; railcars zip around tight curves ; and safety devices are put through repetitive , rigorous testing .
Railroads from Class Is to shortlines ultimately benefit from the trial-and-error processes that are part of the daily lives of some 270 employees , including about 100 researchers , at Transportation Technology Center Inc . ( TTCI ). The next test could ultimately extend the life of a freight car and save the industry millions of dollars .
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TCI , committed to safety , reliability and efficiency , manages extensive track and state-of-the-art laboratory facilities ; and some of the industry ’ s top engineers and support staff to research and test railroad equipment , track , components and safety devices . The 52 -square-mile secure site ; which operates under con-
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and BNSF has received the honor every year since 2005 .
Several variables may impact a railroad ’ s performance , including weather , interchange with other railroads or trucking firms , and service interruptions resulting from track or equipment issues . When
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shipments are delayed or problems arise , customers who subscribe to the customer service portal on BNSF . com and whose freight movement will be affected for a specific location and time period receive notifications .
“ We send out an email to subscribers that have trains in a specific area where we have a service interruption ; any customer who has freight going through that location within a 24-hour window will get an email ,” Arita said . “ Instead of sending everybody an email , we are specific to subscribing shippers . That reduces the number of phone calls and emails .
“ We want to keep our customers informed and stay one step ahead .”