Training for the Rail Industry

Increase Knowledge and Expertise with our Training Programs

Training is an important part of business. Informed employees can make valuable, cost-saving decisions that can directly affect a company's bottom line. TÜV Rheinland offers a set of seminars and training classes that touch on all phases of railroad operations. These trainings are available to the entire railroad industry including railroad personnel, transit personnel, rail suppliers, railcar owners and oversight agencies. Some of our training programs include:

  • Derailment Cause Finding and Prevention Seminar
  • Track Inspection Training
  • Mechanical Inspection Training
  • Online Training through TransportationU.com

Benefits at a Glance

With Training Services for the Railway Industry from TÜV Rheinland, You can

  • Attain highest levels of safety and quality for your systems
  • Benefit from our years of experience and expertise
  • Make use of our extensive network and associations worldwide

Our Services for Training for the Rail Industry

Mechanical Inspection Training

TÜV Rheinland offers a quality Mechanical Inspection Training Seminar. The seminar reviews all freight car mechanical components and their function and then reviews how those components interact as a system. The seminar also touches on how different issues such as clearance, lubrication and damping can affect overall performance and, in certain cases, can contribute to a derailment. This course includes both classroom and hands-on training. TÜV Rheinland's Mechanical Inspection Training Seminar includes numerous, drawings, illustrations and sketches that highlight truck components, illustrate wear patterns and component interactions. The seminar also uses an abundant number of photographs indicating where and what to look for when inspecting a truck.

Track Inspection Training

TÜV Rheinland offers a quality Track Inspection Training Seminar. This course includes classroom review and discussion of basic track structure followed by in-depth review of each track component and how those components interact to create a viable, productive roadway. Derailment scenarios related to track structure, wear, and defects are reviewed. The seminar also covers track geometry and FRA Standards. Track geometry measurement and calculation methods are reviewed in the classroom and then reinforced by actual hands-on training.

TransportationU

In 2007 TÜV Rheinland launched an online version of its Derailment Investigation & Prevention seminar. With the development of TransportationU.com, training has never been more affordable or widely accessible. A major class I railroad is already using the services of TransportationU to train hundreds of their employees on Derailment Awareness, Investigation, & Prevention. Some of the benefits of using TransportationU for your training needs include:

  • Fully narrated and interactive
  • Cost effective; No travel, no downtime
  • Comprehensive, AAR and FRA information
  • Site licenses and group discounts available
  • Richly illustrated with 1000’s of photos/videos and animations
  • Expert instruction from the leaders in derailment investigation
  • Comprehensive, real time, user-defined reporting options
  • Custom course development available

Derailment Cause Finding & Prevention Training

Derailments are unsafe, unnecessary and expensive. Determining the root cause of derailments can be a perplexing task for all levels of management. This seminar is designed to provide the rail industry with the specific knowledge and tools to understand the mechanics of a derailment. The course provides:

  • A systematic procedure for derailment investigation
  • The analytical tools for determining root cause(s)
  • A plan for preventing the recurrence of derailments

This seminar has an intense, action-packed curriculum that covers all phases of derailment investigations in an easy-to-understand manner. The seminar is especially designed for a multi-discipline cross-section of students. Whether your personnel have an engineering, mechanical, operations or business background, they will gain the necessary tools to make a structured derailment investigation. The Derailment Cause Finding and Prevention Seminar begins by reviewing the basic areas of railroad operation including engineering, mechanical and train operations. The instructor then discusses how to analyze these three major components of rail operation in order to find the root cause(s) of a derailment.

Training Program Outline

Track Inspection Seminar Outline

  • Track Structure : General review of the inter-connection between the sub-grade, sub-ballast, ballast, ties, rail and rail vehicle
  • Rail: Basic function and identification markings
  • Rail defects including: Piped rail, vertical split head, web separation, rail end batter, wear porosity, spalling, shelling, collapsed rail head
  • Tie Plates: Basic function, Plate cutting,
  • Cross Ties: Basic function, Wide gage causes, Wide gage derailments
  • Ballast: Quality & Quantity, Weak ballast shoulders, Water pockets, Fouled ballast,
  • Spikes: Quality and Quantity, Purpose/function, Spiking patterns,
  • Rail Anchors: Review basic function, Review different types, Proper anchoring procedures
  • Turnouts & Switch Points: Broken points, Gapped switch points, Picked points, Various issues involving switch points including derailments
  • Track Defects
  • Track Buckling: Definitions, Symptoms, Prevention
  • Superelevation: Issues with too much/too little superelevation, Effect of superelevation on derailment potential, Derailment case study
  • Rail Lubrication: Effect of rail lubrication, Proper rail lubrication
  • Track Measurements: Review how to make proper track measurements - Superelevation, Gage, Alignment

Review Standard 3-Piece Truck

  • Sideframe Buttons: Function, Consequence of Button Mismatch
  • Friction Wedges: Define Wedge Rise, How to Measure, Effect of Wedge Rise on Truck Performance
  • Springs: Function, Different Types, How to Identify, How to Evaluate and Inspect Spring Performance
  • Side Bearings: Function, Discuss Roller Bearing, Discuss Constant Contact Side Bearings, How to Measure Clearance, Consequences of Inadequate Clearance
  • Centerbowl: Function, Effect of Centerbowl Lubrication on Truck Performance
  • Bolster and Gibs: Review Bolster Function, Evaluating Gib Wear - How to Measure, Consequences of Excessive Gib Wear
  • Wheels/Axles/Bearings: Review Wheel Nomenclature, Typical Wear Patterns, Wheel Measurements, Review Wheel Defects: Shells, Built-up tread, Thin Flange, Hollow Worn Wheels
  • Bearings: Causes of Burnt "Journals"
  • Derailment Issues Related to Mechanical Performance of Trucks
  • Stiff Truck
  • New Car Syndrome: Bolster Lock-Up, New Wheel Issues, Casting Imperfections

Derailment Investigation Training

  • Philosophy of Root Cause Analysis
  • Site Investigation Procedures
  • Track: FRA Track Safety Standards, Basic Track Structure
  • Mechanical: AAR Freight Car Standards, Freight Car Three-Piece Truck, L/V Ratio, Curving Mechanics
  • Train Operation
  • Train Dynamics: Train Make-up, Human Factor Causes, Stringlining
  • 12 Steps of Derailment Investigation