AAR marks another successful annual research review

Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor
image description
Screen grab from "This is TTCI"

The 20th Annual AAR Research Review was held March 31-April 1 in Colorado Springs, Colo., at the Hotel Elegante. The review brought approximately 550 attendees to the event, which had a theme of "Research Innovation for Current and Future Needs of North American Railways."

 

Lisa Stabler, president of Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI), called the conference to order before Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach gave a brief welcome speech. Greg Fox, executive vice president operations with BNSF, delivered the event’s keynote speech. The remainder of the first day included technical presentations. The topics ranged from the performance of new and improved special trackwork and the effectiveness of friction control materials to improved wheel performance and train condition monitoring. For the second year, the conference held a general session during the morning before attendees could chose to attend presentations focused on either Mechanical Research or Track & Structures Research in the afternoon.

Day two of the annual review found attendees making their way out to TTCI’s Facility for Accelerated Service Testing (FAST) in Pueblo, Colo., where they could see the various in-track tests taking place at the facility’s 2.7-mile high-tonnage loop, speak with TTCI project managers about their research and view in-building demonstrations.

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