Every year, the rail industry spends billions of dollars to improve the national infrastructure. For example, American freight railroads spent $28 billion in 2014, and a projected $29 billion in 2015 on infrastructure and equipment. Although new projects draw the most attention, the majority of spend is on routine maintenance repair operations to ensure continuous safety and efficiency of the railroad system. There is a definite correlation between the increase in rail network investments and enhanced safety performance.
After a recent US passenger train accident last month, the Federal Railroad Administration issued a safety advisory for passenger railroads. The railroads are recommended to use an existing technology called Automatic Train Control (ATC) to alert trains appearing to be travelling at an excessive speed, in hopes they reduce their speed as they approach a curve or bridge. (On May 12, 2015, an Amtrak passenger train carrying 243 passengers and crew members derailed killing eight and injuring more than 200. The train was travelling well above the allowable speed limit for that area).
Another big discussion topic in the rail industry is the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) for passenger lines and those carrying hazardous materials. PTC refers to a highly advanced communication technology that will greatly reduce train collisions, derailments due to excessive speed, train line intrusions into established work zones, and switching incidents. The Association of American Railroads reports that by the end of 2015:
- 39% of locomotives will be fully equipped
- 76% of wayside interface units will be installed
- 67% of base station radios installed
- 34% of required employees trained
Although not fully compliant, it is definitely high priority. To date, railroads have employed more than 2,400 signal system personnel and spent $5 billion on implementing PTC technology.
In effort to help fuel this initiative, we offer a wide variety of grounding solutions and tools used in bungalows and communications huts. Below are a few examples of the types of solutions we offer and what they are used for:
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Panduit SKU |
Product Description |
Application |
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StructuredGround™ Direct Burial Compression Grounding System |
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Universal Beam Grounding Clamp with two hole lugs |
Universal Beam Clamp bonds with the metal structure of the equipment enclosures.
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 GCE500-1/0 |
“E” Style Grounding Connector |
A typical signal grounding consists of bonding together bare stranded copper with a ground rod. |
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“E” Style Grounding Connector | Repairs or extends ground conductors in existing installations. |
 GCC6X6500-1/0 |
Grounding Cross Connector |
Connects rebar segments together in pads. |
| Tool for making the connections | ||
| Lithium-Ion Powered Crimping Tool | Terminates the StructureGround™ Direct Burial Grounding Connectors. | |
While the rail industry is working hard maintaining rail yards and keeping them safe, Panduit aims to provide Wiring Duct, Terminals, Labeling/ID, Cable Ties/Accessories, Grounding/Connectors, Telecom racks, Cable Rack & more needed to keep your employees safe and productive. Panduit maintenance, repair operations solutions deliver best-in-class quality for maximum reliability and defect-free installations that minimize rework and downtime. We are happy to work closely with rail engineers early in the design cycle in order to provide a solution that is tailored to your specific needs and issues.
