Transit Cooperative Research Program Sponsored by the Federal Transit Administration RESEARCH RESULTS DIGEST November 2001—Number 44 Subject Areas: VI Public Transit and VII Rail Responsible Senior Program Officer: Christopher W. Jenks Consensus Standards for the Rail Transit Industry This digest provides the results to date of TCRP Project G-4 and its extension, G-4A, both of which are titled, “Developing Standards for System and Subsystem Interfaces in Electric Rail Passenger Vehicles.” The digest was written by Thomas J. McGean, P.E., the principal investigator for the project. INTRODUCTION provide the institutional framework for undertak- ing any needed rail transit vehicle standardization This digest provides information on the suc- using ANSI-accredited consensus standards orga- cessful implementation of a comprehensive stan- nizations. Nine standards have been published. In dards process for the rail transit industry using addition, nine IEEE and two ASME standards are American National Standards Institute (ANSI) currently under development, and an additional consensus procedures under the aegis of the In- three standards are under active consideration. This stitute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers project has assembled a team of highly qualified (IEEE) and the American Society of Mechanical professionals from the rail transit community to Engineers (ASME). This effort, supported by the develop standards needed to save money, promote Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP), safety, and make possible the migration of transit has established, for the first time in the United vehicle systems to integrated microprocessor- States, a permanent and ongoing process for de- based control. veloping rail transit standards using the consen- Approximately 300 individuals have volun- sus process. After 5 years of work by 19 working teered their time and organizational resources to groups and more than 300 professionals, the participate. Eighteen rail transit agencies (90 indi- practicality and workability of the process has viduals) have participated in the process, along been firmly established. Nine standards have suc- with approximately 50 suppliers (100 individuals), cessfully been balloted, approved, and published; 30 consulting firms (70 individuals), and many 11 standards are under development; and 3 are governmental and other interested organizations under active consideration. (40 individuals). This digest discusses findings from work per- Participation in professional society commit- formed under TCRP Project G-4 and its exten- tees is voluntary, and either the members or their sion, G-4A. The objective of the projects was to companies donate time to attend meetings and to design a process for developing physical, logi- work on the standards. The result is a good ex- cal, and electrical consensus standards for sys- ample of public-private cooperation. It is estimated tem and subsystem interfaces for elements of that every public dollar spent by TCRP Project G- light rail, heavy rail, and commuter rail vehicles. 4 on standardization is matched by another eight In addition, the process was to be demonstrated dollars of private money spent by suppliers, transit through the production of one or more standards. agencies, and others on committee work (1). This matching not only effectively leverages limited federal research-and-development money, but also MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS measures public support for the standards effort. If the effort ceases to be perceived as cost-effective, Together, the IEEE and ASME standards ac- then private-sector support will probably be with- tivities developed under this TCRP program now drawn. TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 2 CONTENTS Introduction, 1 Major Accomplishments, 1 IEEE Standards, 3 ASME Standards, 4 Use of Standards, 4 Key Issues Relating to Standards, 5 Reasons for Standards, 5 Key Constraints, 6 Implications of Needs and Constraints, 6 Standards Principles, Governing Bodies, and U.S. Law, 6 ANSI Standards, 7 National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act, 7 Consensus Principles, 7 Advantages of Using ANSI-Accredited Engineering Societies, 8 Project Approach, 8 Step 1: Identify Candidates for Standards, 9 Step 2: Form an IEEE Standards Committee, 10 Formation of RTVISC Steering Committee, 11 Organization of Full Committee, 11 Step 3: Launch the Standards Effort, 13 Standards Committee Rankings, 13 Committee-Originated Standards Concepts, 15 Working Groups, 15 Step 4: Develop the Standards, 16 Working Group Effort, 16 Standards Ballot, 16 Resolution of Comments and Negative Votes, 16 Approval and Publication, 17 Appeals, 17 Step 5: Publish the Standards, 17 Working Group 1, IEEE Standard 1473-1999, Communications Protocols Aboard Trains, 17 Working Group 2, IEEE Standard 1474.1-1999, Communications-Based Train Control, 18 Working Group 3, IEEE P-1482.1-1999, Event Recorder, 20 Working Group 4, IEEE Standard 1483-2000, Safety Considerations for Software Used in Rail Transit Systems, 20 Working Group 5, IEEE Standard 1475-1999, Functioning of and Interfaces among Propulsion, Friction Brake, and Train-Borne Master Control on Rail Rapid Transit Vehicles, 21 Working Group 6, IEEE Standard 1476-2000, Passenger Train Auxiliary Power Systems, 21 Working Group 7, IEEE Standard 1477-1998, Passenger Information System for Rail Transit Vehicles, 22 Working Group 8, IEEE Standard 1478-2001, Environmental Conditions for Transit Rail Car Electronic Equipment, 22 Rail Transit Standards Website, 22 Developing ASME Standards, 23 ASHRAE Standards, 23 Coordination, 23 International, ISO/IEC Transit Standards Committees, 24 ANSI-Accredited Standards Development Organizations, 24 Government Organizations Involved in Transit Standards Development, 25 Private Organizations Involved in Transit Standards Development, 25 Recommendations for the Future, 27 Acknowledgments, 27 Glossary of Acronyms, 28 References, 29 3 IEEE Standards with crashworthy memory that record data to support accident/incident analysis for rail transit vehicles. Func- When the TCRP project was launched in 1996, industry tions, parameters, signals, systems, and subsystems to experts created a list of critically needed standards. All of be monitored and recorded are identified, and diagnos- these standards have since been developed by the IEEE com- tic features or self-test options are described. Linda Sue mittee. These formally approved standards are as follows: Boehmer of LSB Technology served as working group chair. • IEEE Standard 1477-1998, IEEE Standard for Pas- • IEEE Standard 1476-2000, IEEE Standard for Pas- senger Information System for Rail Transit Vehicles. senger Train Auxiliary Power Systems Interfaces. This standard specifies the physical and electrical inter- This standard delineates the electrical interface between faces of the passenger information system for rail tran- the components comprising the auxiliary power system sit vehicle systems and subsystems. Lance Cooper, then and other train-borne systems. Claude Gabriel of LTK of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Engineering Services served as working group chair. served as working group chair. • IEEE Standard 1483-2000, IEEE Standard for the • IEEE Standard 11-1999, IEEE Standard for Rotat- Verification of Vital Functions in Processor-Based ing Electric Machinery for Rail and Road Vehicles. Systems Used in Rail Transit Control. This standard This standard applies to rotating electric machinery, provides a set of verification tasks for processor-based which forms part of the propulsion and major auxiliary equipment used in safety-critical applications on rail equipment on internally and externally powered, elec- and transit systems. James Hoelscher of Alstom Signal- trically propelled rail and road vehicles. It defines rat- ing served as working group chair. ings, tests, and calculation procedures to permit com- • IEEE Standard 1478-2001, IEEE Standard for En- parison among machines for similar use and to enable vironmental Conditions for Transit Car Electronic evaluation of the suitability of machines for a given use. Equipment. This standard specifies the baseline envi- (This standard was already under development when ronmental conditions under which transit railcar elec- the TCRP effort was initiated. The TCRP project as- tronic equipment shall both operate and survive, includ- sisted with obtaining final IEEE approval for publica- ing temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, water, tion, but was not directly involved in its preparation.) corrosive elements, and vibration or shock. Charles • IEEE Standard 1473-1999, IEEE Standard for Com- Elms of Lea+Elliott served as working group chair. munications Protocol Aboard Trains. This standard defines the protocol for intercar and intracar serial data As the project progressed, additional standards activi- communications between subsystems aboard passenger ties were initiated at the request of the transit industry. As a trains. Robert Anderson of GE Harmon served as work- result, the following standards are presently under develop- ing group chair. ment by the IEEE committee. • IEEE Standard 1474.1-1999, IEEE Standard for Communications-Based Train Control Performance • IEEE P-16, IEEE Draft Standard for Electrical and and Functional Requirements. This standard estab- Electronic Control Apparatus on Rail Vehicles. This lishes a set of performance and functional requirements standard will prescribe design, application, and test re- necessary for enhancing performance,