Commuter Rail Snow Management Plan |
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Commuter Rail Snow Management Plan Providing 135,000 passenger trips daily brings a variety of challenges during the winter-time in New England. The Fleet Most commuter rail locomotives have been installed with air brake system drain valve heaters, which will help prevent the freezing of excessive moisture in the brake system in cold weather. Installation is ongoing for the remainder of the fleet. We have reduced the length of the electrical cables between coaches across the fleet. Low hanging cables can be caught in snow and ice, dislodging them from their receptacles, thereby disabling a train. Since 2005 we have replaced over 200 heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. This is an ongoing program improving the oldest coaches in the fleet first. In addition, we have placed electric “jump starters” at the eleven overnight layover points, so we can “jump start” any locomotive disabled in the early morning, allowing the train to make its first trip into Boston before going into the maintenance facility for diagnosis or repair. Grade Crossings
This not only creates delays but presents a safety problem, as drivers may be emboldened to drive automobiles around gates when they do not see a train. In an effort to prevent these problems we send an annual letter to every municipality with commuter rail grade crossings reminding them to limit plowing of snow on to tracks and limit salting on grade crossings. We clean drainage areas and catch basins around crossings to ensure proper drainage, allowing snow and salt to dissipate, and have modified signal circuits at four targeted crossings to reduce their susceptibility to the conductive melt. Stations and Parking Lots Our Engineering Department receives information from weather services throughout the area that predicts the impact a storm might have on a specific area where we provide commuter rail service. This enables us to prepare in advance to ensure that enough staff is available to go out and pre-salt stations, walkways and work areas. All operations staff participate in reviews of work assignments and reinforcement of the critical need to effect prompt and thorough snow clearing. As a storm arrives: The MBCR Engineering Department begins clearing platforms, walkways, parking lots and digging out trains when it is determined that at least 2 inches of snow can be measured on the road and that at least 2 additional inches are forecast. Plows are ineffective in smaller amounts of snow. A team of employees is responsible for a group of stations. Once they have completed one circuit of stations, they go back and start again, until the storm stops and each station is clear. So if your station platform is not completely clear yet, don’t worry.....“We’ll be back!” To ensure your safety, please allow extra time to get to and from your train and walk carefully on platforms, stairs, ramps and in parking lots. |
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