Fundamentals of Electric Rail Vehicle Systems Design, Procurement, Operations, and Maintenance

Electric rail vehicles are intricate systems that require a deep understanding of electrical, mechanical, and control components to function efficiently and safely. This course covers the full lifecycle of rail vehicles—from initial design and procurement to integration, operations, and long-term maintenance. Participants will gain insights into propulsion, braking, power collection, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance, with a focus on real-world applications and system-wide coordination.

• Transit engineers, operations personnel, and maintenance staff working in light rail, heavy rail, and commuter rail systems.
• Federal and state regulators, consultants, and administrators involved in rail system oversight and planning.
• Equipment manufacturers, systems suppliers, and project managers engaged in rail vehicle design and integration.

Overview of Car Types and Equipment Locations

Train Dynamics

• Acceleration, deceleration, tractive effort, grades and curves
• Adhesion, rotational inertia, speed time distance curve

Propulsion System

• Route profile, AC Propulsion system, Dynamic brakes
• Energy recovery/storage
• Control Features

Friction Braking System

• Physics and types of braking systems
• Brake control and stop distance

Power Collection

• Third rail power/Catenary power
• AC and DC power supply systems
• Rail gaps and phase breaks

Automatic Train Control and On-Car Interfaces

• ATP/ATO/ATS
• Implementation technology
• Positive train control (PTC)

Vehicle Physical Systems

Door Systems

• Types of doors, controls, and operation
• Safety circuits and failsafe design

Coupler

• Button vs pin, Drum switch, Retractable
• Safety

Auxiliary Power System

• Design of auxiliary inverters
• Calculating auxiliary loads and aux sizing
• Starting sequencing

Low Voltage Power Supply/Battery System

• Design of LVPS
• Design of the battery charging system
• Emergency loads
• Types of batteries for rail application

Passenger Information Systems

• Criticality and ADA
• Destination signs, Voice announcements, WiFi

Lighting

• Distribution and Intensity
• APTA emergency lighting requirements

Data Systems

• Fault information and management system
• Equipment logs (ATC, propulsion, etc.)
• Event Recorders
• Wayside communication and storage
• Interface to maintenance systems

Integration, Reliability, and Procurement

Train Control Architecture

• Physical trainlines, Networks, Failsafe design
• Circuit examples

Vehicle System Integration

• Challenges with multiple designers
• Physical, Electrical, Software integration
• Integration with wayside and environment

RAMS

• Reliability prediction
• Availability and Maintainability
• Safety, risk assessment, FMECAs
• NFPA-130

Industry Standards and Regulations

• Applicability of standards
• Federal and state regulations

Fleet Procurement

• Initial planning and Proposals
• Design, Construction, Testing, and Delivery
• System integration

 Cybersecurity

• Why is it important and factors to consider

Operations and Maintenance

Assimilation of rail fleet into existing rail systems

• Operator and Maintenance training
• Unique features of each property
• Developing parts description and stocking inventory

Maintenance

• Periodic maintenance
• Time based, mileage based, condition based
• Overhaul of sub-systems

James Dietz

James Dietz is a Senior Vice President (mostly retired) for Hatch in Philadelphia and has worked in the passenger rail transportation industry for over 40 years. Dietz spent 10 years working for GE in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he designed propulsion and auxiliary control systems for rail and off-highway vehicles. Subsequent to GE, he has worked for LTK (now part of Hatch) as a senior consultant for many rail procurements including for LIRR, MBTA, NYCT, PATH, and WMATA.  He is a founding member and past Chair of the IEEE Rail Transportation Standards Committee, where he has both led and participated in the development of IEEE rail standards.

Sachit Kakkar

Mr. Kakkar is a Professional Engineer with 33 years of operational, engineering and management experience in design, acquisitions, maintenance and reliability improvement of rolling stock equipment. Mr. Kakkar holds bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and Professional Engineering license from Washington, DC.

 Sachit Kakkar is the Deputy Chief Operating Officer – Bus & Rail for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  He is responsible for day-to-day rail operations, maintenance of all rail vehicles, operational safety improvements, fleet reliability improvements, new fleet acquisition and fleet upgrades.  

Dave Peterson

Dave is the Program Director for the University of Wisconsin–Madison Railroad Engineering and Operations Program. The program consists of 12 courses conducted annually on topics ranging from introduction to railroad engineering and operations to signaling, bridges, crossings, and traction power. He is also the Department Administrator for Interdisciplinary Professional Programs. Dave has a BS in Civil and Environmental Engineering and an MBA from UW–Madison.