Eagle P3 is a public-private partnership comprised of RTD’s East Rail Line, Gold Line, Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility and Northwest Rail Line Westminster segment. The total 36 miles of new commuter rail lines are scheduled to open one at a time in sequence in 2016. The project is being delivered and operated under a concession agreement that RTD has entered into with a concessionaire, Denver Transit Partners (DTP), a special purpose company owned by Fluor Enterprises, Uberior Investments and Laing Investments. DTP will design-build-finance-operate-maintain (DBFOM) the projects listed above all under a single contract. An integral part of this project is the systems engineering scope, and Jeff Whiteman and Jeff Boerman, with RTD, discuss the complexities of the Eagle P3 system and how the project is progressing with about two years left until operations begin. Tara Bettale, FasTracks Public Information Specialist – EagleP3 Project, provides a general FasTracks overview.

1. INCOSE Colorado Front Range Chapter Meeting
December 9, 2014

2. Agenda

Overview – Tara Bettale
•
RTD FasTracks Plan
•
Commuter Rail vs. Light Rail
•
FasTracks Status
•
Eagle P3
•
East Rail Line
•
Gold Line
•
Northwest Rail to Westminster
2

Systems – Jeff Whiteman & Jeff Boerma
•
Overhead Catenary System
•
Traction Power
•
Communications
•
Signals
•
Vehicles

3. The RTD FasTracks Plan
•
122 miles of new light rail and commuter rail
•
18 miles of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service
•
31 new Park-n-Rides; more than 21,000 new parking spaces
•
Enhanced Bus Network & Transit Hubs (FastConnects)
•
Redevelopment of Denver Union Station
•
57 new rail and/or BRT stations
•
Opportunities for Transit Oriented Communities

4. Commuter vs. Light Rail
•
Light rail
–
Lighter in weight, smaller, designed to make more stops, better turning radius and city street operation
•
Commuter rail
–
Heavier, larger, faster, carries more people, fewer stops, compliant for railroad corridors

5. FasTracks Status
•
West Rail Line (W Line)—First FasTracks line to open—April 2013
•
Denver Union Station—Bus Concourse opened in May; historic building in July
•
East/Gold/Northwest Rail Lines (EAGLE)—67% complete
•
I-225 Line—44% complete
•
U.S. 36 BRT—Phase 1 of managed lanes 82% complete, Phase 2—42%
•
North Metro Line—Design underway, early work in progress
•
Southeast Rail Extension—Submittal to Engineering phase for New Starts federal funding process made Oct. 1
5

6. Eagle P3 Project
•
Includes East Rail Line, Gold Line, first segment of Northwest Rail and commuter rail maintenance facility
•
Project Funding—$2.2 billion
–
$1.03 billion funded by federal grant
•
First commuter rail car arrives in the fall
•
Opening in 2016
6

7. Eagle P3 Project
•
RTD pursued concept of P3 in 2007
–
“The Perfect Storm”
•
Costs skyrocketed
•
Revenues plummeted
•
First transit P3 of this magnitude in the U.S.
•
RTD retains ownership of assets
•
34-year contract
–
6 years design/build
–
28 years operate/maintain
•
More public entities are turning to P3s to build out their projects
10

8. East Rail Line
•
22.8 miles electric commuter rail
•
6 stations
•
35-minute travel time to DIA
•
Complete in 2016

9. Gold Line
•
11.2 miles electric commuter rail
•
7 Stations
•
25-minute travel time to Ward Road
•
Complete in 2016

10. Northwest Rail Line – Segment 1
•
6.2 miles electric commuter rail
•
Downtown to Westminster at the 71st/Lowell Station
•
11-minute travel time to Westminster
•
Complete in 2016

11. RTD Overhead Catenary System

12. Passenger Rail using OCS

13. Other systems using OCS

14. Stagger
Stagger is the registering of the contract wire off the centerline of track / middle of the pantograph.
Track Rails
Pole & Cantilever
Stagger is the distance between the registration point and the centerline of the tracks or pantograph
Pantograph

15. Stagger on Curves
Stagger is required on curves to keep the OCS on the pantograph
Pole & Cantilever
Track Rails
Stagger must be made to the outside of the curve to keep OCS over the pantograph at the mid span

16. Fixed Termination Catenary
Catenary sags as temperature rises.
Foundation
Pole
Catenary

17. Auto Tension Catenary
Weights move up and down as wire expands or contracts due to temperature change.
Set of weights =
to wire tension
Pole
Foundation
Catenary

18. Single Contact Wire

19. Simple Catenary

20. Wiring Aesthetics

21. Wiring Aesthetics

22. Wiring Aesthetics

23. Reverse the visual impact

24. RTD Traction Power

25. Two Traction Power Modes
Light Rail 825V DC
Commuter Rail 25kV AC

26. Different Style TPSS
Light Rail –
Prefab Substations
Commuter Rail –
Outdoor Substations

27. LRT TPSS
•
Convert Utility power to 825V dc power for light rail
•
TPSS are needed about every mile along light rail alignment – there are close to 50 on system.
•
Each TPSS is typically rated at 1.5 MegaWatts.

28. CRT TPSS
•
Convert Utility power to 25kV ac power for commuter rail
•
TPSS are needed about every 30 miles along commuter rail alignment – there will be 3 system.
•
Each TPSS is rated at about 20 MegaWatts.

29. TPSS Site Installation

30. RTD Communications System

31. Major Components
•
Operation Control Center
•
Security Command Center
•
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
•
Communication Transmission System
•
Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)
•
Telephone System
•
Public Address System (PA)
•
Variable Message Sign System (VMS)
•
Radio System

32. Operation Control Center
•
Dispatcher Location for LRT or CRT
•
Provides Centralized Operation Monitoring and Control

33. Security Command Center
•
Provide Centralized Security Monitoring
•
Dispatch Room with Monitors

34. Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
Traction Power Substation
•
Signal Aspect
•
Train Location
•
Train Identification (TWC)
•
Switch Position and Control
•
Switch Heaters
•
Gate Position
CCS Console
SCADA System
•
Elevator Access
•
Emergency Telephone Activated
•
Intrusion Detection
•
Access Gates
Communication House/Station
Signal System
•
Substation Breakers
•
OCS disconnect switches

35. Communication Transmission System
Public Address (PA)
TVMs
CCTV
Phones
SCADA
Variable Message Signs (VMS)
Radio
Communications Transmission System
District Shops
Mariposa
or Fox
Elati

36. Closed Circuit Television System
•
Cameras at Platforms, Parking lots, and other RTD facilities
•
All IP network based
•
Includes; Cameras, NVRs, Video Servers at SCC

37. Emergency Telephone System
•
Emergency Telephones (ETELs)
•
Typically on Platforms, Pedestrian Bridges and Plaza Areas
•
One Button Auto Dials Security Command Center

38. Public Address System
•
Provides Audio Mainly Under Shelters
•
Both Local and Central Announcement Capabilities
•
Ad Hoc and Canned Messages

39. Variable Message Sign System
•
Provides Visual
•
Both Local and Central Announcement Capabilities
•
Ad Hoc, Canned, and Scheduled Announcements

40. Radio System
•
Provides Voice Communications to Train Operators, Maintenance Personnel, Supervisors, and Security Personnel.
•
Data Radio – PTC WiMax

41. Communication System Challenges
•
High Visibility with Many Stakeholders
•
Integrating New System Into Existing (especially software)
•
Continually Evolving Technology

42. RTD Signal System

43. Common Signal System Equipment
•
Automatic Block Signaling (ABS)
•
Track Circuits (TC)
•
Signals
•
Switches & Interlockings
•
Operations Control Center (OCC)
•
Grade Crossing Warning System
•
Positive Train Control (PTC)

44. Automatic Block Signals
•
Signals are installed at boundaries of “blocks”
•
Signal aspect control train movements. Green – proceed, Yellow – prepare to stop, Red-stop.
•
Safe Braking Distance – basis of block design, dependant on vertical and horizontal curves, civil constraints , and train speed.
•
Signal enforcement – “Automatic Trip Stops “ are installed to automatically stop the train if it overruns a Red signal.
•
Grade Crossing warning system allow safe train operation through street crossings in high speed.
•
Signal system is tied into the Operational Control Center
T1
R1
TC1
R2
R3
T2
T3
TC2
TC3

45. Track Circuit (TC)
•
The boundary of a Track Circuit is defined by insulated joints
•
An insulated joint is a physical break in the rail that separates the rail into electrical circuits
•
In Signal System the rails are used to function as two un-insulated wires
•
From the signal house, the transformer(T) and relay(R) is connected to each end of rail block.
•
The track circuit is described in its “Normal” state with no train in circuit.
Track Circuit is installed in each rail “block” to monitor the train occupancy
R1
T1
TC

46. Switch Interlocking
•
Track switches are installed at strategic locations to allow train to switch to other tracks.
•
Switches, Signals, Track Circuits are all “interlocked” to provide safe routing.

47. Operations Control Center
•
Signal systems are tied into the Operations Control Center to enable centralized control and monitor the whole transit system

48. Grade Crossings
•
Grade Crossings protect street traffic from LRVs or CRVs.
•
Signal system sometimes is integrated with local street traffic control.

49. Positive Train Control
•
Signal system for Eagle P3 requires Positive Train Control (PTC)
•
Basic components of PTC
•
OCC - Server
•
Train - gps, vehicle status…
•
Radio – communication equipment

50. RTD Rail Vehicle Technologies

51. Vehicles
Why Two Types of Vehicles?
•
Light Rail Used on Initial RTD Corridors and Some Extensions
–
Largely Dedicated Right-of-Ways
–
Older Agreements with Freight Railroads
•
Commuter Rail Now Required by Denver’s Freight Railroads to Operate in or near Their Corridors
–
Must Meet Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Safety Standards

52. Rail Technology Comparison
Commuter Rail (EMU)
Light Rail (LRV)
Powered by 25kV AC overhead electrical system
Powered by 750V DC by overhead electrical system
Typically serves longer lines with few stations
Has a lighter frame than a commuter train
Can operate up to 79mph
Can operate along crowded, narrow streets
Larger interior with more seats
Can accelerate and decelerate quickly

53. Light Rail
•
81.4 ft long, 8.7 ft wide, 12.4 ft tall
•
6 Axles, Articulated Body, Two Cabs
•
Low Alloy High Tensile (LAHT) Steel Body, Painted
•
64 seats, 120+ standees
•
90,000 to 122,000 lbs
•
82 ft Minimum Horizontal Curve
•
3.0 mphps Maximum Acceleration
•
3.0 / 6.2 mphps Maximum Braking

54. Commuter Rail
•
85 ft long, 10.5 ft wide, 15 ft tall
•
4 Axles, Solid Body, One Cab
•
Stainless Steel Body, Unpainted
•
91 seats, 142 standees
•
140,000 to 180,000 lbs
•
250 ft Minimum Horizontal Curve
•
1.6 mphps Maximum Acceleration
•
2.5 / 3.0 mphps Maximum Braking

55. Vehicle Differences
Carbody Strength:
•
RTD LRV’s designed to resist about 250,000 pounds coupler-to-coupler crush force, generally European crash standards.
•
RTD EMU’s designed to resist 800,000 pounds coupler-to-coupler crush force, must meet FRA and APTA strength standards.
Signaling:
•
RTD LRV’s automatic train stop (ATS).
•
RTD EMU’s will use positive train control (PTC) with automatic train control (ATC) as a backup.

56. Questions?