| NuRail Project ID | NURail2013-UIUC-E06 |
| Project Title | Develop and Teach Graduate Course on Rail Terminal Design and Operations |
| University | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
| Principal Investigator | Tyler Dick |
| PI Contact Information | |
| Funding Source(s) and Amounts Provided (by each agency or organization) | $17,500 |
| Total Project Cost | $ |
| Agency ID or Contract Number | DTRT12-G-UTC18 (Grant 1) |
| Start Date | 2014-07-01 |
| End Date | 2014-12-30 |
| Location | |
| Brief Description of Research Project | The 598 RTD Railway Terminal Design & Operations course will introduce students to the role of terminals in the freight railway transportation system, the functions required at different types of terminals, and the considerations and best practices for the design of terminal infrastructure to support these roles and functions. These topics are either not currently covered in the UIUC rail curriculum or introduced at a basic level with a brief overview. Design of mainline track and signal infrastructure is only one facet of the suite of challenges facing railway engineers; the proper design of terminal facilities to collect, sort, and deliver freight is also of critical importance to the function of an efficient freight rail transportation system. Studies have shown that mainline and network congestion is often rooted in terminal operations. Understanding these terminal operations requirements and the design of terminal infrastructure necessary to support these operations is critical to making informed railway capital investment and operating decisions. The objective of this course is to prepare students for the challenges facing civil engineers engaged in the planning, design, construction and operation of railway terminal facilities, and to improve the ability of each student to consider the "big picture" objectives and challenges posed by the role of railway transportation in the movement of freight. Students will be encouraged to develop and/or refine their ability to critically evaluate multiple terminal layout, design and operations alternatives, grow communication skills and the ability to converse about terminal design and operations concepts and challenges, and leave the class with a strong foundation in the fundamental infrastructure required to support efficient freight transportation by rail. Students will also participate in a class project to perform develop a classification yard layout and operating plan. |
| Describe Implementation of Research Outcomes (or why not implemented) | |
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| Project Website | |
| Completed | yes |
| Final Report | NURail2013-UIUC-E06-Final-Report_Railway_Terminal_Design.pdf
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