Expo Hall Rail Learning Lab

Located in Booth #3058

The RSI Rail Learning Labs are 20-30 minute sessions focusing on innovative and contemporary topics of general interest to the rail industry. These sessions provide an excellent opportunity for industry professionals from all backgrounds to learn more about emerging issues, regulations, products, research, and more in the industry from a broad non-technical perspective.

All exhibitors and attendees are invited to attend. No registration is required.

Sunday, September 22

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM

Wheel Set Maintenance: Wheel Truing 101

Wheel sets around the world are maintained by metal cutting machine tools that remove surface defects and return the wheel to the proper tolerance for safe and efficient operation. This process, which is called “wheel truing”, has been utilized for decades to extend the life of wheel sets and maintain the optimal wheel profile. In this session, you will learn about the history of the milling machining process, its place in maintenance operations, and what innovations to the technology are being implemented to keep pace with the changing industry.

Speaker: Brandon Teal, Product Manager, Wheel Truing/Reprofiling

Sponsored by: Simmons Machine Tool Corporation

3:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Freight Car Repair 101: An Introduction to Rule 1 Gages

This session will present, via video, the proper use of AAR Field Manual Rule 1 Gages.

Speakers: David Cackovic, AVP and Chief Technical Standards, Transportation Technology Center, Inc. & Stephen Berkshire, Chief Inspector – MID, TTCI, Association of American Railroads

In Partnership with: Railcar Technical Services Association (RTSA)

4:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Railcar Innovations in a PSR World

This session will walk through how a railcar builder can design a product to both meet the efficiency needs of a railroad focused on Precision Scheduled Railroading, as well as the load maximization needs of grain shippers.

Speakers: Matt Beghtel, Market Research Manager, The Greenbrier Companies & Peter Jones, VP International Engineering & Product Development, The Greenbrier Companies

Sponsored by: The Greenbrier Companies

Monday, September 23

9:45 AM – 10:15 AM

Safety Culture Experience, Insight, and Evolution

When an organization truly embraces safety as a value, there are dividends paid in the forms of improved quality, profitability, and morale. This presentation will explore the various aspects associated with an effective safety culture.

Speaker: Shae Birkey, Safety Advisor, Caterpillar Safety Services

10:45 AM – 11:15 AM

Digital Transformation in the Railway Industry: Why you can’t live without Railway IoT Technology

Learn how to measure the effectiveness of your Railway IoT solutions and digital strategy so you can generate useful insights that can positively affect the operations of your entire fleet.

Speaker: Natalie Smith, Product Marketing Manager, ZTR Control Systems

Sponsored by: ZTR Control Systems

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM

20 Ways to Speak Powerfully about Your Rail Business: Succeeding with Lenders, Communities, and Government

Michael Sussman will share lessons drawn from his 25 years of championing the rail industry through advocacy and client representation with banks, investors, community groups, and the U.S. Congress.

Speaker: Michael Sussman, President of Strategic Rail Finance & Founder, OnTrackNorthAmerica

3:30 PM – 4:00 PM

AAR’s Train Control Communications and Operations Committee (TCCO) Update on Industry Research

This session will provide an update on industry research and programs being led by AAR’s Train Control, Communications and Operations Committee (TCCO), including efforts related to Positive Train Control and Train Automation.

Speaker: Michael R. Newcomb, TCCO Chair, Association of American Railroads

Tuesday, September 24

9:30 AM – 10:00 AM

Investor Perspectives on the Rail Industry

This presentation will explore Wall Street’s perspective on the railroad industry. Specifically, it will look at how recent industry trends feed into investment decisions and how the market can impact management decisions.

Speakers: Allison Landry, Senior Equity Research Analyst, Transportation, Credit Suisse & Samantha Yellen, Research Associate, Airfreight and Surface Transportation, Credit Suisse

In Partnership with: League of Railway Women

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Digital Human Modeling for the Optimization of User Centered Railway Product Design

This session will explore how the use of digital human modeling can reduce cost and accelerate the pace of the ergonomic tool development for railway systems. Specifically, it will review how simulation technologies can be used to test a wide variety of ergonomic factors, including injury risk, operator comfort, reachability, line-of-sight, energy expenditure and fatigue limits.

Speaker: Eric Holton, Ph.D., CPE, Director of Safety and Risk Reduction, Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services

1:00 PM – 1:30 PM

Innovation & Technological Change in Railroading: The Next 25 Years (Challenges & Opportunities for Railroads, Suppliers, & Regulators)

Speaker: Michael Iden, Union Pacific Railroad (Retired)

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM

Optimizing Rail Equipment to Meet Shippers’ Needs

This session will discuss recent advancements in railcar design, focused on covered hoppers and autoracks. Attendees will come away with a heightened understanding of how innovation is driving improvements designed to enhance the efficient, safe and damage-free transportation of products by rail.

Speaker: Andrew Brown, Senior Director, Product Management, TrinityRail

Sponsored by: TrinityRail