TTC OPERATED BY ENSCO
TTC: Where Innovations Meet Real-World Rail Applications Md. Fazle Rabbi – ENSCO, Inc., Pueblo, CO
Hugh B. Thompson II – Federal Railroad Administration, DC
Rakan Alturk – ENSCO, Inc., Pueblo, CO
Mahsa Gharizadehvarnosefaderani – Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
Radim Bruzek – ENSCO, Inc., Pueblo, CO
Deb Mishra – Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
Figure 1: Researchers working at TTC’s RTT track testing site to evaluate the performance of FBG and DAS technologies under moving wheel loads
T
he Transportation Technology Center (TTC) is a dedicated facility for researching, developing, and testing emerging technologies. It provides a controlled environment where new innovations are rigorously evaluated before being deployed on active rail networks. TTC features a diverse range of track conditions—from well-maintained infrastructure to severely defective track scenarios—allowing for a thorough assessment of new technologies in real-world conditions. At TTC, researchers and engineers from public and private transportation agencies, as well as academic institutions, collaborate to refine and validate technologies that enhance rail safety. This ensures that innovations meet industry standards and operational requirements before being implemented. Advancing Track Monitoring Technologies at TTC Rail transportation agencies are constantly seeking efficient track monitoring systems to improve safety, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. Advances in sensor technology have enabled real-time monitoring of track 4 Railway Track & Structures // May 2025
conditions, allowing for continuous assessment and early detection of potential issues. TTC has served as a testing ground for various fiber-optic-based sensing technologies, particularly at its High Tonnage Loop (HTL) and Railroad Test Track (RTT) [1-4]. A recent collaboration between the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), ENSCO, Oklahoma State University (OSU), and AP Sensing aimed to develop and enhance track monitoring methods using Optical Fiber Sensors (OFS). The objective was to enhance existing techniques and develop new methodologies that were previously unattainable due to limitations associated with conventional sensors. University-Agency Partnership: Monitoring Track Transitions with OFS Railroad track degradation is common in transition zones, such as bridges approaches, tunnel slabs, and grade crossings, where abrupt changes in track bed properties can lead to differential settlements, hanging tie conditions, as well as amplified wheel loads [5-8]. Delayed or inadequate maintenance can accelerate track degradation, significantly increasing derailment risks.
A 2015 Vox report [9] highlighted that track failures, including broken rails and welds, account for 44.9% of train derailments. A recent incident on October 15, 2023, highlighted the importance of track monitoring. A BNSF coal train with 124 loaded hopper cars and five locomotives derailed on a bridge approach near TTC in Pueblo, Colorado. Thirty loaded coal cars derailed, causing the bridge to collapse onto Interstate 25. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the derailment was caused by track failure, stemming from an improper thermite weld and an overstress fracture. [10]. The incident resulted in the tragic loss of a truck driver’s life and $15.6 million in damages. Advanced track monitoring systems can help prevent such incidents by providing early warnings of track instability. OFS-based monitoring technology has the potential to revolutionize rail safety by enabling real-time monitoring of critical track sections and detecting issues before they become catastrophic. Testing Optical Fiber Sensors at TTC In 2023 and 2024, researchers conducted two phases of field testing at TTC to evaluate rtands.com