Phase 2 (2010-2015)

After Phase I of the RGHRP, it became apparent that more research was needed to better understand and assess the magnitude of risks that ground hazards pose to the railway industry. This led to the development of new instrumentation for field investigation and a fundamental examination of several ground hazard sites.

Phase II focused on: (1) the development of risk assessment methodologies; (2) the application of risk to railway ground hazards; and (3) the development and adaptation of monitoring technology for ground hazards. All of these objectives have been addressed and the findings communicated in journal articles, conference papers, theses and technical reports (please see Publications). The discoveries and technical developments were shared with members of the RGHRP, regulatory agencies, and invited guests through publications and annual workshops.

In order to properly assess and reduce the risks posed by ground hazards, the railways must be able to track the hazard and the associated risk. This can only be accomplished if the ground hazards are classified and described using a consistent technical process. The purpose of this work was to establish Ground Hazard Terminology and Scenarios for documenting and reporting ground hazards and ground hazard events. The results at the end of this Phase included a detailed classification system for all railway related ground hazards base on mechanism and triggers. Ongoing work includes the development of an industry standard for ground hazard reporting and documentation.

In order to properly assess and reduce the risks posed by ground hazards, the railways must also understand the conditions which trigger ground hazard events. Ground hazards can be triggered precipitation, seismic events, freeze-thaw cycles, river scour and erosion, rapid snowmelt, and dynamic loading conditions as trainloads increase. In this study, an evaluation of the environmental factors which influence risk was conducted, drawing correlations between meteorological and ground hazard events from 122 years of records.

The purpose of this project was to evaluate new and emerging technologies for the monitoring of ground hazards, such as large slopes and rock faces, which may pose threats to the railway. Several technologies were evaluated, including:

• • Static laser scanning (LiDAR) for the analysis of rock faces and rock slopes to assess stability and associated risk. This included the development of progressive scans to measure movement and changes in surfaces due to rockfalls.

  • Terrestrial base InSAR (satellite radar interferometry) for the stability of large rock slopes and cuts along railway corridors. This technology can measure millimeter movements from distances of over a kilometer.

  • A comparison of several rockslide monitoring technologies at a large-scale instrumentation installation where the CN line crosses the large active Gascons rockslide on the Gaspé Peninsula.

  • Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to evaluate soft soil foundations to determine mechanisms resulting in track alignment degradation.

Trip wire systems are conventionally used for monitoring rockfall events. While this system is reliable in detecting rockfalls, it is prone to false alarms and requires time to reset once triggered, during which trains must run at very low speeds. The purpose of this work was to develop a seismic rock fall detector that can replace existing trip-wire detectors (or rock slide fences) to decrease the time required to reset systems and return to normal train speeds and line capacity. The system was tested for reliability and ability to differentiate quantity and proximity of fallen rocks to rails. The result of this work will improve train reliability, safety, and on-time performance.

Both CN and CP railways are experiencing continuing problems with large stretches of embankments built over peat. These problems range from excessive settlements requiring increased amounts of maintenance to sudden failures of these embankments. The purpose of this work was to study the impact of heavy axle loading on aging track infrastructure and the soft peat foundations under these structures. Several sites have been investigated and extensively instrumented. This instrumentation has included the development of new Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) base technology to measure cyclic displacement of soil with depth during the passage of trains.

A large portion of the railway lines in Eastern Canada are built over thick deposits of soft sensitive clays and are vulnerable to sudden landslides. The purpose of this work was to use new understanding of sensitive landslides and new mapping and monitoring technology to pinpoint areas of concern along tracks in relation to sensitive clays. The results of this work included comprehensive maps and guidelines to help prevent activation of disastrous slides. The goal was to provide operators with developed maps and guidelines to reduce hazard levels which can be also used to protect other types of transportation corridors (pipelines, roads, etc.).

The degradation of ballast (the layer of crushed rock or gravel upon which railway track is laid) is a process by which ballast is filled with fine-grained material. The result of this is a reduction in the ability to drain and a reduction of shear strength. The purpose of this work was to develop a field sampling methodology and analysis of the mechanism and source for fouling. In addition to sampling, the future goals of the project are to: evaluate the use of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) for determining the degree of ballast fouling on sites; evaluate the effectiveness undercutting as a ballast remediation technique; and evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation techniques such as drainage and reinforcement on fouling mechanisms.