RSS specializes in consulting, engineering, design, wiring, installation, repair and maintenance of signal and communication systems, providing signal construction service contracts to the rail industry. RSS performs contract project management services for railroad signal projects.
RSS services include a comprehensive signaling program to insure quality, safety, and rules compliance in all aspects of railroad signaling. This includes highway/rail grade crossing warning and wayside signal systems. We work closely with the Federal Railroad Administration, various State Department of Transportation agencies, American Railway Engineering and Maintenance Association and the Railway System Suppliers Inc. to provide solutions to our customers’ signaling requirements. Our goal is to offer a wide range of services that reduces customer cost, complies with all safety requirements and provides each railroad with a long-term, cost effective signal and communication management program
Engineering and Consulting Services
RSS provides engineering and consulting services in the area of highway/rail grade crossing warning systems and wayside train control systems to Class I, regional, transit and shortline railroads. Our signal staff has full working knowledge of American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association (AREMA) recommended practices and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Rules and Regulations pertaining to highway/rail grade crossing warning systems (CFR Part 234) and wayside train control systems (CFR Part 236). Our engineering staff is qualified in the design of signal systems, utilizing both relay based circuitry and state of the art microprocessor based signal technology. RSS is committed to providing system design based on new yet proven technology in an effort to reduce long term recurring maintenance costs.
RSS utilizes its own signal design and CAD personnel for engineering and design using the latest computer technology for drawing circuit plans and signal layouts. We are able to electronically exchange plans and related information in order to expedite plan review and approval. Signal plans can be provided in various formats to provide seamless integration into an existing drawing database.
Design services encompass a wide variety of signal systems and services from planning and design to extensive field surveys. Our experience with signal systems installed and operated by numerous railroads provides us with the ability to identify and assess unique characteristics which impact system expansion and integration. Further, RSS has the ability to provide analysis and programming of field installed microprocessor based signal control equipment.
Signal Construction Services
RSS provides construction services including installation and testing of all wayside train control signals, interlocking plants, control points, wayside detector systems, and highway/rail grade crossing warning systems. Signal crews are trained in the Federal Railroad Administration Rules and Regulations regarding personal safety, General Code of Operating rules, Roadway Worker Protection Program and individual railroad operating rules, as well as safety issues specific to construction oriented tasks.
We have installed numerous highway/rail grade crossing warning systems in the United States. This includes the recent completion of a Grade Crossing Signal Corridor Project on the Ohio Central Railroad utilizing Section 130 Funding administered by the Ohio Rail Development Commission. The corridor project was valued at $5.8 million. It was under order of the Ohio Public Utility Commission with a September 9, 2002 deadline. The project was completed ahead of schedule, under budget and with no personal injuries.
In addition, RSS provides construction of wayside signal facilities consisting of power switches, control points, signals and related facilities including Pole-line elimination and installation of Coded track circuits. RSS has the capability of installing wayside detector systems, including High-water, Hot-box, Dragging and AEI systems on railroad and industrial sites.
Communication Services
RSS has performed railroad communication installations and upgrades at radio sites along railroad right-of-ways for various shortline and regional railroads. Our trained technicians perform repairs on radio and end-of-train (EOT) devices. Technicians are also available for on-site radio installation, repair and maintenance in locomotives, maintenance of way equipment, defect detectors and other equipment requiring field support.