This project continued the standards-development process established in TCRP Project G-4. The objectives of TCRP Project G-4A/B were to (1) continue to support the standards-development activities of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Rail Vehicle Interface Standards Committee and its working groups, and (2) support the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Committee effort to develop standards for the structural strength and crashworthiness of light rail and rapid transit cars.

Under this project, eight standards were formally approved and published by the IEEE --a standard for rail transit vehicle passenger information systems; a standard for the functioning of and interfaces among propulsion, friction brake, and train-borne master control on rail rapid transit vehicles; a standard for communications protocols aboard trains; a standard for rail transit vehicle event recorders; a standard for communications-based train control performance and functional requirements; a standard for auxiliary power system interfaces; environmental standards for rail transit vehicles; and a standard for verification of vital functions in processor-based systems used in rail transit control. A number of other draft standards were in various levels of development by working groups at the close of this TCRP project..

Work was also initiated on the development of an ASME standard addressing the structural strength and crashworthiness of light rail and heavy rail vehicles.

Beginning on March 1, 2002, the administration and financial support for the IEEE and ASME standards-development efforts was transferred from the TCRP to APTA and the APTA Rail Standards Policy and Planning Committee. Work is continuing on both the IEEE and ASME standards-development processes through APTA.

Status: This TCRP project has been completed. The IEEE and ASME standards-development processes have been transferred to APTA for continuation.

The results from TCRP Projects G-4 and G-4A/B have been summarized in TCRP Research Results Digest 44