Stay Informed

Glossary

AEI

Automatic Equipment Identification are actual tags on each piece of train equipment that can be “read” by the wayside devices along the rail line. This information is used by the railroads to inform shippers and receivers where their cars are and when they can expect the shipment to arrive at its destination. 

Amtrak

Owner of the NHHS Rail corridor.  Amtrak also currently operates train service in the corridor.

Aspect

The appearance of a signal to a train engineer that provides him information on how he may proceed beyond the signal.

Ballast

A material, typically stone, that is placed under rails and ties for support. It also allows for proper drainage.

Ballast Deck Bridge

A railroad bridge with a “U” shaped cross section, which supports a railroad track and the stone ballast supporting the track.

Bridge

A structure used to support the passage of tracks over a road or stream.

Bungalow, Building, or Hut

A small building stationed near the rail line that is used to house electrical, communication and signaling equipment.

Cab

The operating position in a locomotive from which the locomotive engineer operates the train.

Code Rate

The speed of pulses of electricity conveyed through rails which deliver information to the cab via the signal system.

Conduit

A protective casing, tube or piping system for electrical communication or other cables.

Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT)

State agency responsible for Connecticut owned transportation infrastructure and grantee for FRA grants awarded for the NHHS Rail Program.

Controlled Siding

A track adjacent to main rail line that is remotely controlled by the Rail Traffic Controller.

Coupling

The connection of two rail cars or locomotives.

Crossing Gate

The arm which obstructs the movement of cars and trucks across a highway/grade crossing upon the approach of a train.

Culvert

A structure that allows water to flow beneath a road, railroad or trail.

Curve

A gradual change of horizontal or vertical direction.

Destressing

The action of heating and anchoring rail in order to control thermal stresses that could result in instability of the track structure.

Diamond

A track arrangement where two tracks intersect at the same level (grade).

DI/Node House

A small prefabricated hut that houses the communications equipment used to integrate components of the signal system.

Directional Boring

A method used to install subsurface conduits, which avoids the need to dig a trench.

Diverging Move

The movement of a train through a switch or crossover resulting in change
from one track to another track.

Drainage Structures

A pipe or culvert that facilitates the movement of water beneath the railroad.

Earth Retaining Structures

Engineered facilities, such as a soldier pile and lagging system, that supports earthen embankments.

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)

The FRA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation.  FRA promotes safe, environmentally sound, successful railroad transportation and is the grantor for the High Speed Rail Program providing federal funds for the NHHS Rail Program.

Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

The FTA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems.

Flagger

A qualified railroad employee whose job is to protect trains and railroad operations
from construction activities.

Foul Time

A period of time when train movements are suspended i.e. so that construction activities that would interfere with passing trains can be accomplished. 

Freight Railroad

A company whose business is to transport goods from one location to another on behalf others (shippers).  Freight Railroads operating on the NHHS line include Connecticut Southern Railroad (CSO), CSX Transportation and Pan Am Railways.

Freight Train

A train consisting of at least one locomotive and one or more cars deigned to carry goods from one location to another.

Gauntlet Track

A short length of track with a switch at each end that diverges trains allowing wide freight trains to move through a zone of limited horizontal clearances such as a passenger platform.

High Level Platform

A platform constructed to be four feet above the top of rail, at the same height as the passenger car door sill.

Hydronic Snow Melt System

A system of pipes embedded in a passenger platform through which heated fluid is conveyed to melt snow and ice on the platform surface.

Insulated Joint

A non-conducting segment installed in a rail to electrically isolate two signal blocks.

Interlocking

An arrangement of switches and devices that allow for safe train movement between various tracks.

Layover and Maintenance Facility

A layover facility is a location where trains are cleaned and fueled when not in use, often at an outlying location.  Minor repairs, such as changing brake pads, replacing air conditioning tanks, or changing light-bulbs or seats, may be performed at the layover facility as well.  More substantive repairs are made at a Service & Inspection or heavy maintenance facility.

Locomotive

A diesel or electric powered rail vehicle that provides the traction power for a train of passenger cars.

Median Barrier

A raised divider used to prohibit the movement of cars and trucks from one highway lane to another at the approach to a highway/grade crossing.

MOW

Maintenance of Way.  Railroad workers involved in the inspection, repair and upgrade of railroad tracks, bridges, signals and communications systems.

NHHS Rail Corridor

The length of the rail line from New Haven, CT to Springfield, MA.

Open Deck Bridge

A railroad bridge constructed so that the railroad track and ties are directly connected to the bridge structure resulting in spaces between the railroad ties that are open to the road or stream being crossed beneath.

Passenger Information Display System (PIDS)

A system consisting of electronic devices at a station that display schedule and other important passenger information.

Passenger Railroad

A company whose business is to transport passengers from one location to another.  Currently, the only passenger railroad operating on the NHHS rail corridor is Amtrak.

Passenger Train

A train consisting of at least one locomotive and one or more cars deigned to carry passengers from one location to another.

Platform

The raised flat surface at a station that allows passengers to enter and exit a train. 

Platform Canopy

A roof above a passenger platform.

Positive Train Control (PTC)

Integrated command, control, communications and information systems used for controlling train movements with safety, security, precision and efficiency.

Quad Gate

One of four crossing gates installed at highway/grade crossings that close both the entry and exit lanes to highway traffic.

Quiet Zone

A portion of track where trains do not sound their whistles while passing through highway/grade crossings. The safety requirements for the establishment of Quiet Zones are established by federal legislation and can only be implemented at the request of the local community in order to limit noise at a defined location.

Rail

The length of steel that train wheels run upon.

Railroad Embankment

A down slope adjacent to the tracks.

Railroad ROW

Right of Way. The physical property composing the railroad.

Railroad Support Structures

Engineered facilities that support loading conditions of the train.

Roadbed

The engineered materials that support the track.  The roadbed consists of subgrade, subballast and ballast.

Route

The path a train travels.

Scoping

Scoping is the formal early coordination process required by CEQ’s 1979 Regulations (40 CFR 1501.7) during an environmental analysis undertaken pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act.  It is intended to ensure that issues of concern are identified early and are properly studied, that issues of little significance do not consume time and effort, and that the draft environmental document is thorough and balanced and that delays resulting from inadequate documentation are avoided.

Signal Block

A section of track that is electrically isolated from other portions of track. It allows the signal system to determine the location of a train.

Solider Pile and Lagging Wall

A retaining wall system constructed of steel piles anchored into the earth that support horizontal beams (lagging) to support an embankment.

Steel Piles

Steel beams driven into the earth to support a structure such as a bridge, culvert, retaining wall, building or passenger station.

STRAC/NET

Strategic Rail Network.  A system of railroad tracks that the federal government designates for use to transport wide loads in support of nationally important issues.  The New Haven to Springfield line is a part of the national STRAC/NET system.

Sub-ballast

Crushed stone that has defined mechanical properties and specified size limits used to support and drain railroad tracks.

Surfacing

The act of upgrading railroad tracks to establish a profile and alignment that facilitates the safe movement of trains.

Ticket Vending Machine (TVM)

An automated machine used to purchase passenger tickets for Hartford Line service. TVM’s will be located both inside, and on the platforms at Hartford Line stations in New Haven, Meriden, Berlin, Wallingford, Hartford and Springfield. They will allow passengers to quickly and easily purchase tickets before boarding trains.

Tie

Commonly made of wood, ties are placed perpendicular under the rails to keep them level. They also keep the rails properly spaced apart. Ties can also be made of pre-stressed concrete or steel.

Track 1

The existing mainline train track generally located on the west side of the NHHS rail line that travels from New Haven, Connecticut to Springfield, Massachusetts.

Track 2

An existing/proposed mainline train track generally located on the east side of the NHHS rail line that travels from New Haven, Connecticut to Springfield, Massachusetts.  Certain sections of this track were removed by Amtrak in the 1970’s and will be replaced under the NHHS Rail Program.

Track Construction Machine

A 250-ton machine that installed 23 miles of new track parallel to the existing single track.

Track Outage

A period of time where trains are prohibited from running.

Track Panel

A short section of track consisting of rails, ties and fasteners.  Track panels are often constructed offsite and then installed using cranes.

Track Signal

Signals that are used to convey information to locomotive engineers.

Track Support Structure

An assembly of beams used to temporarily support a track during construction.

Track Throw

The act of relocating a track horizontally

Train Engineer

The individual that operates the locomotive powering a train.

Transit-Oriented Development

Transit-oriented development (TOD) is compact, mixed-use development near transit facilities with high-quality walking environments. Studies have shown that the typical TOD leverages transit infrastructure to promote economic development and smart growth. TOD is about creating sustainable communities with transportation and housing choices, and encouraging alternative modes of transportation including walking, biking and use of transit.  In addition, TOD boosts transit ridership and reduces automobile congestion, while creating a sense of community and place.

Turnout

An assembly of moveable pieces of rail that allows a train to move from one track to another, commonly called a switch.  

Wayside Horn

A wayside horn is used by railroads at grade crossings to alert the public that a train is approaching. They can be used in place of, or in addition to, the locomotives horn. This reduces noise at the crossing, which may be desirable in areas with sensitive noise receptors. A wayside horn is also known as an Automated Horn System.

Wayside Horn Indicator Light

An electrical indicator that alerts the train engineer that the approaching grade crossing has a wayside horn system and that it is active.  In instances where the horn is inactive, the engineer must manually activate the locomotive horn.

Wayside Signal

A signal that is in a fixed location outside a train, along the railroad that communicates to the train crew speed and clearance to move along the track. It has similarities to a traffic signal.

Yard

A facility with multiple tracks where rail cars are assembled into train sets based on destination.