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The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently awarded a $9 million contract to ENSCO Inc. to design, engineer and test two vehicles for the administration's Automated Track Inspection Program.

In 2001, the FRA Office of Safety awarded a contract to build the FRA T2000, a self-propelled, automated track inspection vehicle. In 2003, the FRA contracted ENSCO to refurbish an Amtrak coach, which eventually became the high-speed FRA T16 track inspection vehicle featuring advanced monitoring technology.

Now, ENSCO will build two customized T18 vehicles featuring the latest rail safety innovations, according to a prepared statement.
During the next 18 months, the FRA expects to take delivery of the T-18s, which will enable the administration to inspect 100,000 miles of track annually, tripling current track inspection capacity. The vehicles are part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s recently announced National Rail Safety Action Plan.

ENSCO provides engineering, science and technology services for the transportation, defense, security, environment, aerospace and intelligent automation industries.