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During a visit to Baton Rouge, La., yesterday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta viewed a demonstration of the T-18, the Federal Railroad Administration’s new self-propelled track inspection vehicle that soon will begin identifying defects throughout the Gulf Coast and Midwest. Mineta also provided an update on the FRA’s plans for the vehicle, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) recently announced National Rail Safety Action Plan.

During the next 18 months, the FRA will take delivery of two more T-18s. The three vehicles will enable the administration to inspect 100,000 miles of track annually, tripling the FRA’s track inspection capacity.

“The T-18 gives us the ability to analyze the integrity of more track more quickly, and provide results that enable railroads to make timely repairs when needed,” Mineta said in a prepared statement.

Targeting the most frequent, highest-risk accident causes, the rail safety plan will accelerate research into new technologies, such as the T-18. The USDOT is investigating new devices designed to detect if switches are in the correct position and low-cost circuits that can detect broken rails. In addition, the FRA is field testing technology designed to automatically control train movements and speed.