The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) as the selected institution for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-2023 Rail Research and Development Center of Excellence (CoE) program.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) has been awarded up to $5,000,000 to establish the National University Rail Center of Excellence (NURail CoE), a pioneering initiative dedicated to developing the future workforce while advancing research and expansion that enhances the safety, efficiency, and reliability of both passenger and freight rail transportation.
Led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the NURail CoE comprises a consortium of nine partner institutions, including the University of Illinois Chicago, University of Delaware, Kansas State University, Michigan Technological University, Morgan State University, Rutgers University, University of Texas at Austin, and Tuskegee University. This collaborative effort represents another step forward in President Biden’s plan to deliver the 21st century rail network Americans need and deserve, allocating much-needed investment in the pursuit of cutting-edge rail solutions and workforce development.
The NURail CoE will appropriate its resources towards research areas encompassing a wide range of critical topics. Potential research topics may include the development of groundbreaking technologies to advance rolling stock, Positive Train Control systems, human factors, rail infrastructure enhancements, shared corridor solutions, grade crossing safety innovations, trespasser prevention strategies, inspection technology advancements, remote sensing applications, rail systems maintenance approaches, network resiliency solutions, operational reliability enhancements, energy efficiency measures, and other pioneering subjects aimed at promoting and improving rail transportation.
Detailed information about the NURail CoE and its proposed projects can be found on the
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign website
-via Press Release