Intrusion Barriers for High-Speed Guided Ground Transportation Systems

Abstract Intrusion hazard from shared rights-of-way is one of the key safety issues of High-Speed Guided Transportation (HSGGT) systems. Intrusion barriers, designed to prevent intrusion into and out of adjacent corridors, would mitigate this hazard and would support the feasibility of locating HSGGT systems adjacent to existing transportation facilities. A recent study is described that produced designs for intrusion barriers for Maglev, High-Speed Rail, Conventional Railroad and Highway vehicles. These barriers were designed to perform the following functions: • Prevent a derailed railroad car or errant highway vehicle from intruding into the operational space of the HSGGT guideway from an adjacent or overhead facility • Prevent a derailed HSGGT vehicle from intruding into the operational space of an adjacent railroad or highway • Prevent a derailed HSGGT vehicle from falling from an elevated track or guideway, or from colliding with some other trackside hazard. Structural barrier system designs composed of steel and concrete elements were developed using a dynamic computer model. The Train/Barrier Interaction Program (TBIP) was used to simulate the physical properties and kinematics of a moving rail vehicle which derails and impacts a barrier. Prototype barrier designs with the capability of resisting barrier loads estimated by the TBIP program are detailed.