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Coordinates: 38°26′04″N 104°17′06″W / 38.43444°N 104.28500°W / 38.43444; -104.28500
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{{Short description|Railroad equipment testing and training facility in Colorado, US}}
[[File:TTCI.jpg|thumb|TTCI Logo]]
{{for|the testing facility owned by the Federal Railroad Administration|Transportation Technology Center}}
[[File:TTCI Facility.jpg|thumb|TTCI Facility]]
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
[[File:TTCI Train.jpg|thumb|TTCI Locomotive]]
{{Infobox company
'''Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI)''', is a railroad testing and training facility located northeast of [[Pueblo, Colorado]]. It originated as the [[Department of Transportation]]'s '''High Speed Ground Test Center''' in 1971 as a site to test several [[hovertrain]] concepts. When those projects were completed in the 1970s, the site was handed to the [[Federal Railroad Administration]].<ref>''Transportation Technology Center, Inc.'', (TTCI). Transportation Technology Center, Inc, (c) 2009. Web. 19 October 2009</ref> It was incorporated on January 1, 1998, as a [[wholly owned subsidiary]] of the [[Association of American Railroads]].
| name = MxV Rail
| logo = MxV_Rail_logo.jpg
| logo_size = 150
| type =
| image =
| image_caption =
| image_size =
| industry = Railroad equipment testing and training
⚫
| predecessor = Transportation Technology Center, Inc.
| successor = <!-- or: | successors = -->
| founded = {{Start date and age|1998}}
| hq_location_city = [[Pueblo, Colorado]]
| hq_location_country = [[United States]]
| area_served = [[North America]]
| key_people = Kari Gonzales, CEO and President
| num_employees = 300
| num_employees_year = <!-- Year of num_employees data (if known) -->
| parent = [[Association of American Railroads]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.ttci.tech/}}
}}
'''MxV Rail''' (full legal name: '''Transportation Technology Center, Inc.''') is a [[subsidiary]] of the [[Association of American Railroads]] (AAR) which conducts railroad equipment testing and training for member railroads.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Testing Facilities & Equipment |url=https://railroads.dot.gov/program-areas/testing-facilities-equipment/testing-facilities-equipment |access-date=March 24, 2021 |website=[[Federal Railroad Administration]]}}</ref>

From 1982 until October 2022, AAR managed operations at the [[Transportation Technology Center]] (TTC) as part of [[public-private partnership]] between AAR and the TTC's owner, the [[Federal Railroad Administration]] (FRA). The TTC is a railroad equipment testing facility located northeast of [[Pueblo, Colorado]]. AAR formed its Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) subsidiary in 1998, and TTCI assumed the contract.

In March 2021, TTCI lost the contract to operate the TTC, effective October 2022. In March 2022, AAR rebranded TTCI as MxV Rail, as it works to establish its own testing facility in Pueblo.

==History==
The facility operations and maintenance for TTC has been the responsibility of a contractor since July 1972.<ref name=HSGTA-1977>{{cite report |url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/ien.35556029490174 |title=The Tenth and Final Report on the High Speed Ground Transportation Act of 1965 |date=1977 |author=Secretary of Transportation |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |hdl=2027/ien.35556029490174 |access-date=16 September 2021}} [https://railroads.dot.gov/sites/fra.dot.gov/files/fra_net/15927/1977_TENTH%20AND%20FINAL%20REPORT%20ON%20THE%20HIGH%20SPEED%20GROUND%20TR.PDF alternative PDF link]</ref>{{rp|89–92}} Due to reduced funding that threatened to close TTC, the FRA entered a public-private partnership with AAR in 1982, who would take over "care, custody, and control" of the facility.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ndholmes.com/trip-reports/a-look-inside-the-transportation-test-center/ |title=A Look Inside the Transportation Test Center |author=Holmes, Nathan D. |date=April 19, 2008 |access-date=15 September 2021}}</ref> AAR formed its TTCI subsidiary to administer the contract in 1998<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.ttci.tech/evolution |title=TTCI Is Evolving |date=March 5, 2021 |publisher=Transportation Technology Center, Inc. |access-date=15 September 2021}}</ref> and the contract was renewed periodically as a single-source award.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/federal-railroad-administration-announces-contract-agreement-transportation-technology |title=Federal Railroad Administration Announces Contract Agreement with the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. |date=September 15, 2000 |publisher=Federal Railroad Administration |access-date=15 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.railwayage.com/regulatory/ttc-management-transitioning-to-dot-wide-contract/ |title=TTC Management Transitioning to 'DOT-Wide' Contract |author=Luczak, Marybeth |date=March 8, 2021 |work=Railway Age |access-date=15 September 2021}}</ref>

In March 2021, the FRA awarded the operations and maintenance contract to [[ENSCO, Inc.]], who assumed responsibility for research and development, testing, engineering, and training services at TTC from TTCI starting in October 2022. In addition, ENSCO plans to expand the use of TTC to support more general ground transportation research.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.progressiverailroading.com/rail_industry_trends/news/ENSCO-awarded-contract-to-manage-Transportation-Technology-Center--62899 |title=ENSCO awarded contract to manage Transportation Technology Center |date=March 9, 2021 |work=Progressive Railroading |access-date=7 April 2021}}</ref>

In April, TTCI announced plans to build a new, independent research facility in Pueblo after reaching an agreement with the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation (PEDCO).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.railwayage.com/regulatory/ttci-to-start-next-chapter-at-new-pueblo-facility/ |title=TTCI to Start 'Next Chapter' at New Pueblo Facility |author=Luczak, Marybeth |date=April 27, 2021 |work=Railway Age |access-date=20 September 2021}}</ref> The new facility would be in the PuebloPlex industrial park (site of the former [[Pueblo Chemical Depot]]), just south of the TTC.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.pedco.org/news/celebrating-the-past-present-and-future-of-rail-research-testing-and-development-in-pueblo/ |title=Celebrating the Past, Present and Future of Rail Research, Testing and Development in Pueblo! |date=April 26, 2021 |publisher=Pueblo Economic Development Corporation |access-date=27 September 2021}}</ref>

In March 2022, the AAR announced that TTCI would be rebranded into MxV Rail, a name based on the mathematical formula for [[momentum]]: mass x velocity.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-15 |title=Building Momentum: Railroad Industry Introduces MxV Rail |url=https://www.aar.org/article/building-momentum-railroad-industry-introduces-mxv-rail/ |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=Association of American Railroads |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Facilities==
At the PuebloPlex, MxV Rail plans to build a high-tonnage loop for accelerated service testing and curve negotiation loops, along with related infrastructure to support certification testing by the AAR.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.progressiverailroading.com/rail_industry_trends/news/TTCI-changes-name-to-MxV-Rail-prepares-for-new-campus--66117 |title=TTCI changes name to MxV Rail, prepares for new campus |date=March 15, 2022 |work=Progressive Railroading |access-date=17 March 2022}}</ref>
{{clear left}}


==Facility==
Located on a 30,000-acre site, the TTC site is home to numerous test tracks and laboratories.<ref>Pueblo: Test-tube for tomorrow's railroads ''[[Railway Age]]'' September 13, 1971 pages 38-42</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aar.com/tracks.php|title=TTCI Test Tracks|website=www.aar.com|access-date=2017-12-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.railway-research.org/Transportation-Technology-Center|title=Transportation Technology Center Inc. (TTCI) - Railway Research (developed by UIC)|website=www.railway-research.org|language=en|access-date=2017-12-12}}</ref> Two of the test tracks are electrified. The Railroad Test Track (named to differentiate it from the original hovertrain tracks) is equipped with [[Overhead line|overhead catenary]], while the Transit Test Track is equipped with [[third rail]] and a small section of overhead catenary. Additionally, there are numerous specialized track geometry test tracks, with specified irregularities introduced to test rail vehicle dynamic response.<ref>Having a smashing time in Pueblo ''[[Rail (magazine)|Rail]]'' issue 336 29 July 1998 pages 36-40</ref>
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[https://www.ttci.tech/ Transportation Technology Center, Inc.]
{{commons category inline}}
⚫
*[http://www.aar.com/ Transportation Technology Center, Inc.]
*[http://www.aar.org/ Association of American Railroads]
*[http://www.aar.org/ Association of American Railroads]


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[[Category:Transportation in Pueblo County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Transportation in Pueblo County, Colorado]]
[[Category:1971 establishments in Colorado]]
[[Category:1971 establishments in Colorado]]


{{US-rail-transport-stub}}
{{Colorado-transport-stub}}

Latest revision as of 20:16, 3 September 2023

For the testing facility owned by the Federal Railroad Administration, see Transportation Technology Center.

MxV Rail
IndustryRailroad equipment testing and training
PredecessorTransportation Technology Center, Inc.
Founded1998; 26 years ago (1998)
Headquarters
Pueblo, Colorado
,
United States
Area served
North America
Key people
Kari Gonzales, CEO and President
Number of employees
300
ParentAssociation of American Railroads
Websitewww.ttci.tech

MxV Rail (full legal name: Transportation Technology Center, Inc.) is a subsidiary of the Association of American Railroads (AAR) which conducts railroad equipment testing and training for member railroads.[1]

From 1982 until October 2022, AAR managed operations at the Transportation Technology Center (TTC) as part of public-private partnership between AAR and the TTC's owner, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The TTC is a railroad equipment testing facility located northeast of Pueblo, Colorado. AAR formed its Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) subsidiary in 1998, and TTCI assumed the contract.

In March 2021, TTCI lost the contract to operate the TTC, effective October 2022. In March 2022, AAR rebranded TTCI as MxV Rail, as it works to establish its own testing facility in Pueblo.

History

[edit]

The facility operations and maintenance for TTC has been the responsibility of a contractor since July 1972.[2]: 89–92  Due to reduced funding that threatened to close TTC, the FRA entered a public-private partnership with AAR in 1982, who would take over "care, custody, and control" of the facility.[3] AAR formed its TTCI subsidiary to administer the contract in 1998[4] and the contract was renewed periodically as a single-source award.[5][6]

In March 2021, the FRA awarded the operations and maintenance contract to ENSCO, Inc., who assumed responsibility for research and development, testing, engineering, and training services at TTC from TTCI starting in October 2022. In addition, ENSCO plans to expand the use of TTC to support more general ground transportation research.[7]

In April, TTCI announced plans to build a new, independent research facility in Pueblo after reaching an agreement with the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation (PEDCO).[8] The new facility would be in the PuebloPlex industrial park (site of the former Pueblo Chemical Depot), just south of the TTC.[9]

In March 2022, the AAR announced that TTCI would be rebranded into MxV Rail, a name based on the mathematical formula for momentum: mass x velocity.[10]

Facilities

[edit]

At the PuebloPlex, MxV Rail plans to build a high-tonnage loop for accelerated service testing and curve negotiation loops, along with related infrastructure to support certification testing by the AAR.[11]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Testing Facilities & Equipment". Federal Railroad Administration. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  2. ^ Secretary of Transportation (1977). The Tenth and Final Report on the High Speed Ground Transportation Act of 1965 (Report). U.S. Department of Transportation. hdl:2027/ien.35556029490174. Retrieved September 16, 2021. alternative PDF link
  3. ^ Holmes, Nathan D. (April 19, 2008). "A Look Inside the Transportation Test Center". Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  4. ^ "TTCI Is Evolving" (Press release). Transportation Technology Center, Inc. March 5, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  5. ^ "Federal Railroad Administration Announces Contract Agreement with the Transportation Technology Center, Inc" (Press release). Federal Railroad Administration. September 15, 2000. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  6. ^ Luczak, Marybeth (March 8, 2021). "TTC Management Transitioning to 'DOT-Wide' Contract". Railway Age. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  7. ^ "ENSCO awarded contract to manage Transportation Technology Center". Progressive Railroading. March 9, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  8. ^ Luczak, Marybeth (April 27, 2021). "TTCI to Start 'Next Chapter' at New Pueblo Facility". Railway Age. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  9. ^ "Celebrating the Past, Present and Future of Rail Research, Testing and Development in Pueblo!" (Press release). Pueblo Economic Development Corporation. April 26, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  10. ^ "Building Momentum: Railroad Industry Introduces MxV Rail". Association of American Railroads. March 15, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  11. ^ "TTCI changes name to MxV Rail, prepares for new campus". Progressive Railroading. March 15, 2022. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
[edit]

38°26′04″N 104°17′06″W / 38.43444°N 104.28500°W / 38.43444; -104.28500

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