Webinars

The aging workforce in the U.S. railroad industry creates risks for the loss of expertise and institutional knowledge. Succession planning alone, however, cannot fully address these risks. In 2022, the FRA funded a novel research project — Expertise Management for Safety Leadership Positions in the U.S. Railroad Industry — to address mitigating these risks. Expertise Management (EM) is a mature and under-utilized approach for identifying, capturing, and transferring expertise. EM builds on Cognitive Task Analysis methods that have been used successfully for training programs. This webinar will introduce the EM project, its unique approach, and its training products developed for the short line and regional railroad industry (e.g., Decision Games, Experts’ Stories, and Job Aids). The webinar will include a brief demonstration of how these products can be utilized in existing or new railroad training programs. Attendees will have an opportunity to participate in Q&A at the end of the presentation.

Rail is a railroad’s most important asset. Rails are put into service with the knowledge that someday they will have to be replaced. This webinar is focused on maintenance planning and practices designed to help optimize the life of your rail. Topics include: variables that cause premature rail replacement, maintenance planning, and rail grinding best practices to extend the life of rail. Attendees will have an opportunity to participate in Q&A at the end of the presentation.