Kit and method of implementing light-density passenger railway deployment on a pre-existing track

Abstract

A method of providing an improved kit are based upon a preconfigured Rail Vehicle (RV) and may consist of preconfigured systems including wayside systems that support and enhance the operation of the RV. The concepts pertain to a kit that includes both a number of the RVs that are preconfigured and a number of peripherals that support the operation of the RVs in the railway installation. It also may pertain to a method of putting together the kit and/or offering the kit for sale or lease to a customer and/or implementing the kit in whole or in part for the customer. The extent to which the implementing of the kit in whole or in part for the customer is itself advantageously customizable to the particular need of the customer, which can advantageously optimize the timing, expense, and risk minimization to the customer.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A method of implementing a railway installation onto at least one of a track that is pre-existing and another track that is either at least partially pre-existing or not pre-existing, comprising:
 providing a fully integrated, pre-configured package (or “kit”) comprising:
 a Rail Vehicle (“RV”) component comprising a number of RVs that are preconfigured for operation on at least one of the track and the another track; and 
 further comprising at least one item selected from among a group of items, the group of items comprising:
 an integration and control document (ICD) component comprising a number of ICDs that have a number of specifications that pertain to a number of interactions between the number of RVs and at least one of the track and the another track; 
 a safety and operational component comprising a number of safety case documents that are related to the railway installation, the number of safety case documents being usable as at least a portion of a basis for obtaining approval from a number of governmental entities to operate the railway installation; 
 an amount of applications engineering; 
 a platform component comprising at least one of:
 a platform plan that comprises at least one of a platform design that is usable to construct a number of platforms and an installation guide that is usable to install the number of platforms adjacent at least one of the track and another track, 
 a number of preconfigured platforms and an installation guide that is usable to install the number of platforms adjacent at least one of the track and the another track, and 
 a number of installed preconfigured platforms that are situated adjacent at least one of the track and the another track; and 
 
 a shop component comprising at least one of:
 a shop plan that comprises at least one of a shop design and an equipment guide, the shop design being usable to construct a shop in the vicinity of at least one of the track and the another track, the equipment guide comprising a description that comprises a number of specifications of a set of equipment that is usable to service the number of RVs and a number of positions in the shop where the set of equipment can be situated, 
 a preconfigured shop kit from which the shop can be constructed with the use of the shop design, and 
 a set of equipment that can be positioned in the shop according to the equipment guide. 
 
 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the group of items further comprises a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) component that comprises a petition for waiver having one or more of:
 at least a first standard for which a waiver is requested; 
 a number of reasons for the requesting of the waiver; 
 a number of explanations of how a level of safety equivalent to that achieved by the at least first standard will be accomplished; and 
 a safety case. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the safety case comprises one or more of:
 a verification of a design integrity; 
 an Operate and Maintain (O&M) practice; 
 an operating safety program; and 
 a package for a number of first responders. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the group of items further comprises a financing component comprising a number of financing options having a number of instructions for one or more of:
 sale or lease of the kit 
 an offering of a number of municipal bonds; 
 an obtaining of a number of loans; and 
 an obtaining of a number of grants. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the amount of applications engineering of the group of items comprises an amount of pre-engineering directed toward a number of elements that are comprised among at least one of:
 at least one of the track and the another track;   a right of way of at least one of the track and the another track;   at least a first platform of a number of platforms;   a number of stations;   a number of shops;   a yard; and   a pre-integration of at least one of these based at least in part upon at least a first RV of the number of RVs.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the amount of applications engineering of the group of items further comprises an amount of pre-engineering directed toward the at least first platform that comprises am amount of pre-engineered framing for the at least first platform and that comprises a number of modules for at least one of a canopy and an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramp access. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the amount of applications engineering of the group of items comprises an application of an improved kit that is used to set back a platform from the track by a distance sufficient to accommodate a number of freight trains, and further comprises an additional installation of a number of step plates mounted on at least one of the platform and a floor of at least one RV of the number of RVs that extends at least one of the platform and the floor of the at least one RV to bridge a gap between them. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the pre-configured package comprises at least the amount of applications engineering. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the pre-configured package comprises at least the integration and control document (ICD) component comprising the number of ICDs that have the number of specifications that pertain to the number of interactions between the number of RVs and the at least one of the track and the another track. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the pre-configured package comprises at least the safety and operational component comprising the number of safety case documents that are related to the railway installation, the number of safety case documents being usable as at least a portion of a basis for obtaining approval from a number of governmental entities to operate the railway installation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the pre-configured package comprises at least the platform component comprising at least one of:
 a platform plan that comprises at least one of a platform design that is usable to construct a number of platforms and an installation guide that is usable to install the number of platforms adjacent at least one of the track and another track;   a number of preconfigured platforms and an installation guide that is usable to install the number of platforms adjacent at least one of the track and the another track; and   a number of installed preconfigured platforms that are situated adjacent at least one of the track and the another track.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the kit comprises an installation guide that comprises a foundation design and that is usable to install the number of platforms adjacent at least one of the track and another track. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the pre-configured package comprises at least the shop component comprising at least one of:
 a shop plan that comprises at least one of a shop design and an equipment guide, the shop design being usable to construct a shop in the vicinity of at least one of the track and the another track, the equipment guide comprising a description that comprises a number of specifications of a set of equipment that is usable to service the number of RVs and a number of positions in the shop where the set of equipment can be situated;   a preconfigured shop kit from which the shop can be constructed with the use of the shop design; and   a set of equipment that can be positioned in the shop according to the equipment guide.