American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association
Encyclopedia
The American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) is a North American railway industry group. It publishes recommended practices for the design, construction and maintenance of railway infrastructure, which are requirements in the United States
and Canada
.
, a suburb of Washington, DC. Its Mission Statement is "The development and advancement of both technical and practical knowledge and recommended practices pertaining to the design, construction and maintenance of railway infrastructure." Charles H. Emely has been the Executive Director and CEO of AREMA since November 1998. Larry L. Etherton is the AREMA President and Chairman of the Board of Governors for 2007-2008.
Each of these organizations brings over 100 years of service to the rail industry to AREMA.
as the American International Association of Railway Superintendents of Bridges and Buildings, the Association initially represented 40 railroads. The name was changed in 1907 to the American Railway Bridge and Building Association. The group provided a forum to exchange information and to mind solutions to problems that confront the railway industry.
, New York
in 1899 to organize a forum for the development and study of recommended practices for the newly-integrated standard gauge
North American railway network. Later, the name was shortened to the American Railway Engineering Association (AREA). Five of its technical committees (ties
, rail
, track
, buildings, yards
and terminals) have remained intact from 1899 and continue under AREMA functional groups. The first Manual of Recommended Practices was issued in 1905 and its name was changed to the Manual of Railway Engineering in 1970.
, frogs and ties
were among the subjects studied, leading to the standardization of maintenance practices.
, Illinois
and created a code of rules governing the operation of interlocking
s. In 1919, the Signaling Club became the Signal Division of the newly-created American Railway Association
(ARA) and the Telegraph Superintendents became its Telegraph and Telephone Section. The ARA became the Association of American Railroads
(AAR) in 1934; the Signal Division was renamed the Signal Section and the Telegraph and Telephone was renamed the Communications Section. The two sections merged in 1961 to become the Communications and Signal Division of the AAR, which has now been merged into AREMA.
20 chapters are contained in four volumes, updated annually by the technical committees.
Consultants use the Manual's recommendations as a basis for design. Many railroads use the Manual as a basis for their track standards and may add to it to describe their specific needs.
22 sections are contained in five volumes, written and updated by the AREMA committees.
These practices are required for railroads in the United States
by the Federal Railroad Administration
and in Canada
by Transport Canada
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Overview
AREMA is headquartered in Lanham, MarylandLanham, Maryland
Lanham is an unincorporated community in Prince George's County in the State of Maryland in the United States of America. Because it is not formally incorporated, it has no official boundaries, but the United States Census Bureau has defined a census-designated place consisting of Lanham and the...
, a suburb of Washington, DC. Its Mission Statement is "The development and advancement of both technical and practical knowledge and recommended practices pertaining to the design, construction and maintenance of railway infrastructure." Charles H. Emely has been the Executive Director and CEO of AREMA since November 1998. Larry L. Etherton is the AREMA President and Chairman of the Board of Governors for 2007-2008.
History
AREMA was created October 1, 1997 by the merger of four industry-related groups:- the American Railway Bridge and Building Association
- the American Railway Engineering Association
- the Roadmasters and Maintenance of Way Association, and
- the Communications and Signal Division of the Association of American RailroadsAssociation of American RailroadsThe Association of American Railroads is an industry trade group representing primarily the major freight railroads of North America . Amtrak and some regional commuter railroads are also members...
Each of these organizations brings over 100 years of service to the rail industry to AREMA.
American Railway Bridge and Building Association
Formed in 1891 in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
as the American International Association of Railway Superintendents of Bridges and Buildings, the Association initially represented 40 railroads. The name was changed in 1907 to the American Railway Bridge and Building Association. The group provided a forum to exchange information and to mind solutions to problems that confront the railway industry.
American Railway Engineering Association
The American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association was formed in BuffaloBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1899 to organize a forum for the development and study of recommended practices for the newly-integrated standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
North American railway network. Later, the name was shortened to the American Railway Engineering Association (AREA). Five of its technical committees (ties
Railroad tie
A railroad tie/railway tie , or railway sleeper is a rectangular item used to support the rails in railroad tracks...
, rail
Rail tracks
The track on a railway or railroad, also known as the permanent way, is the structure consisting of the rails, fasteners, sleepers and ballast , plus the underlying subgrade...
, track
Rail tracks
The track on a railway or railroad, also known as the permanent way, is the structure consisting of the rails, fasteners, sleepers and ballast , plus the underlying subgrade...
, buildings, yards
Classification yard
A classification yard or marshalling yard is a railroad yard found at some freight train stations, used to separate railroad cars on to one of several tracks. First the cars are taken to a track, sometimes called a lead or a drill...
and terminals) have remained intact from 1899 and continue under AREMA functional groups. The first Manual of Recommended Practices was issued in 1905 and its name was changed to the Manual of Railway Engineering in 1970.
Roadmasters and Maintenance of Way Association
The oldest of the groups was organized in 1883 by 61 roadmasters representing 24 railroads. The Association provided a means through which maintenance officers would have an opportunity to meet and discuss their mutual problems. Rail joints, switchesRailroad switch
A railroad switch, turnout or [set of] points is a mechanical installation enabling railway trains to be guided from one track to another at a railway junction....
, frogs and ties
Railroad tie
A railroad tie/railway tie , or railway sleeper is a rectangular item used to support the rails in railroad tracks...
were among the subjects studied, leading to the standardization of maintenance practices.
Communications and Signal Division of the Association of American Railroads
In 1885, the Association of Telegraph and Telephone Superintendents was formed by the telegraph superintendents of the major railroads. In 1895, the Railway Signaling Club was organized at a meeting in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
and created a code of rules governing the operation of interlocking
Interlocking
In railway signalling, an interlocking is an arrangement of signal apparatus that prevents conflicting movements through an arrangement of tracks such as junctions or crossings. The signalling appliances and tracks are sometimes collectively referred to as an interlocking plant...
s. In 1919, the Signaling Club became the Signal Division of the newly-created American Railway Association
American Railway Association
The American Railway Association was an industry trade group representing railroads in the United States. The organization had its inception in meetings of General Managers and ranking railroad operating officials known as Time Table Conventions, the first of which was held on October 1, 1872, at...
(ARA) and the Telegraph Superintendents became its Telegraph and Telephone Section. The ARA became the Association of American Railroads
Association of American Railroads
The Association of American Railroads is an industry trade group representing primarily the major freight railroads of North America . Amtrak and some regional commuter railroads are also members...
(AAR) in 1934; the Signal Division was renamed the Signal Section and the Telegraph and Telephone was renamed the Communications Section. The two sections merged in 1961 to become the Communications and Signal Division of the AAR, which has now been merged into AREMA.
Technical committees
AREMA has 28 technical committees, organized in six functional groups. The committees, whose members come from the railroad industry, meet on a regular basis and use their expertise to come up with the best methods to maintain a railroad.- Structures
- Building & Support Facilities
- Timber Structures
- Concrete Structures & Foundations
- Seismic Design for Railway Structures
- Structures, Maintenance & Construction
- Steel Structures
- ClearancesStructure gaugeThe structure gauge, also called the minimum clearance outline, is the minimum height and width of tunnels and bridges as well as the minimum height and width of the doors that allow a rail siding access into a warehouse...
- Passenger & Transit
- Commuter & Intercity Rail Systems
- Rail Transit
- High Speed Rail Systems
- Electric Energy Utilization
- Track
- Roadway & Ballast
- Rail
- Track
- Maintenance of Way Work Equipment
- Ties
- Engineering Services
- Track Measuring Systems
- Environmental
- Yards & Terminals
- Economics of Railway Engineering & Operations
- Light Density & Short Line Railways
- Education & Training
- Communications & Signals
- Scales
- Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Warning Systems
- Signal Systems
- Information, Defect Detection & Energy Systems
- Positive Train Control
- Maintenance
- Engineering Safety Steering Team
- Track Maintenance Steering Team
Manual of Railway Engineering
The AREMA Manual for Railway Engineering contains principles, data, specifications, plans and economics pertaining to the engineering, design and construction of the fixed plant of railways (except signals and communications), and allied services and facilities.20 chapters are contained in four volumes, updated annually by the technical committees.
Consultants use the Manual's recommendations as a basis for design. Many railroads use the Manual as a basis for their track standards and may add to it to describe their specific needs.
Communications & Signals Manual of Recommended Practices
The AREMA Communications & Signals Manual of Recommended Practices contains recommended practices for railway communications and signaling.22 sections are contained in five volumes, written and updated by the AREMA committees.
These practices are required for railroads in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by the Federal Railroad Administration
Federal Railroad Administration
The Federal Railroad Administration is an agency in the United States Department of Transportation. The agency was created by the Department of Transportation Act of 1966...
and in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
by Transport Canada
Transport Canada
Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
.