The Transportation Learning Center (the Center) organizes multiple national training consortia to develop standards-based national training courseware for frontline occupations in public transportation organizations.
Rail courseware is currently organized into three broad categories - “Rail Car Training Consortium Materials”, “Signals Training Consortium Materials”, and “Traction Power Training Consortium Materials”. Materials are based on the national rail vehicle maintenance training standards, rail signals maintenance training standards, and traction power maintenance training standards published by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). Courseware Development Teams (CDTs), comprised of subject matter experts and instructional designers, hold regular webinars, site visits and in-person meetings to produce these materials.
Please use the navigation on the right to locate courseware of your interest. Access to full downloads and technical assistance for training and apprenticeship implementation is provided to members in good standing. Please contact our staff members listed under each consortium for information on membership.
Traction Power Training Consortium Materials
The Traction Power Training Consortium was launched by the Transportation Learning Center in January 2020. Over the next four years (2020-2023), the Consortium will develop introductory and advanced instruction-ready and interactive courses on traction power maintenance that build on APTA-approved and industry-recognized training standards. Course topics will include: power distribution, industry trends, worker safety, emergency power, tools, and test equipment, catenary and third rail power distribution, grounding, utility power management.
Please contact Amri Joyner or Brandon Liu for more information.
Launched in early 2020, the National Traction Power Training Consortium a four-year project that is developing ready-to-use training materials for upskilling new and experienced traction power technicians working in public transportation. The Consortium is a group of public transportation agencies that are members of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). Within these agencies, traction power systems are also referred to as rail or train electrification systems. Each participating agency assigns two subject matter experts (SMEs) to advise instruction designers, provide content, and help shape the Consortium courses. As of June 2022, ten agencies are working with the International Transportation Learning Center on the Traction Power Consortium to develop 16 courses.
This course helps the participant review major safety concerns and safety standards, cover the federal agencies that regulate health and safety for traction power, and identify the common tools used by traction power maintainers.
This course, provides participants with an overview to the principles of traction power systems as they prepare to work on overhead and third rail traction power systems for a public transportation agency. This course is one in the series of Consortium courses on traction power.
Note: Additional course materials will be available after September 2023.
This course presents an overview of the functions and major components of a traction power substation. Content will include how substations transform and transmit power to the rail car.
Note: Additional course materials will be available after September 2023.
This course introduces participants to overhead line system infrastructure, its major components and their principles of operation.
UNDER DEVELOPMENT. EXPECTED COURSE COMPLETION: December 2023
Course TP200, Preparing for Inspection and Maintenance of Traction Power Systems, introduces the participant to the procedures, tools and techniques that traction power maintainers need to know as they prepare to inspect and maintain the aspects of a traction power system.
Course TP201, Inspection and Maintenance of Traction Power Distribution, steps participants through inspecting, maintaining, performing electrical tests, and other necessary tasks on certain equipment in the traction power distribution system.
Note: Additional course materials will be available after September 2023.
This course provides participants essential steps in inspecting and maintaining the traction power substation.
Note: Additional course materials will be available after September 2023.
Course 203, Inspection and Maintenance of Overhead Systems, offers participants with an overview to the components of overhead systems they will be working with frequently, and techniques and common procedures to inspect and maintenance these components.
UNDER DEVELOPMENT. EXPECTED COURSE COMPLETION: December 2023
UNDER CONSTRUCTION. EXPECTED COURSE COMPLETION: Fall 2021
UNDER CONSTRUCTION. EXPECTED COURSE COMPLETION: Summer 2021
UNDER CONSTRUCTION. EXPECTED COURSE COMPLETION: Fall 2022
Course 303, Troubleshooting, Adjustment & Repair of Overhead Systems, offers participants an overview to troubleshooting techniques and common strategies to resolve issues with major components of the overhead traction power electrification system. This will include an overview of what troubleshooting is, what symptoms may be seen or reported, what probable are allowing for these symptoms to appear, what tests and checks can be done and/or performed on the components making up the system, and what major inspection and maintenance actions you can use to resolve said issues.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION. EXPECTED COURSE COMPLETION: December 2023
Rating: Not yet rated | Contains 1 Document | More information »