RR-03 RR-03-09-01 — Yard Air, Utility and Ground Support
This process outlines the operations for managing yard air, utility, and ground support activities at a US Class I freight railroad terminal, focusing on ensuring efficient handling of rail cars while adhering to safety regulations.
🗺 BPMN Process Flow
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📋 Process Attributes
| Process ID | RR-03-09-01 |
|---|---|
| Domain Family | OPERATIONS |
| L1 Domain | Terminal & Yard Operations |
| L2 Process Group | Yard Air, Utility and Ground Support |
| Trigger | The arrival of a train at the Bailey Yard in North Platte, NE, with a list of cars requiring maintenance or inspection. |
| Outcome | All required air brake tests are successfully completed, utility services are provided as needed, and ground support activities ensure that all rail cars are ready for departure within the specified time frame. |
| Systems | NetControl Wabtrax EHMS CHARM Interline Settlement System (ISS) |
| Regulatory Hooks | 49 CFR Part 232 GCOR (General Code of Operating Rules) |
📋 L4 Process Steps
| Step | Name | Role | System | Input | Output | KPI | Pain Point / Risk | Decision? | Exception? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Train Arrival Notification | Yardmaster | NetControl | Train arrival notification from Harriman Dispatching Center (HDC) | Updated train schedule in NetControl | Train arrival accuracy within 5 minutes | Delayed notifications affecting yard operations | N | N |
| 1.2 | Assign Crew and Equipment | Crew Caller / Crew Dispatcher | PS Technology (PST) | Train schedule from NetControl | Assigned crew roster and equipment list in PST | Crew assignment within 10 minutes of train arrival notification | Insufficient crew availability | Y | Y |
| 1.3 | Conduct Pre-Departure Inspection | Car Inspector (Carman) | EHMS (Equipment Health Management System) | Assigned car list from PST | Inspection report in EHMS | 100% inspection completion rate within 30 minutes | Defective cars not identified | Y | Y |
| 1.4 | Perform Air Brake Test | Car Inspector (Carman) | Wabtrax | Inspection report from EHMS | Air brake test results in Wabtrax | 95% successful air brake tests within 1 hour | Air brake test defects | Y | Y |
| 1.5 | Provide Utility Services | Switchman/Switch Foreman | NetControl | Air brake test results from Wabtrax | Utility service request in NetControl | 100% utility services provided within 2 hours | Delayed utility services | N | N |
| 1.6 | Update Car Hire Accounting | Car Inspector (Carman) | CHARM (Car Hire Accounting Rate Master) | Utility service request from NetControl | Updated car hire record in CHARM | 98% accurate car hire accounting within 1 hour | Incorrect car hire records | Y | Y |
| 1.7 | Prepare for Departure | Yardmaster | NetControl | Updated car hire record from CHARM | Departure notification in NetControl | Train departure readiness within 30 minutes of utility services completion | Delays in train departure | N | N |
| 1.8 | Conduct Post-Departure Review | Yardmaster | NetControl | Departure notification from NetControl | Operational review report in NetControl | 100% post-departure reviews completed within 24 hours | Omissions in operational reviews | Y | Y |
| 1.9 | Update Interline Settlement System | Trainmaster | Interline Settlement System (ISS) | Operational review report from NetControl | Updated settlement data in ISS | 99% accurate interline settlements within 48 hours | Incorrect settlement calculations | Y | Y |
| 1.10 | Finalize Ground Support Activities | Switchman/Switch Foreman | NetControl | Updated settlement data from ISS | Ground support activities completed in NetControl | 100% ground support activities finalized within 24 hours of train departure | Incomplete ground support tasks | N | N |
📊 KPIs & Risk Register
KPIs
Train arrival accuracy within 5 minutes Crew assignment within 10 minutes of train arrival notification 95% successful air brake tests within 1 hour 100% utility services provided within 2 hours 98% accurate car hire accounting within 1 hour Train departure readiness within 30 minutes of utility services completion 100% post-departure reviews completed within 24 hours 99% accurate interline settlements within 48 hours 100% ground support activities finalized within 24 hours of train departure
Key Risks
Air brake test defect released to the road Insufficient crew availability Defective cars not identified Delayed utility services Incorrect car hire records Delays in train departure Omissions in operational reviews Incorrect settlement calculations Incomplete ground support tasks
Swim Lanes
Yardmaster · 1.1, 1.7, 1.8 Car Inspector (Carman) · 1.3, 1.4, 1.6 Switchman/Switch Foreman · 1.2, 1.5, 1.10