Passenger train emergency systems: development of prototype railEXODUS software for U.S. passenger rail car egress

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT), is sponsoring a research program, which includes investigation of the applicability of time-based egress performance requirements to U.S. passenger rail cars. This report describes the development of a new prototype railEXODUS computer software (Prototype Software) that can be used to evaluate the applicability of time-based egress requirements to U.S. passenger rail cars. The new Prototype Software is based on modifications to existing railEXODUS prototype software, which were implemented to adapt the EXODUS model for use in accurately predicting U.S. passenger rail car egress times. All movement and behavior data for individuals (agents) within the new Prototype Software are derived from analysis of U.S. passenger rail car egress experimental trials conducted in 2005 and 2006. The experimental trials included egress of individuals from commuter rail cars using end- and side-door exits to: (1) a high platform under normal and emergency lighting conditions and (2) low platform and right-of-way locations under normal lighting. (All of the egress trials were conducted under best-case, non-competitive conditions.) This research found that the use of such software is essential for performing thorough analyses of passenger train emergency evacuation scenarios.