Zarembski advising Pennsylvania on CBR risk mitigation
Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, Editor, Railway Track & Structures; and Engineering Editor, Railway AgeThe State of Pennsylvania has hired Dr. Allan M. Zarembski to a three-month contract to assess the state freight rail network, which hosts 60-70 crude oil trains per week.
Zarembski, an internationally recognized expert in the area of railway track and structures, vehicle-track dynamics, failure and risk analysis, safety, railway operations and maintenance, will evaluate Pennsylvania’s freight rail system and advise Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf on risk reduction and safety. Zarembski will also work to identify areas of high risk and make recommendations for CBR (crude by rail) safety measures, as well as identify ways to implement those measures as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.
“My administration is focused on the safety of Pennsylvanians and protecting people from the potential disaster resulting from Bakken crude oil train derailments,” said Gov. Wolf. “I have expressed grave concern regarding the transportation of crude oil in the commonwealth and have taken several steps to prevent potential disasters. Zarembski is an internationally recognized rail expert and he has extensive experience with rail safety and risk analysis. Pennsylvania sees some of the largest volume of Bakken crude oil transportation by rail in the United States and the potential for disaster is too great to ignore.”
A University of Delaware Research Professor and the Director of the Railroad Engineering and Safety Program in UofD’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering., Zarembski has extensive experience in rail operations, including freight operations, transit, commuter and intercity rail. Zarembski has authored or co-authored more than 170 technical papers, more than 120 technical articles and two books The Art and Science of Rail Grinding and Tracking R&D, both published by Simmons-Boardman Books. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Civil Engineering from Princeton University, and an M.S. in Engineering Mechanics and a B.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from New York University. He is a registered Professional Engineer in five states.
