New Haven Rail Yard Facilities Improvement Program, Power System Study

This Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) design project will evaluate and summarize power metering data and existing equipment at the New Haven Rail Yard (NHRY) and provide a preliminary design for a new electric switch heating system.

This project requires gaining a detailed understanding of the main utility feed and distribution system via Hallock Substation and existing usage data, sectionalizing plans, and the electrical design of each NHRY facility, as well as coordination with MNR, Amtrak, and the local power company, United Illuminating (UI), to ensure a complete five-year power consumption history is available and metering at the utility Point of Entrance (POE) switchgear is approved by UI.

Garg Consulting Services, Inc. (Garg) is providing electrical engineering and power design services. Tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Power metering of all utility POE switchgear in the rail yard complex, including metering planning, design, and layouts, meter installation, meter removal, and data analysis.
• Field verification and documentation of the existing propane heater system and switch interlockings in need of heating.
• Design of a new electric switch heater system to a 15% design submission level, including electrical power, switch heater locations, and control equipment.
• Plans and programmatic level cost estimates for the project’s 15% design submission
• Field review of the proposed switch heater circuit interface with rail yard equipment.
• Ongoing utility and railroad (MNR, Amtrak) coordination.
• Delivery of white papers defining the complex’s actual usage data and recommendations regarding switch heaters and future available power capacity for improvements.