Upcoming events

Switch to Calendar View

• 2019 Human Factors Seminar

  • Start
    05 Jun 2019
  •  
    8:00 AM
  • End
    06 Jun 2019
  •  
    5:00 PM
  • Location
    Sheraton O'Hare 6501 Mannheim Rd, Rosemont, IL 60018
  • Spaces left
    59

  Register

  This 2-day seminar will provide education regarding human factor issues related to accident causation.  The seminar is hosted in partnership between AARS and the International Assocation of Railway Operating Officers (IAROO).

  The first day is presented by Gary Wolf, President, Wolf Railway Consulting, the rail industry's preeminent expert on railroad accident investigation and causation. The second day is presented by Randy Jamieson, and Dr. Daniel Smilek, PhD, Principals of Atticus Consulting Group LLC. Randy has 30+ years of experience in railway operations and safety. Dr. Smilek is a leading researcher of human attention.  Together they will present the Comprehensive Attention Performance Training Program (“CAPT Program”) as outlined below.

  NOTE:  Registration is limited!  Register early to secure your spot.

  AARS and IAROO retain the right to deny registration to attendees who are not members of either organization and/or are not directly responsible for operations functions within the rail industry.  

  Registration Fee:  $749 for AARS and IAROO members, $849 for non members and includes the two-day seminar with lunch each day.  (AARS annual membership is $75.)

  AARS members register by logging in via this site.  IAROO members should select the IAROO member option after they obtain a special code for registration from IAROO.  

  Quantity Discount:  For every 5 registrants, get one registration free.  

  Questions:  Call Carrie Foor, AARS Executive Director, 331-643-3369

  Hotel:  The seminar will be held at the Sheraton Suites Chicago O'Hare, 6501 Mannheim, Rosemont, IL

  Book Your Room
  

  
  

  You may also call the hotel directly to make your reservation at 847-699-6300.  Mention AARS to get the special AARS/IAROO rate of $169/night.  Make sure to book your room by May 17 to get this rate.

  Seminar Topics:

  Day 1. Agenda – Presented by Gary Wolf

  •      The nature of human failure
  •      Overview of top human factor causes
  •      Statistical review of where we are in the rail industry with human failure
  •      The old way vs. new way of dealing with human failure
  •      The role of discipline in human failure accidents
  •      Failures of typical investigative techniques
  •      Looking at the organization as a source of human failure
  •      What is a safety culture
  •      Safety leadership – What are the tenets of good safety leadership
  •      Safety Management Systems (SMS)
  •      Behavior Based Safety (BBS)
  •      Root Cause Analysis of Human Factor Accidents
  •      Detailed walk through for conducting investigation of human failure incidents
  •      The importance of rules testing and how to make good rule tests
  •      Tips for prevention of typical human failure derailments/incidents
  •      Case study – Class tabletop simulation of a human factor accident investigation

  
  

  
  

  Day 2. Agenda - Presented by Randy Jamieson and Dr. Dan Smilek

  The CAPT Program consists of eleven (11) interrelated modules that build on one another to introduce and explain key aspects of the science of human attention and their underlying role as root cause of human factors-related accidents and injuries. These modules are as follows:   

   1.       Introduction to Human Attention-related Railroad Accidents

  2.       Limits of Visual Perception

  3.       Limits of Human Spatial Attention

  4.       Dangers of Operation Overload and Multitasking

  5.       Dangers of Operational Underload and Mind Wandering

  6.       The Link Between Stress and Human Attention

  7.       Worry, Rumination and Unfinished Tasks and How They Affect Attention Performance

  8.       How Habits Can be Exploited by Unusual Situations to Create Attention-related Errors

  9.       Fatigue, Nutrition, Exercise and Their Role in Attention Performance

  10.    Training Attention Control

  11.    Deliberate Practice and the Power of Intrinsic Motivation

  Feedback from Participants the CAPTÔ Program:

  “I’ve attended a lot of training programs over the years, really a lot, and this is the best training I have ever had!”

  …. Railroad Manager

  “This is not just a tool.  This is integral to better living!”

   …. Locomotive Engineer

  “Management really needs to understand the importance of this work.  There is a need to provide this education to managers so that they know how attention works”.  “

  …. Railroad Manager

  
  

  
  

  Show details
• AARS 123rd Annual Meeting

  • Start
    22 Jul 2019
  •  
    5:00 PM (CDT)
  • End
    24 Jul 2019
  •  
    11:00 AM (CDT)
  • Location
    Norfolk, VA

  Register

  Save the date for the AARS 123rd Annual Meeting, July 22-24, 2019 at the Hilton in Norfolk, VA.

  The meeting will open with a reception on Monday, July 22 at 5:00 p.m.
  

  AARS will host the Progressive Railroading Rising Stars Award Dinner as part of the AARS Annual Meeting on Monday, July 22 at 6:30 p.m.

  Registration to the AARS Annual Meeting includes a ticket to the Rising Stars dinner.  For more information about the Rising Stars dinner, visit http://www.progressiverailroading.com/risingstars/about.asp
  

  The meeting program will continue Tueday, July 23 at 8:00 a.m. and will conclude on Wednesday, July 24 at 11:00 a.m. 

  Register Now!

  Golf Outing:  On Wednesday, July 24, the AARS will hold its annual golf outing to benefit the AARS Scholarship Fund.  

  Riverfront Golf Course, Suffolk, VA

  https://www.riverfrontgolf.com/

  $95 per player

  Club rental:  Contact the Riverfront Golf Course to arrange to rent clubs at 757-484-2200.

  
  

  Hotel Information

  The meeting will be held in downtown Norfolk at the Hilton on the Main, 100 East Main Street, Norfolk, Virginia, 23510, USA+1-757-763-6200.

  Room Rate:  $179/night   Make your reservation by July 1, 2019 to get this special rate!

  Make your reservation here:

  Book Your Room

  Monday, July 22

  Industry Tour of Norfolk Harbor! 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

  5:00 pm Opening Reception and Technical Showcase
  

  6:30 pm Progressive Railroading Rising Stars Awards and Dinner

  Tuesday, July 23

  7:00 am Continental Breakfast and Technical Showcase

  8:00 am Keynote Speaker

  Jim Squires, President, CEO & Executive Chairman, Norfolk Southern

  9:00 am Break in Technical Showcase

  9:30 am Regional Perspective

  David Gooden, Norfolk Southern

  10:15 am Panel Presentation: Precision Scheduled Railroading

  -          Derek Taylor, VP Southern Region, CN (Invited)

  -          Dave Ferryman, VP Commercial & Technology, EVRAZ N.A. (confirmed)

  -          Mike Farrell, SVP Transportation, Norfolk Southern (Invited)

  11:45 am Break in Technical Showcase 

  12:00 Annual Industry Luncheon & Lantern Awards 

  Charge to Superintendents

  Ed Harris, EVP Operations, CSX

  1:15  Onboarding a Shortline

  Stefan Loeb, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer, Watco Companies

  Nicole Moore Parchem, Director of Human Resources and Labor Relations,Indiana Harbor Belt RR

  John Rickoff – President & CEO Lake State Railway

  Mark Rosner – President & CEO Carload Express

  
  

  2:00   Economic Outlook 

  2:45 p.m. Break in Technical Showcase 

  3:15 pm Rising Stars Panel: Achieving Success in the Rail Industry

  4:15 p.m. Update on the “Railroad Renaissance” Tony Hatch, ABH Consulting

  Wednesday, July 24

  7:00 am Continental Breakfast and Technical Showcase in Great Room, 6th floor

   8:00 am   Attracting & Retaining New Employees

  Darl Farris, Director Watco Univ.
  

  Representatives from: Genesee & Wyoming, Norfolk Southern

  9:00 a.m.  Enhancing Your Safety Culture within Your Railroad – Panel

  Darrell Snyder, VP Mechanical, IHBRR

  Representatives from:  Florida East Coast Railway

  CSX

  Norfolk Southern

  10:30 am Business Session

  11:00 am Adjourn

  11:30 pm Bus Loads for Annual Golf Outing, departing at 11:50 a.m.

  1:15 p.m. Shotgun Start –

  10:30 am Business Session

  11:00 am Adjourn

  Bus departs  for the AARS Annual Golf Outing to benefit the Frank J. Richter Scholarship
  

  
  

  
  

  Show details
• 2019 AARS Annual Golf Outing to Benefit the Frank J. Richter Scholarship Fund

  • When
    24 Jul 2019
  •  
    1:00 PM (CDT)
  • Location
    Riverfront Golf Course, Suffolk, VA

  Register

  The AARS will host a golf outing during the AARS 123rd Annual Meeting at the Riverfront Golf Course in Chicago on Wednesday, July 24, 2019.

  Proceeds from the outing will benefit the Frank J. Richter Scholarship Fund which provides educational scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students. 
  

  Shotgun start: 1:00 p.m.

  Registration opens at 12:00 p.m.
  

  Dinner:  6:00 p.m.

   Take advantage of the early bird rate of $100 per player or $360 per foursome before June 28. 

  Additional prize fund:  to contribute funds to for additional prizes, click here.  The additional prize fund contribution link is not on the registration page.  

  The AARS Annual Golf Outing will be held at the conclusion of the AARS 123rd Annual Meeting in Norfolk.  Event registration is $100 per person and includes green fees, cart, refreshments, box lunch, dinner after golf, and a prize for every participant. Golf outing registration is NOT included with registration for the 123rd Annual Meeting.

  Register as an individual player or as a foursome. 
  

  Proceeds of the event will benefit the Frank J. Richter Scholarship Fund.

  
  

  Need to rent clubs?  Contact the course directly at 757-484-2200.

  You do not need to be an AARS member, nor do you have to register for the Annual Meeting to participate in the golf outing.  Golf outing registration is NOT included with 123rd Annual Meeting registration.
  

  Questions?
  

  Contact Carrie Foor at 331-643-3369. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Show details
• 2019 AARS Derailment Investigation Seminar -- Chicago O'Hare

  • Start
    05 Nov 2019
  •  
    8:00 AM (EST)
  • End
    06 Nov 2019
  •  
    5:00 PM (EST)
  • Location
    Sheraton Suites Chicago O'Hare

  Register

  Gary Wolf, President, Wolf Railway Consulting, offers valuable derailment investigation information you can’t get elsewhere.  Click here to view seminar agenda.
  

  Railroad managers, superintendents, engineers, trainmasters and others gain a working knowledge of basic track structure, performance, causes of common problems; examination of detail on axle loads, traffic density, operating speeds; optimal learning potential with presentations on railroad turnouts, crossings with details handling spots and much more.

  Participants of the two-day seminar will receive a certificate of completion along with a binder full of course content to share with colleagues.

  Hotel Information

  The seminar will be held at the Sheraton Suites Chicago O'Hare.  

  Please make your hotel reservations directly with the hotel at the phone number listed below.  The special room rate for AARS Derailment Investigation Seminar attendees is $149/night.  To access this rate, please mention your participation in the AARS seminar and make your reservation prior to October 14.  

  Sheraton Chicago O'Hare

  Address: 6501 Mannheim Rd, Rosemont, IL 60018

  Phone: (847) 699-6300

  Registrants must be employed in the rail industry and meet qualifications for AARS membership to register for this seminar.

  Show details