TIAX, a product and technology firm, was awarded a $1.4 million contract by the Volpe National Systems Transportation Center to investigate ways to improve the crashworthiness of rail equipment. The project, part of a five-year task order contract, involves the design and test of components used in a crush zone of a train's cab car. A crush zone is a structure incorporated into the ends of cars to provide greater occupant protection by absorbing energy during an impact. In a cab car, the crush zone must also protect the operator of the train. Initial analysis and tests demonstrated that crush zones could reduce the number of crash-related deaths. TIAX has worked with Volpe, a federal, fee-for-service organization within the U.S. Department of Transportation, on a variety of projects concerning rail crashworthiness since 1993.