With the final phases of testing and preparations almost done, there are still 2 tasks remaining before Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) can officially launch Positive Train Control (PTC) on SEPTA Regional Rail:
- FRA testing and approval of the SEPTA PTC system
- Software revision upload on Regional Rail cars
In addition to reviewing SEPTA's Safety and Implementation Plans, the FRA must also conduct an on-site test of its PTC system and that is scheduled to take place next week. Once completed, SEPTA will request concurrence from the FRA to conduct a Revenue Service Demonstration (RSD) and begin operating this groundbreaking safety system on the Warminster Regional Rail Line. Starting Tuesday, February 23, SEPTA staff will be out at Warminster Line Stations to talk about the launch of the PTC program.
While SEPTA waits for the testing to take place, work will continue over the next two weekends (02-20/21 & 02-27/28) to upload the software revisions on the 110 Regional Rail cars that will be used for the RSD.
Based on the tasks mentioned above, the earliest date we anticipate being able to launch PTC on the Warminster Line would be Monday, February 29 but that is contingent on successfully passing the testing program and the FRA declaring SEPTA ready to operate our PTC system.
With Amtrak's launch of its Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System (ACSES), SEPTA has identified Wilmington/Newark and Trenton Lines as high priorities for its PTC rollout. While SEPTA wants to bring all its routes, on-line as soon as possible, it will not expand its deployment program beyond the Warminster Line until its comfortable with operating PTC in its own territory.
It's taken a tremendous investment of time and energy by SEPTA staff, from many parts of the organization, working in concert with the project contractors to design and build its PTC system. The end result is the greatest customer service initiative it can offer — safety for the Regional Rail riders and the employees operating the system — and that makes it all worthwhile. SEPTA thanks the FRA for cooperating with the efforts to bring this important safety technology to the SEPTA Regional Rail system.
