The area near Main Street and 700 South in Salt Lake City is critical to TRAX operations. All three TRAX lines travel these rails, with a train passing through approximately every 2.5 minutes during peak service hours. If a single train has mechanical issues or encounters other problems in this area, it can cause all three TRAX lines to run behind schedule.
When there was an issue with trains along this area, the TRAX control center would have to contact personnel in the field. That person would have to drive to the scene and manually “throw” or move the switch to reroute trains to the other track. This month, the switch was automated, meaning that trains can now quickly be rerouted right from UTA's TRAX control center. For safety, TRAX control will be able to see the switch both on camera and on a computer system to ensure it is in the right position. This automation will reduce delays created by issues in this area, helping TRAX customers quickly and conveniently reach their destinations.
