Railroads have 13 months to complete the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) per a federal mandate. Progress continues to be made according to statistics released by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), which publishes quarterly status updates on railroads’ self-reported progress toward full implementation of PTC.
FRA says the Q3 2019 Progress Reports show the majority of the 42 railroads subject to the statutory implementation requirement, which carries a deadline of Dec. 31, 2020, are operating PTC systems in revenue service or in revenue service demonstration (RSD), an advanced field testing.
“We remain steadfast in compelling and assisting railroads to successfully complete all steps necessary for full PTC implementation,” said FRA Administrator Ronald L. Batory. “The magnitude of this undertaking is immense but putting PTC systems into operation demands diligence and a continued sense of urgency.”
FRA says that to date, four host railroads and three tenant-only, commuter railroads report having fully implemented PTC. The Q3 Reports reveal that in total, PTC systems are governing operations on 92.4 percent of all required route miles.
Commuter railroads make up 5.41 percent of the total required route miles. FRA Q3 2019 Reports show host commuter railroads are operating PTC systems in revenue service on approximately 1,310 route miles of the 3,129 required route miles. The number reflects a five percent increase since Quarter 2.
“Safety is a core value for APTA and commuter rail operators. It is a fundamental operating principle and a promise to our riders,” said American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. “That’s why we are committed to staying at the forefront of rider safety by implementing positive train control and making commuter rail even safer. The commuter rail industry is strongly focused and committed to completing full implementation by December 2020.”
APTA also notes that of the commuter railroads required to implement PTC:
• 50 percent are in revenue service demonstration;
• 37 percent are PTC certified by FRA or are operating with PTC;
• 10 percent are in field testing; and
• 3 percent are preparing for field testing.
Amtrak, as a host railroad on and near the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and other parts of the country (including Chicago and Michigan), reports that approximately 899 (99.8 percent) of nearly 901 required route miles are governed by a PTC system. Also, by law, six Class II or III, short line or terminal railroads must implement PTC on their main lines that provide or host regularly scheduled intercity or commuter rail passenger transportation. FRA reports that one of these six railroads has been operating its FRA-certified and interoperable PTC system in revenue service since 2018; one commenced RSD on its PTC-required main line during Q3; and the other four are currently conducting field testing on the general rail network in preparation for RSD.
Administrator Batory and FRA’s PTC subject matter experts said they are monitoring all railroads’ progress on a regular basis and providing technical support to railroads not yet in RSD. FRA reiterated its commitment to engage in a direct, sustained and intensive manner, with all stakeholders underscoring the importance of railroads’ achieving full implementation of FRA-certified and interoperable PTC systems on all required main lines by Dec. 31, 2020.
