The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently released an update on the status of the positive train control systems’ (PTC) implementation for the fourth quarter of 2017.
PTC systems prevent incursions into established work-zone limits, over-speed derailments, certain train-to-train collisions, and trains going to the wrong tracks because a switch was left in the wrong position.
“It is the railroads’ responsibility to meet the congressionally mandated PTC requirements,” FRA Administrator Ronald L. Batory said. “The FRA is committed to doing its part to ensure railroads and suppliers are working together to implement PTC systems.”
FRA met the 41 railroads subject to the statutory mandate between Jan. 2 and Feb. 14, to evaluate PTC status and discover the remaining steps to have PTC fully implemented.
Based on feedback from the meetings, FRA is now conferring with PTC suppliers to see if they can meet the high demand in a timely manner.
The deadline for implementation is Dec. 31 under the Positive Train Control Enforcement and Implementation Act of 2015. Railroads, however, can gain FRA’s approval to extend the deadline beyond Dec. 31, 2018, but no later than Dec. 31, 2020.
The extensions apply to certain nonhardware, operational aspects, and railroads must meet mandatory criteria.