The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently released a status update regarding railroads’ progress toward fully implementing positive train control (PTC) systems.
The update is based on railroads’ first-quarter progress reports submitted to the FRA.
Congress required 41 railroads to fully implement a PTC system by Dec. 31, 2018, or qualified for an FRA-approved alternative schedule. Alternative schedules permit up to two additional years for full implementation.
Four railroads have fully installed PTC while 37 railroads met or exceeded the six statutory criteria necessary to qualify for an alternative schedule.
PTC systems are in operation on nearly 48,050 of the approximately 58,000 route miles subject to the statutory mandate. This is a 3 percent increase from the fourth quarter of 2018.
Field tests are being conducted on 341 route miles.
“We will maintain our laser-like focus on this rail technology initiative, and FRA will continue allocating and leveraging all necessary resources to support the swift implementation of PTC,” FRA Administrator Ronald L. Batory said.
The final steps to full implementation are advanced stage field testing of uncertified PTC systems, obtaining certification from the FRA, achieving interoperability between host railroads and tenant railroads, and activating the PTC systems.
Full implementation is required by Dec. 31, 2020.