The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CDOT) is touting successful milestone implementation and activation of Positive Train Control (PTC) on Metro-North and CTrail Shore Line East (SLE) and Hartford Lines.
Authorities indicated PTC is an automated safety technology designed specifically to detect rail car operational conflicts and intervene with affirmative action – preventing incidents that could result in injuries.
CDOT noted despite challenges associated with COVID -19 and complex engineering and technological dynamics, completion of the federally mandated endeavor occurred before the Dec. 31, 2020, deadline.
“Passenger rail service is extraordinarily safe,” DOT Commissioner Joe Giulietti said. “With PTC implementation, it’s now safer than ever, with automatic safeguards in place to prevent incidents that particularly can be associated with human error. I am thankful for the amazing work performed by our CTDOT team, our colleagues at Metro-North, as well as our friends at AMTRAK, for staying the course and achieving such an incredible outcome under these circumstances.”
Via PTC, Metro-North, SLE, and Hartford Line trains will be able to automatically communicate in real-time with central dispatching offices, sharing information on train position, speed, and the actions of the locomotive engineers.
Should the system detect abnormalities such as a train traveling too fast, or a conflict between trains, PTC would automatically intervene – reducing a train’s speed, or stopping a train, in addition to alerting the engineer.
“We are proud to have supported Commissioner Giulietti and his team on this essential step to further improving the safety of rail travel,” Amtrak President Stephen Gardner said. “Completing PTC installation and implementation is a key component of Amtrak’s overarching commitment to safety, for our operations on Metro-North and CTrail Shore Line East (SLE) and Hartford Lines and nationwide.”