ALEXANDRA, Va. — Positive train control is now fully operational on the Virginia Railway Express system, a milestone achieved Thursday (April 11) when all 32 VRE trains on the Fredericksburg and Manassas lines ran with PTC in operation.
“The implementation of PTC takes system safety to the next level,” VRE CEO Doug Allen said in a news release, “and continues our commitment to providing the safest environment for riders, railroad workers, and the general public.”
PTC implementation cost VRE an estimated $15 million, for installing equipment on its 20 locomotives and 21 cab cars, installing a back-office system, and training employees. Host railroads CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern have installed PTC throughout their systems, including the 90 miles on which VRE operates.
VRE was one of 33 railroads requesting an extension for implementation after the original Dec. 31, 2018, deadline; only four of 41 required to implement PTC had done so by that date.
