“PTC will save lives, protect property, and make America’s vast rail network considerably safer. That’s why it’s so important that all 41 railroads meet the Congressionally mandated deadline of December 31, 2020,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao.
Based upon the latest self-reported data, current as of Dec. 31, 2018, four railroads have fully implemented PTC systems on their required main lines, and all other railroads subject to the Congressional PTC mandate satisfied the six statutory criteria necessary to qualify for an extension. Notably, Quarter 4 data also show PTC systems are in operation on almost 46,000 of the nearly 58,000 route miles where the technology systems must be deployed, and PTC systems are in revenue service demonstration on an additional 288 route miles.
By the end of 2018, all necessary PTC system hardware had been installed, radio spectrum acquired, employees trained, and testing initiated. The key remaining steps for full implementation include conducting revenue service demonstration (advanced testing on the general rail system), submitting a PTC Safety Plan and obtaining PTC System Certification from FRA, achieving interoperability between host railroads and tenant railroads, and activating the PTC system so it governs all operations on the required main lines.
As of Dec. 31, 2018, host railroads’ operations are governed by a PTC system on 83 percent of the freight railroad route miles subject to the mandate and 30 percent of the required passenger railroad route miles. Of approximately 233 host-tenant railroad relationships, 16 percent have reportedly achieved PTC system interoperability as of Dec. 31, 2018, which means the locomotives of a host railroad and a tenant railroad operating on the same main line can communicate with and respond to the PTC system, including uninterrupted movements over property boundaries. In addition, FRA has conditionally certified 12 host railroads’ PTC systems, based on their PTC Safety Plans; two PTC Safety Plans are currently under review; and 23 additional PTC Safety Plans must be submitted by June 2020.
“PTC is the most significant and complex infrastructure investment America’s railroads have ever undertaken,” said FRA Administrator Ronald L. Batory. “Operating and maintaining a safe and reliable national rail network while instituting PTC is paramount. FRA will continue to work with a sense of urgency to ensure all railroads, particularly commuter railroads, remain focused and vigilant in satisfying key deadlines ahead.”
On Feb. 6, 2019, FRA convened the first of six PTC Collaboration Sessions planned through 2020 with all railroads responsible for implementing PTC under the congressional mandate, and major industry associations. At the session, FRA safety specialists outlined major steps the industry must accomplish within the next two years. In addition, FRA explained its approach to certifying railroads’ PTC systems and answered technical questions.
As of Dec. 31, 2018, 33 railroads had submitted a written notification formally requesting FRA’s review and approval of an alternative schedule and sequence, and as of Feb. 11, 2019, FRA has formally approved 25 requests. FRA’s decision letters are available in railroads’ public PTC dockets online.
The latest data show significant progress from just a year earlier when 15 railroads were considered “at risk” of not implementing PTC or qualifying for an extension. In 2018, FRA made $250 million in grant funding available for PTC implementation, and now four railroads — the Port Authority Trans-Hudson, North County Transit District, Portland & Western Railroad, and the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) — have self-reported that they fully implemented an FRA-certified and interoperable PTC system on all their required main lines.
More information is available online.
— A Federal Railroad Administration news release. Feb. 15, 2019.
James it’s a good point cuz reading this article I was thinking the same thing! Like there’d better be an independent testing. Railroads in the past have loved to ‘inflate’ or exaggerate their stats on safety especially. Norfolk Southern and the EH Harriman safety award come to mind sorry. Hearing that NS intimidated of coerced employees to lie about injuries or to not report injuries has left a tarnish in my mind a bit and what railroads say. All I’m saying is back it up with verified facts
I assume that the FRA has done more than relying on “self-reporting.” There should also be independent (of the railroads) testing to verify PTC compliance. I hate to be cynical, but this is really important, and history shows that we can’t rely on the industry to police itself–that’s why the FRA exists in the first place. Having said that, if the FRA report is backed up with solid evidence, kudos to the railroads for getting this done!