Rail Operators Steadily Moving Toward PTC Implementation

摘要

While funding and technology integration remain key issues, some U.S. rail operators are looking to meet the 2015 Congressional deadline, including Southern California's Metrolink, which aims to have its system in place by next year. IN THE WAKE OF TWO RAIL ACCIDENTS in Graniteville, S.C. and Los Angeles - one freight and one commuter - that resulted in a combined 34 deaths and more than 400 injuries, Congress passed the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, requiring passenger and major freight railroads to implement positive train control (PTC) by the end of 2015. The mandate was made in part to prevent accidents caused by human factors, which was found to be the major contributor to both accidents occurring. The U.S. Department of Transportation notes PTC has the potential to prevent the most catastrophic types of railroad accidents that result in significant loss of life and property.