US Senate looks to put back PTC deadline

A bill has been introduced to the US Senate seeking to extend the deadline for Positive Train Control (PTC) to 2020.

Several senators have introduced legislation which would delay the requirement for all passenger railways to have PTC signalling by five years.

In 2008, the Rail Safety Improvement Act made it mandatory for all passenger railways to have some kind of PTC system in place by December 31, 2015.

PTC uses GPS systems to monitor a train’s position on the network. By doing so it can automatically intervene to avoid collisions with other trains, slow vehicles travelling at excessive speeds and stop trains from entering closed sections of track or travelling through a switch which is in the wrong position.

The bill has been welcomed by industry body the Association of American Railroads (AAR).

AAR president and chief executive Edward Hamberger said: “America’s freight rail industry welcomes the legislation to extend the deadline for implementing Positive Train Control on the nation’s rail system and appreciates the Senators’ recognition that the existing mandate to have a fully interoperable, nationwide PTC system tested and safely operating by the end of 2015 is simply not possible and must be changed.

“The AAR believes the new deadline set by the legislation is a reasonable and responsible extension and provides the freight and passenger rail industries the time needed to fully install, test and approve PTC.”

He added: “While the freight rail industry has spent $5.2 billion to date on PTC and progress has been substantial, much remains to be done before PTC can safely operate coast to coast.

“This bill provides railroads the time necessary to fully and safely implement PTC without having to navigate an arbitrary and infeasible statutory deadline.”