New York transit authority MTA has handed Bombardier and Siemens a major contact to bring Positive Train Control (PTC) to the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North Railroad.
The package of works, which could be worth $428 million to the consortium if all options are exercised, involves upgrading signalling systems along 1,100 kilometres of track and 1,500 trains across the two lines.
In 2008, the Rail Safety Improvement Act made it mandatory for all passenger railways to have some kind of PTC system in place by the end of 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.
Bombardier will ‘lead the system integration, project management and design, as well as deliver the operational control centre sub-systems’ while Siemens will supply the in-cab and trackside equipment.
Peter Cedervall, president of Rail Control Solutions at Bombardier Transportation, said: “These orders further strengthen our commitment to the North American signalling market and reflect our successful long-term partnership with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and its rail agencies.
“Our experience in delivering the most advanced rail control solutions around the world, together with the focus of our United States-based team will ensure the successful delivery of the project.”
