FRA 10-08
Monday, December 22, 2008
Contact: Steve Kulm or Rob Kulat
Tel.: (202) 493-6024
FRA Begins Development of Positive Train Control Regulations New Rules will
Support Implementation of Technology to Prevent Train Collisions
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is moving forward with developing new
rules that prescribe how railroads should implement Positive Train Control (PTC)
systems to prevent train-to-train collisions, announced FRA Acting Administrator
Clifford C. Eby.
“We are acting quickly and without delay because railroads will need guidance on
how to create plans to deploy PTC systems by the end of 2015,” Eby said, noting
the first deadline mandated by Congress in a new rail safety law is April 2010,
when major freight railroads and intercity and commuter rail operators must
submit their PTC implementation plans to FRA for approval.
Eby stated that developing the new rules is a necessary first step to specify
how the technically complex PTC systems must function and to describe how FRA
will assess a railroad’s PTC implementation plan before it can become
operational. He added FRA is already working with its Railroad Safety Advisory
Committee to identify key issues and will release a recommendations report by
next April.
In addition, FRA is coordinating efforts with the Federal Communications
Commission to make available a sufficient amount of radio frequency spectrum
essential for PTC technology to function properly as it sends and receives a
constant stream of wireless signals about the location and speed of passenger
and freight trains moving along rail lines. FRA also is working closely with
Metrolink, the Union Pacific Railroad, and the BNSF Railway to accelerate the
deployment of PTC in the Los Angeles area by the end of 2012, Eby emphasized.
“I am encouraged that the major freight railroads have reached agreement for the
interoperability of PTC technology across different rail systems,” said Eby,
stressing that resolving this key technical challenge will facilitate PTC
implementation industry-wide.
PTC technology is capable of automatically controlling train speeds and
movements if a locomotive engineer fails to take appropriate action. For
example, it can bring a train to a stop before it passes a red signal to avert a
potential collision. Other benefits of PTC systems include prevention of
over-speed derailments and unauthorized incursions by a train into work zones.
Eby also noted that FRA has done extensive PTC-related technical research in
recent years and significantly revised federal signal and train control
regulations to support development of the safety technology.
For more information about the development of new PTC rules, click
here.
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