39 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Progressive Railroading, 11/14/13:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has awarded Siemens Rail Automation and Bombardier Transportation a contract worth up to $428 million to upgrade train control systems on MTA Metro-North Railroad and MTA Long Island Rail Road.

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[CNJRoss]

RailResource.com, 11/14:

MTA Upgrading Train Control Systems on Two Commuter Lines

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has awarded a contract to Siemens Rail Automation Division in a consortium with U.S. Bombardier Transportation to upgrade train control systems on two New York-area commuter lines. The positive train control (PTC) system, one developed for the MTA’s Metro-North Railroad and one for MTA’s Long Island Rail Road commuter lines, will help monitor and control train movement. The contract is capped at $428 million including all phases and options.

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[CNJRoss]

NYMTA news release, 4/28:

MTA Expedites Positive Train Control Installation Efforts
Changes Aim to Bring Train Safety System to Metro-North and LIRR Sooner

In a move to enhance the safety of Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road signaling systems sooner, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board committees today approved the expansion of a contract with a joint venture of Bombardier Transportation/Siemens Rail Automation by an additional $11.3 million. The Bombardier/Siemens joint venture is serving as the MTA’s Positive Train Control system integrator under a $428.5 million contract awarded last November. The contract amendment goes to the full MTA Board for consideration on Wednesday.

“Bearing in mind that the safety of our customers is the top priority of the MTA and its railroads, we are taking careful steps to accelerate the implementation of this important technology,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast. “Positive Train Control will provide a strong layer of safety over our existing systems. It aims to eliminate the risk of accidents from train-vs.-train collisions or derailments resulting from excessive speed around curves. We support this technology and we want our customers to begin benefiting from it sooner rather than later.”

The amended contract would expedite by up to nearly two years the retrofitting of 836 LIRR and 474 Metro-North rail cars to enable them for send and receive Positive Train Control signals. Those retrofits will now be completed by April 2017.

The amended contract also will allow the railroads to deploy equipment at 175 locations alongside the tracks that will facilitate communication between the Positive Train Control central computers and the computers on board trains. This move will expedite by up to one year the installation of PTC on territory covering 85% to 90% of the railroads’ customers.

Positive Train Control will enhance existing train dispatching and signaling systems by automatically enforcing temporary and permanent speed restrictions and automatically stopping trains at red signals.

[CNJRoss]

Metro Magazine, 12/29:
 

Feds give New York PTC loan preliminary approval

 

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (U.S. DOT) have preliminary approved the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority’s (MTA) application for a $967 million loan to install positive train control (PTC) technology for Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Commuter Railroad.

 

The loan application has been submitted to the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program (RRIF) program. Under this program, loan funding can be used to acquire, improve, or rehabilitate intermodal or rail equipment or facilities, including track, components of track, bridges, yards, buildings and shops; refinance outstanding debt incurred for the purposes listed above; and develop or establish new intermodal or railroad facilities.

 

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[CNJRoss]

NY MTA news release, 4/24:

 

 

Governor Cuomo Announces Federal Railroad Administration Approves

$1 Billion Loan to MTA to Improve LIRR & Metro-North Signal System Safety

 

Largest and Lowest Cost Loan in MTA History

Will Finance the Railroads' Implementation of Positive Train Control

 

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that the Federal Railroad Administration has approved a loan of $967.1 million to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the improvement of the safety of the signal systems used by the MTA's two commuter railroads, the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad. The loan, which is the largest and lowest-cost financing for the MTA, will finance the installment of positive train control, a technology designed to remove the potential for human error that can lead to train-involved accidents.

 

"This loan is a dramatic investment in the MTA - one that will make trains safer for all riders on Metro-North and the LIRR," Governor Cuomo said. "With this infusion of funding, crews will be getting to work on individual cars and along hundreds of miles of track to install state of the art technology that can save lives. This loan could not have been possible without the hard work and support of DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx and Acting Administrator Sarah Feinberg, and I thank them on behalf of all MTA commuter rail customers for helping us make this important advancement possible."

 

MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast said, "We are delighted to have been able to work with the Federal Railroad Administration to make this historic, and extremely important award possible. The most important thing we do each day is strive to ensure the safety of our passengers, our employees, and the public at large. This award will help us enhance that effort in a very significant way."

 

Positive train control is a technology that allows computerized systems to automatically control certain aspects of train movement. It is intended to prevent train-to-train collisions, trains accidentally traveling into areas where track workers are working, or derailments caused by excessive train speed or the movement of a train through an improperly aligned switch. The technology can address situations like the Spuyten Duyvil derailment in the Bronx, where a train was going faster than its maximum allowable speed. Congress mandated the installation of positive train control in 2008 for all commuter railroads in the U.S.

 

Metro-North Railroad and the Long Island Rail Road are in the process of implementing the technology, which includes the installation of on-board components for 1,455 rail cars and transponders alongside 588 route miles of track. In November 2013, the MTA awarded a contract to a joint venture of Bombardier Transportation and Siemens Rail Automation to act as a systems integrator that will provide the design, furnish equipment and ensure that the system functions as intended. LIRR and Metro-North forces and some third party contracts will support installations of wayside, office, communications and on-board equipment. Installation of positive train control on Metro-North territory in the State of Connecticut will be funded by the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

 

The loan is the largest to have been made through the Federal Railroad Administration's Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program and remains subject to MTA Board Approval on April 29 and final closing in May. The MTA will issue its Transportation Revenue Bond directly to the Federal Railroad Administration and will repay the obligation over 22½ years at a fixed interest rate of 2.38%. MTA's Transportation Revenue Bonds are rated "AA-" from Standard & Poor's, "A2" from Moody's, and "A" from Fitch.

 

Congressman Charlie B. Rangel said, "Nothing is more important than ensuring the wellbeing of New Yorkers. I applaud Governor Cuomo's commitment to improving safety measures on Metro-North and LIRR, so that all commuters in our great State can ride knowing they are in secure hands."

 

Congressman Eliot Engel said, "MTA services are an indispensable part of my constituents' everyday lives. Thousands of commuters rely on the MTA daily to travel to work, home or school. They expect – and should receive – a safe train ride. Implementing positive train control is a critical step making this expectation a reality. The tragedies that occurred at Spuyten Duyvil in 2013 and in Westchester earlier this year may have been avoided if this life-saving technology had been in place. While we cannot assuage the pain and grief that these accidents have caused, we can make every effort to create a better railroad moving forward. I applaud the DOT and the Federal Railroad Administration for recognizing the need for this technology in the MTA system, and am very pleased that all rail travelers can experience a safer ride."

 

Congresswoman Nita Lowey said, "I'm pleased that MTA's application to install positive train control technology has been approved by the Federal Railroad Administration. Securing this funding would help ensure that disastrous events like the December 2013 Metro North accident never happen again. Over the last year, I have worked tirelessly to highlight the need for additional resources to help commuter railroads install PTC, and I will continue to work with federal and state officials to ensure that MTA gets the resources it needs to keep its riders safe."

 

Congressman Gregory Meeks said, I'd like to thank Governor Cuomo for prioritizing the modernization and improvement of the Long Island Railroad and Metro-North Railroad's 1500 railcars and hundreds of miles of track along our country's busiest commuter rail system. This unprecedented investment of nearly $1 billion in the LIRR and Metro will improve safety for riders public, transit workers for decades to come."

 

Congressman Joe Crowley said, "I'm pleased the federal government is making this important investment so we can ensure the safety of New Yorkers on our commuter railroads. The MTA's planned improvements will go a long way toward averting catastrophic incidents such as the ones we've seen over the past few years."

 

Congressman Steve Israel said, "This federal loan is a vital step to improving railway safety. I applaud the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Department of Transportation on their hard work to secure this loan, and I will continue to fight for federal resources for critical New York infrastructure."

 

Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney said, "I fought to pass my legislation to make positive train control installations "priority projects" for RRIF loans because investing in PTC on our commuter rail lines is the single most important thing we can do to prevent accidents and save lives. This is a critical investment in our transportation infrastructure that prioritizes the safety of thousands of my neighbors in the Hudson Valley."

 

Congressman Grace Meng said, "Thanks to the Federal Railroad Administration for approving this large, low-interest loan to upgrade commuter rail signal systems. The LIRR is vital to the commutes of many of my constituents and upgrading the signal system to improve safety measures is a high priority. I am pleased that this project will move forward through FRA's financing."

 

Congresswoman Kathleen Rice said, "There's no doubt that positive train control will make riders and workers safer and enhance the security of the commuter railroad systems that so many New Yorkers rely on every day. We need to fully implement this technology, and this major federal funding advance will allow the LIRR and Metro-North to get to work right away."

 

Congressman Lee Zeldin said, "As a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, I applaud this crucial step to upgrade the MTA's infrastructure to ensure safety. Last month, I voted for the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act (HR 749), which included reforms to improve the slow and cumbersome process for RRIF loans, ensuring more potential borrowers have access to this critical financing for improving train safety. I look forward to continuing to work with Governor Cuomo and other New York State officials to complete this important safety upgrade."

 

[CNJRoss]

USDOT/FRA news release:

Federal Railroad Administration Issues $967.1 Million MTA Loan to Finance Critical Safety Upgrades to the Nation’s Largest Commuter Railroads

 

• 06 May 2015

ABSTRACT: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) closed on a $967.1 million Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) loan with New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in order to facilitate the deployment of Positive Train Control (PTC) on both the Metro-North Railroad (Metro North) and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR).

 

WASHINGTON – The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today closed on a $967.1 million Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) loan with New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in order to facilitate the deployment of Positive Train Control (PTC) on both the Metro-North Railroad (Metro North) and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR).  It is the largest RRIF loan in FRA’s history.

 

“This loan will help prevent derailments and ensure the safety of the riding public,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.  “Continuous investment in rail technology and infrastructure will enable us to meet the growing demand for rail while saving lives.”

 

The RRIF program provides direct federal loans and loan guarantees to finance the acquisition and development of railroad and intermodal facilities and equipment.  The FRA gives priority to projects that provide public benefits, including benefits to public safety, the environment, and economic development.  As part of the President’s Build America Investment Initiative, the Department has established the Build America Transportation Investment Center to encourage the use of innovative financing tools such as RRIF.

 

 The loan will help establish an additional layer of safeguards that will increase safety for LIRR and Metro-North customers, employees, and residents of the communities served by the railroads.  MTA will integrate PTC with existing safety controls that the LIRR and Metro-North currently have in place and have used for decades.

 

 “PTC is the backbone of the next generation of rail safety and we are committed to its full deployment and implementation,” said Acting Federal Railroad Administrator Sarah Feinberg. “There are 166 million rides taken on LIRR and Metro-North annually.  Installing PTC will further ensure the safety of employees and passengers alike.”

 

 To date, FRA has given out 34 RRIF loans totaling nearly $2.7 billion.  Click HERE for more information on FRA’s RRIF Program.

 

Rail – Moving America Forward

The mission of the Federal Railroad Administration is to enable the safe, reliable,

and efficient movement of people and goods for a strong America, now and in the future.

####

 

[CNJRoss]

NY MTA news release, 5/6:
 

 

Statement from Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Finalization of $1 Billion Federal Loan to Finance MTA Implementation of Positive Train Control

 

“Today we are taking an important step toward making the Metro-North and Long Island Rail Road safer for all riders,” Governor Cuomo said. “With the support of our partners in the federal government, New York is transforming our transit system for the better. By implementing positive train control, the Metro-North and LIRR systems will be smarter and more innovative than ever before, and that will help to actually save lives in the future. I am grateful for the leadership of DOT Secretary Foxx and Acting FRA Administrator Sarah Feinberg on this issue, as well as the support of New York’s congressional delegation – especially Senator Schumer, Congresswoman Lowey and Congressman Maloney – and I look forward to seeing the work get underway.”

 

At the end of April, the Federal Railroad Administration approved a loan of $967.1 million to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the improvement of the safety of the signal systems used by the MTA's two commuter railroads, the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad. The loan, which is the largest and lowest-cost financing for the MTA, will finance the installment of positive train control, a technology designed to remove the potential for human error that can lead to train-involved accidents. More information is available here.

 

 

 

[CNJRoss]

The Journal News, White Plains, NY 9/22:
 

Metro-North: Positive train control installation moving forward

Metro-North VP of engineering: “We are working behind the scenes. This is a very complex project"

 

NEW YORK - Metro-North will meet the 2018 deadline for federally mandated anti-collision and anti-derailment technology, officials said Wednesday night at a meeting with Connecticut commuters.

 

“We are working behind the scenes. This is a very complex project,” said Glen Hayden, the railroad's vice president of engineering, of the technology, known as positive train control. “Everything we put on we need to test and validate before we turn it on.

 

“We’re getting there,” he added.

 

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[jis]

Amtrak Engineers that I know that operate and Metro North say that they do get ACSES I on most of the MNRR dispatched NEC now. This of course does not involve the radio link, which is what is mentioned in the article as hard to get spectrum for. So currently they have most of the civil speed enforcement based on balises (track mounted transponders). They do not have automatic updates via radio of TSRs, so effectively they do not have TSR enforcement, and they do not have radio release of faulty stop enforcement, which means if such occurs someone has to climb down and release it or something like that.

 

We had one of those fortunately in RI last week during my Acela ride, and it was radio released by the dispatcher in a few moments. It occurred just before entering the first high speed segment in RI. The Engineer, who I know, was pissed. But he did an amazing job of managing to keep the train within five minutes of schedule in spite of some really bad dispatching on MNRR.

[CNJRoss]

Government Technology, 11/14:
 

Long Island Rail Road Forges Ahead on Positive Train Control Tech

Under pressure to have the entire project finished by December 2018 or face fines of up to $25,000 a day, officials said they don’t have a moment to waste.

 

(TNS) --  The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) has begun installing some components of a new $1 billion crash-prevention system before a full design is complete in an effort to meet a 2018 federal deadline, railroad officials said.

 

Designing and installing positive train control technology at the same time raises the possibility of having to undo and redo some work. But, under pressure to have the entire project finished by December 2018 or face fines of up to $25,000 a day, LIRR officials said they don’t have a moment to waste.

 

“We need all the time we can get,” Deborah Chin, executive director of positive train control for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, said at a recent presentation to MTA board members.

 

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