151 replies to this topic

[CNJRoss]

Railway Age, 2/16/18:
 

PTC: Ignore the circus. Here’s what’s really going on

 

 

The railroad industry is making steady progress implementing Positive Train Control. You wouldn’t know it though, if you believed some of the choreographed histrionics the House Subcommittee on Railroads and its chairman displayed at a Feb. 15 hearing on PTC.

 

I’ll try to keep this first observation brief. Here’s Subcommittee Chair Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) in a press release that had me saying, “Really?”

 

Headline: “Denham stares down railroads: Americans are tired of excuses.”

 

Body Text: “Today, U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham, chairman of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, took to task representatives of the railroad industry, including Amtrak, on their failure to implement PTC safety technology that would have prevented crashes and saved lives: ‘If you have a timeline, we want to see that timeline. If you have questions or concerns or impediments, we want to know what those are. If you haven’t received funding, maybe you should request funding. But certainly, ignoring a congressional mandate again won’t be tolerated by either side of the aisle. I think the American public is tired of excuses. This is an amazing technology that will continue to improve the safety of our rails across the country.’”

 

You can stop laughing now.

 

None of the above has even the slightest shred of truth. Some of it is an outright, bald-faced lie. So what’s the purpose of Denham’s pontificating on PTC?

 

Contributing Editor Frank Wilner, who understands the Washington D.C. three-ring circus better than anyone I know, puts it in perspective: “Denham is playing to a political audience. That’s the way hearings go. It’s all choreographed. It’s political theater, and all the players understand. At the end of the day, Denham is an important pro-railroad vote.”

 

OK, I get it. But that doesn’t make his grandstanding any less disingenuous or distasteful.

 

For the record, there is no industry-wide “failure” to implement PTC. The industry is not “ignoring a congressional mandate.” As far as the American public being “tired of excuses,” 99.999% of the American public has no idea what PTC is or does!

 

SNIP

 

Enough with BS-filled, time-consuming, totally useless Congressional hearings. Here’s the real story on PTC, as presented recently at an Association of American Railroads briefing in Washington, supported by cold, hard facts—real numbers—by three key people overseeing the industry’s efforts:

 

Continue here.

 

Commended reading.  This is an excellent article.  The 'Amtrak' section (starting about 2/3 down the page) is very enlightening.  -Ross

[CNJRoss]

Reuters 2/28/18:
 

Two-thirds of U.S. commuter railroads may not meet crash technology deadline: report

 

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As many as two-thirds of the 29 U.S. commuter railroads may not meet a deadline to install an anti-crash technology by the end of the year, according to a report by a government watchdog seen by Reuters.

 

The report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office is expected to be released on Thursday at a U.S. Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the technology known as positive train control (PTC).

 

It follows a number of recent train accidents that the National Transportation Safety Board has said could have been prevented with positive train control, including deadly crashes in South Carolina and Washington State.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

FRA news release 3/20/18:
 

FRA Takes Proactive Approach to Help Railroads Meet Congressional PTC Requirement

 

ABSTRACT: The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (US DOT’s) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today released a status update on its efforts to assist railroads in implementing positive train control systems (PTC), along with the railroads’ self-reported progress for the fourth quarter of 2017.

 

 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (US DOT’s) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today released a status update on its efforts to assist railroads in implementing positive train control systems (PTC), along with the railroads’ self-reported progress for the fourth quarter of 2017.

 

At the direction of Secretary Elaine L. Chao, the FRA is taking a proactive approach to ensure railroads acquire, install, test and fully implement certified PTC systems in time to meet the congressional interim deadline of December 31, 2018.

 

“It is the railroads’ responsibility to meet the congressionally mandated PTC requirements,” said FRA Administrator Ronald L. Batory.  “The FRA is committed to doing its part to ensure railroads and suppliers are working together to implement PTC systems.”

 

Between January 2 and February 14, 2018, FRA’s leadership hosted face-to-face meetings with executives from each of the 41 railroads subject to the statutory mandate. The purpose of the meetings was to evaluate each railroad’s PTC status and learn what remaining steps each needs to take to have a PTC system fully implemented by the December deadline or, at a minimum, to meet the statutory criteria necessary to qualify for an alternative schedule.

 

As a result of the meetings with railroads, FRA is now meeting with PTC suppliers to learn more about their capacity to meet the high demands for railroads’ implementation of PTC systems in a timely manner.

 

PTC systems are designed to prevent certain train-to-train collisions, over-speed derailments, incursions into established work zone limits, and trains going to the wrong tracks because a switch was left in the wrong position.

 

All railroads subject to the statutory PTC implementation mandate must implement FRA-certified and interoperable PTC systems by the end of the year. Under the Positive Train Control Enforcement and Implementation Act of 2015, however, Congress permits a railroad to request FRA’s approval of an “alternate schedule” with a deadline beyond December 31, 2018, but no later than December 31, 2020, for certain non-hardware, operational aspects of PTC system implementation. The congressional mandate requires FRA to approve a railroad’s alternative schedule with a deadline no later than December 31, 2020, if a railroad submits a written request to FRA that demonstrates the railroad has met the statutory criteria set forth under 49 U.S.C. § 20157(a)(3)(B ).

 

The fourth quarter data, current as of December 31, 2017, shows PTC systems are in operation on approximately 56 percent of freight railroads’ route miles that are required to be governed by PTC systems—up from 45 percent last quarter and 16 percent on December 31, 2016. Passenger railroads have made less progress—with PTC systems in operation on only 24% of required route miles, unchanged from the previous quarter.

 

The latest data confirms that railroads continue to make progress in installing PTC system hardware, with 15 railroads reporting they have completed installation of all hardware necessary for PTC system implementation and another 11 railroads reporting they have installed over 80% of PTC system hardware. In addition, all but three railroads report having acquired sufficient spectrum for their PTC system needs.

 

For more key implementation data for the fourth quarter, see the infographics here: https://www.fra.dot....ernal2Red.png">

 

To view the public version of each railroad’s Quarterly PTC Progress Report (Form FRA F 6180.165, OMB Control No. 2130-0553) for Quarter 4 of 2017, please visit each railroad’s PTC docket on https://www.regulati...ernal2Red.png">. Railroads’ PTC docket numbers are available at https://www.fra.dot....ernal2Red.png">.

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[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading, 3/21/18:

 

FRA: PTC operating on 56 percent freight route miles

 

Positive train control (PTC) systems are operating on about 56 percent of freight railroads' route miles that are required to be governed by PTC systems, up from 45 percent in third-quarter 2017 and 16 percent on Dec. 31, 2016, the Federal Railroad Administration announced yesterday.

Passenger railroads have made less progress, with PTC systems in operation on 24 percent of required route miles as of Q4 2017 — the same as in Q3 2017, FRA officials said in a press release.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

FRA news release 5/15/18:
 

FRA Issues $250 Million Notice of Funding Opportunity for PTC Projects

 

 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for $250 million in Positive Train Control (PTC) Systems Grants.

 

“These funds are part of the Department’s ongoing efforts to strengthen our country’s rail safety by helping railroads to more rapidly deploy positive train control systems,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao. 

 

The purpose of the NOFO is to solicit applications for $250 million in PTC Systems Grants to fund the deployment of PTC system technology for intercity passenger rail transportation, freight rail transportation and/or commuter rail passenger transportation. Eligible projects include:  back office systems; wayside, communications and onboard hardware equipment; software; equipment installation; spectrum; any component, testing and training for the implementation of PTC systems; and interoperability.

 

Applications for PTC systems deployment funding under this solicitation are due no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT, 45 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register. These grants form part of the funding available under the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program.

 

In addition, the FRA today released the 2018 Quarter 1 (Q1) status update on railroads’ self-reported progress toward implementing PTC systems. These reports were initiated by FRA to maintain transparency throughout the PTC implementation process. 

 

“The railroads are making progress towards meeting the congressionally mandated PTC requirement, but there is still work to be done,” said FRA Administrator Ronald L. Batory.  “The FRA will continue to work with railroads and suppliers to assist in fully implementing PTC.”

 

Fourteen railroads report they have installed 100 percent of the hardware necessary for PTC system implementation, as of March 31, 2018.  Railroads’ self-reported data indicates that during Q1 of 2018, six other railroads—i.e., Altamont Corridor Express, Central Florida Rail Corridor (Sunrail), Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail), Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC), Metro-North Commuter Railroad, and South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (Tri-rail)—increased their percentage of hardware installation by more than 10 percent, compared to Quarter 4 of 2017.

 

The latest data, current as of March 31, 2018, shows PTC systems are in operation on approximately 60 percent of freight railroads’ route miles that are required to be governed by PTC systems—up from 56 percent last quarter and 16 percent on December 31, 2016. Passenger railroads have made less progress—with PTC systems in operation on only 25 percent of required route miles, up one percent from the previous quarter.

 

For more key implementation data for Q1, see the infographics here: https://www.fra.dot....ernal2Red.png">. To view the public version of each railroad’s Quarterly PTC Progress Report (Form FRA F 6180.165, OMB Control No. 2130-0553) for Quarter 1 of 2018, please visit each railroad’s PTC docket on https://www.regulati...ernal2Red.png">. Railroads’ PTC docket numbers are available at https://www.fra.dot....ernal2Red.png">.

 

PTC System Grants under the CRISI Program will be published in the Federal Register. To view the NOFO, visit https://www.fra.dot....ernal2Red.png">.

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[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading, 5/16/18:
 

FRA announces $250 million in PTC grants

 

 

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) yesterday issued a notice of funding opportunity for $250 million in grants to help fund the deployment of positive train control technology on freight, intercity passenger and commuter railroads.

Eligible projects for the grants include back-office systems; wayside, communications and onboard hardware equipment; software; equipment installation; spectrum; any component, testing and training for the implementation of PTC systems; and interoperability, according to an FRA press release.

SNIP

Also yesterday, the FRA released the first-quarter 2018 status report on railroads' self-reported progress toward PTC implementation.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

FRA news release:

 

U.S Department of Transportation
 

Office of Public Affairs
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC  20590
www.transportation.gov/briefingroom

 

 

News

 

June 7, 2018
FRA Public Affairs
 

FRA Hosts Railroad Symposium on PTC’s Statutory Requirements 

 

 

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today announced its first-ever positive train control (PTC) symposium.  The symposium will be held on June 15, 2018, in Washington, DC, and is intended to bring together FRA’s PTC experts and all 41 railroads congressionally mandated to implement PTC systems. Discussion will focus on the requirements for the December 31, 2018, statutory deadline and answers to industry questions. 

 

“The PTC Symposium is the latest effort from FRA to ensure that each and every railroad is aware of their obligations and is equipped to meet the Congressionally mandated deadline,” said FRA Administrator Ronald L. Batory.   

 

In addition, FRA will hold two other PTC symposia this summer on important PTC-related matters.  FRA will hold a second symposium on July 16, 2018, to discuss best practices for PTC system field testing and interoperability testing.  The third symposium, on August 20, 2018, will cover lessons learned and best practices for PTC Safety Plans, which are necessary for host railroads to obtain PTC System Certification from FRA and to achieve full PTC system implementation under the statutory mandate.  

 

Full implementation of a PTC system means that an FRA-certified and interoperable PTC system—including all hardware, software, and other components—has been fully installed, has been sufficiently tested, and is in operation on all route miles required to have operations governed by a PTC system under the mandate. 

 

Since January 2017, the FRA has taken the following actions to help railroads with implementation of PTC systems:

• Sent letters in May 2017 to the 17 railroads that, as of December 31, 2016, FRA considered at risk of neither meeting the December 31, 2018, deadline nor meeting the statutory criteria required to qualify for an alternative schedule, specifically because self-reported data from 17 railroads indicated that each railroad had installed less than 50% of its PTC system hardware as of December 31, 2016;
• Sent letters in June 2017 to governors and state departments of transportation regarding any commuter railroad in the state that had installed less than 50% of its PTC system hardware as of December 31, 2016.  FRA emphasized the importance of the state government ensuring these railroads have proper technical support and sufficient oversight of PTC system implementation;
• Initiated enforcement actions in June and July 2017 against 14 railroads that either failed to complete the end-of-2016 hardware installation milestones that the railroad established in its PTC Implementation Plan or failed to submit a timely Annual PTC Progress Report to FRA by the statutory March 31, 2017, deadline;
• Assisted the Federal Transit Administration in awarding over $197 million in grants to commuter railroads and state and local governments in fiscal year (FY) 2017 for the installation of PTC systems;
• Announced the $73 million Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for rail capital projects funded through the FY17 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program;
• Announced the $250 million NOFO for PTC system implementation funded through the FY18 CRISI Program;
• Participated in NOFO webinars hosted by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA);
• Hosted stakeholder webinars to explain FY17 and FY18 grant funding;
• Held face-to-face meetings with the major PTC system vendors and suppliers and all 41 railroads subject to the statutory mandate to implement PTC systems;
• Sent letters in April 2018 to 15 railroads that FRA considered at risk of neither meeting the December 31, 2018, deadline nor meeting the statutory criteria required to qualify for an alternative schedule, specifically because self-reported data from 15 railroads indicated that each railroad had installed less than 80-percent of its PTC system hardware as of December 31, 2017; 
• Presented at several industry PTC meetings and working groups held by AAR and APTA, as well as supported a PTC Seminar with over 250 attendees sponsored by the Railway Systems Suppliers, Inc. (RSSI);
• Engaged with Class I railroads, intercity passenger and commuter railroads, and other railroads regarding compliance with the PTC regulations;
• Sent letters in June 2018 to the 12 railroads that remain at risk of neither meeting the December 31, 2018, deadline nor meeting the statutory criteria required to qualify for an alternative schedule, specifically because self-reported data from 12 railroads indicated that each railroad had installed less than 85-percent of its PTC system hardware as of March 31, 2018; and
• Sent letters in June 2018 to governors and state departments of transportation that have an at-risk commuter railroad in their states to encourage their direct involvement and support at this critical time.

To view the public version of each railroad’s Quarterly PTC Progress Report (Form FRA F 6180.165, OMB Control No. 2130-0553) for Quarter 1 of 2018, please visit each railroad’s PTC docket on https://www.regulations.gov/. Railroads’ PTC docket numbers are available at https://www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P0628.

  

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[CNJRoss]

FRA Technical Report:

 

Technical Reports

 

PTC Test Bed Siding Signal Upgrade at the Transportation Technology Center

• 30 May 2018

SUBJECT: Positive Train Control
 

KEYWORDS: Positive Train Control, PTC, PTC Test Bed, ElectroLogIXS/EC5, Electrified Electro Code Interface, Audio Frequency Train Activated Circuit II, AFTAC II, Switch Controller, Electro Cab 101, Cab Signal Generator, FC-101, Filter Coupler
 

ABSTRACT: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) contracted Transportation Technology Corporation, Inc. (TTCI) to continue work performed from February 2013 through December 2014 to upgrade the infrastructure and testing capabilities of the Positive Train Control (PTC) Test Bed by converting the existing siding on the Railroad Test Track (RTT) to a signaled siding. The PTC Test Bed was developed at the Transportation Technology Center (TTC) in Pueblo, CO, where a facility for developing and testing PTC-related technologies and systems is provided for the rail industry. As part of this project, all the required system checks were performed, as well as structures and equipment being procured and installed.

 

 Download PDF Document [1.8 MB]

[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading, 7/2/18:
 

House Democrats warn FRA against PTC exemptions

 

House Democrats last week warned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) against issuing exemptions that allow railroads to avoid implementing positive train control (PTC).

In a letter to FRA Administrator Ron Batory, the lawmakers said the exemptions included in the FRA's PTC regulations were "overly broad." Although Congress did not authorize exemptions to the PTC mandate, the FRA included them in its regulations.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

USA Today,7/24/18:
 

FRA threatens 13 railroads with fines for delays installing automatic-braking equipment

 

 

Despite progress installing auto-braking equipment, 13 railroads face possible fines for failing to meet Federal Railroad Administration deadlines. 

  

The agency threatened the railroads with $27,904 fines each for failing to meet milestones for installing the braking equipment and acquiring radio spectrum needed for it to work. The fines are part of an enforcement effort to ensure that railroads meet a Dec. 31 deadline set by Congress for installing the equipment and training workers.

 

SNIP

 

Lawmakers already extended the deadline from 2015 to Dec. 31, to give railroads time to install and test the complex equipment.

 

But Robert Sumwalt, the chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, underlined the importance of the technology in potentially preventing fatal accidents while investigating an Amtrak collision with a freight train in South Carolina in February.

 

“It could have avoided this accident,” Sumwalt said of the technology that the board has recommended for more than 45 years.

 

Federal safety investigators have said automatic-braking technology could have prevented several fatal Amtrak crashes:

 

More here.