According to updated analyses released by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the commuter rail industry continues to make significant progress on implementing positive train control (PTC) and is on schedule to meet the congressional deadline of December 2018. This analyses were based on information available as of 31 December 2016.
23% of the 3,150 route miles are either in service or in full PTC demonstration mode, while awaiting Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) approvals, according to APTA’s analyses. 30% of the 3,400 locomotives and cab cars are installed with PTC hardware. 40% of the 35 back office control systems are ready for operation. 19% of commuter rail agencies were 100% PTC equipped by the end of 2016.
The APTA analyses also showed that given the priority of PTC, there remains significant investment backlog for State of Good Repair (SOGR) and expansion projects, including upgrades and replacement to track, bridges, rolling stock and facilities.
The delivery of PTC requires the development of safety critical software; installations on 3,150 miles of track; 3,400 locomotives; 1,000 radio towers; and training more than 13,000 employees, according to APTA. Positive train control implementation is expected to cost the commuter rail industry more than $3.5 billion in capital expenditures.
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