Union Pacific reached an 86 percent on its Positive Train Control (PTC) implementation project relating to its infrastructure. The operator installed the system on 1,081 route miles in the second quarter of 2019. PTC was implemented on all required passenger routes in 2018. Union Pacific and freight and passenger lines continue working together to safely implement PTC on the remaining 2,384 required route miles.
The company will continue to install PTC system to ensure PTC interoperability with other freight and passenger lines operating on Union Pacific tracks by 2020, as allowed by federal law.
Union Pacific completed PTC installation on required route miles and employee training. PTC education is ongoing as Union Pacific retrains employees and introduces the system to new employees. Training materials are tailored to a variety of employee roles, including engineer, conductor, dispatcher, maintenance of way/engineering, mechanical, signal, telecom and information technologies.
With the FRA’s conditional approval of Union Pacific’s PTC safety plan on April 26, 2017, Union Pacific is running PTC operations on 24,140 km (15,000 miles) in 22 states.
One of the most challenging parts of PTC implementation is ensuring system interoperability among all U.S. rail lines and locomotives. Given the various readiness levels of North American freight and passenger lines, including publicly funded commuter lines and short lines, it is important that all companies continue working together to maintain the health, safety, resiliency, and fluidity of the rail network during PTC implementation.
Share on:
