Metrolink has PTC in Revenue Service Demonstration across network

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
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Steve Hymon/LACMTA

Metrolink says Positive Train Control (PTC) is in Revenue Service Demonstration (RSD) across its entire 341-mile network earlier this month, making it the first railroad in the nation to have PTC running during regular service on all of its hosted lines.

 

Following approval from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Metrolink began operating PTC RSD on the last of Metrolink’s hosted rail system on June 14. Metrolink says it remains on track to become the nation’s first passenger rail system to have a fully-operational, interoperable and certified PTC system in place.

“This is a time for us to pause, acknowledge how far we’ve come and then double our efforts,” said Chair of the Metrolink Board of Directors Shawn Nelson. “From the beginning, our agency was committed to have our entire system fully operable with PTC before the December 2015 federal deadline.”

“I am so proud of the efforts of the Metrolink Board and our staff to make this milestone happen.” Metrolink Chief Executive Officer Art Leahy said. “The collaborative effort to make PTC a reality in Southern California is a tremendous undertaking. It is only with the support and diligence of our member agencies and our delegation advocating tirelessly on our behalf that we have reached this point.”

Across its 512 route-mile network, Metrolink also operates on track owned and dispatched by Union Pacific, BNSF and the North County Transit District in San Diego County. Metrolink, BNSF, Union Pacific and NCTD, along with Amtrak trains, will all have to install and implement an interoperable system for PTC to be complete in the region.

The FRA has authorized Metrolink to operate PTC RSD using Wabtec’s Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS) ®. Parsons Transportation Group, Inc., is the primary contractor managing Metrolink’s PTC program.

The current cost for developing, installing and deploying PTC on the Metrolink system is $216.4 million, which comes from a combination of federal, state and local sources. Investments were also made to upgrade and expand the existing communication network, which is necessary for PTC and other modern railroad operations.

 

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