Parsons selected for LA Metrolink PTC contract

Parsons is pleased to announce that the Southern California Regional Rail Authority, the governing board of Metrolink, recently awarded Parsons a $120-million contract to design, procure, and install Positive Train Control technology on Metrolink's 512-mile regional commuter rail system.

This significant contract represents
the first of its kind to be awarded in the U.S. rail industry. It is the first
application of PTC in compliance with the U.S. Rail Safety Improvement Act of
2008, which mandates that passenger and freight railroads install PTC by 2015.
Parsons’ responsibilities will include design, installation, documentation,
testing, integration, and commissioning. In addition, Parsons will lead the
overall radio frequency infrastructure development, manage the development of
the network management system, and provide a replacement of the dispatching
system.

"Parsons is excited to be the first
firm awarded such an industry-changing contract and to have the opportunity to
work with Metrolink to improve passenger safety on our nation’s railroads
through the implementation of technology," said Tom Barron, Parsons Group
President.

Fully interoperable with the Union
Pacific’s and BNSF’s PTC systems, Metrolink’s PTC system-wide implementation
program will consist of the following:

• A PTC back-office
system.

• Replacement of the
current Computer Aided Dispatch system.

• PTC on-board computers,
display screens, GPS tracking, and radios on 57 cab cars and 52 locomotives.

• Stop enforcement system
at 476 wayside signals.

• A six-county specialized
communication network to link the wayside signals, trains, and the centralized
dispatch office.