VRE says service suspension imminent without PTC extension

VRE

The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) gave notice that it will be forced to suspend some, if not all, of its commuter rail service in Virginia and Washington, D.C., after December 31, 2015 if Congress does not act to extend the deadline for implementing Positive Train Control (PTC).

VRE received official notification from one of its host railroads, Norfolk Southern, that because PTC will not be fully operational on its railroad by the deadline, VRE passenger trains will not be permitted to operate on NS tracks after December 31.

VRE said the service shutdown would affect all Manassas Line trains. It is likely service on the Fredericksburg Line will also be suspended without a PTC extension. The Northern Virginia and Potomac & Rappahannock Transportation Commissions, owners of VRE, will be considering this issue at their November 5, 2015 meetings.

“Safety is VRE’s top priority and we are fully committed to implementing PTC,” said Doug Allen, chief executive officer of VRE. “Despite the hard work and dedication by all involved, more time is needed. We’ve been briefing our Congressional delegation since July and they are fully supportive of extending the PTC deadline. It is vitally important that the extension is approved soon.”

VRE is spending $10.5 million to implement PTC and anticipates substantially completing PTC equipment installations by year‐end. However, VRE operates on tracks owned by CSX Transportation and NS. PTC work on those railroads will not be completed by the deadline.