KCS PTC update: Data surveying and training underway

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
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Kansas City Southern says it has begun training on Positive Train Control (PTC) track and wayside data management at the TEaM Training Center in Shreveport, La. Approximately 160 people were trained last week and another group will start this week.

 

Meanwhile, contractor Bartlett & West will begin efforts to survey railway data across the entire KCS rail network using LiDAR technology to capture wayside features, such as switches, signals, crossings, bridges and tunnels.

KCS is in the process of creating a highly-detailed map of the network as part of the PTC initiative. To make PTC functional, all of the GPS data collected will need to be captured and stored in a new Geographic Information System (GIS). The GIS rail network is what the locomotive uses to properly operate PTC.

KCS signal engineers will need to follow a new process to report wayside changes once the rail network has been surveyed. The KCS TEaM Training Center has initiated related training across all KCS subdivisions on these new requirements for managing and tracking wayside data.

KCS says it is committed to PTC implementation in order to meet the federal mandate and continue its strong safety culture.

 

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