Brightline Seeks FRA Approval of Positive Train Control Safety Plan

David C. Lester

Brightline is seeking Federal Railroad Administration approval of its Positive Train Control Safety Plan and certification of the agency's Interoperable Electronic Train Management System as a mixed PTC system, according to documents the agency submitted to the FRA on Feb. 28.

The FRA will consider comments received by May 8 before taking final action on Brightline’s PTC plan. The FRA may consider comments received after that date to the extent practicable and without delaying implementation of a PTC system, according to documents available through the Federal Register.

In its PTC plan, Brightline asserts that the Interoperable Electronic Train Management System is a mixed PTC system as defined in title 49 Code of Federal Regulations. The PTC plan describes Brightline’s train management system and the associated I-ETMS safety processes, analyses, and test, validation, and verification processes used during the development of  the I-ETMS. The PTC plan also contains I-ETMS’s operational and support requirements and procedures, the document said.

Brightline’s PTC plan is available for review here. Comments may be submitted by visiting the link and following the instructions. All comment submissions must include the agency name and the applicable docket number. The relevant PTC docket number for Brightline is Docket No. FRA-2022-0098.