Blumenthal plans Senate hearing on PTC

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) is seeking to convene a Senate hearing to examine the rail industry's efforts toward implementing positive train control (PTC).

Earlier this month, he announced plans to introduce legislation aimed at enforcing and enhancing rail safety regulations. His bill would require continued progress toward the federally mandated PTC implementation deadline of Dec. 31, 2015.

Now, Blumenthal wants to push ahead for a Senate hearing on PTC concerns raised in a recent series of news reports by Hearts Newspapers, according to the Connecticut Post.

"We are going to be asking increasing tough questions of the Federal Railroad Administration," Blumenthal said today in a report on www.ctpost.com.