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10/28/2024
The Federal Railroad Administration has proposed a rule that seeks to ensure that railroad operations can continue safely under limited circumstances when positive train control (PTC) systems are temporarily disabled.
PTC technology is designed to prevent train-to-train collisions, over-speed derailments, incursions into established work zones and movements of trains through switches left in the wrong position. The FRA is proposing to standardize regulations concerning railroad operations when PTC systems are not enabled, which can occur due to a PTC outage or when PTC systems are temporarily disabled to facilitate maintenance, repairs or upgrades to railroad infrastructure.
“This proposed rulemaking intends to establish clear, uniform processes for addressing issues with PTC systems while eliminating uncertainty and inconsistent application of FRA’s regulations,” said FRA Administrator Amit Bose in a press release.
The proposed changes will ensure that railroads consistently provide FRA with the information necessary to assess the temporary outages in a timely manner, establish additional operating requirements to protect public and worker safety when outages occur and enhance the efficiency of rail operations., Bose added.
Under the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, Congress mandated PTC systems to be implemented on Class I main lines that carry high levels of freight traffic and certain hazardous materials on main lines over which intercity passenger-rail service is regularly provided, and other tracks as prescribed by the U.S. transportation secretary.
As of December 2020, PTC is in operation on all required freight and passenger railroad route miles, and PTC currently governs rail operations on nearly 59,000 route miles.
To read the FRA's proposed rule, click here. The FRA will accept public comments on it for the next 60 days.