SEPTA to roll out PTC system in February

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) anticipates rolling out its positive train control (PTC) system in February.

The agency intended to meet the federal government's original Dec. 31, 2015, deadline for implementing the technology, but the three-year extension passed by Congress late last year "effectively resets the clock on [SEPTA's] deadline for the final phases of the project," SEPTA said in a January PTC update on its website.

As currently proposed, SEPTA's implementation of the technology on its Regional Rail lines will occur in three phases, with each phase taking several weeks to complete. During the first phase, the agency will deploy PTC on single track service, beginning with the Warminster Line, SEPTA officials said.

For the remaining phases, the agency will deploy PTC on two track service lines, followed by deployment on multi-track service lines.

The agency has completed work on its signal and communication systems, as well as its car fit-out on the Silverliner IV and Silverliner V fleets. SEPTA now is focused on completing fit-out for electric locomotives/cab cars, which is scheduled to wrap up in early February; control center software installation; and employee training.

Additionally, SEPTA is testing cars to see how its PTC system interfaces with Amtrak's.

The rollout schedule is designed to give the agency time to react and make adjustments as needed, SEPTA officials said.