MBTA installs ATC, PTC all commuter-rail lines

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority recently completed implementation of automatic train control (ATC) as part of the positive train control (PTC) system on its Rockport, Newburyport, Haverhill, Lowell and Fitchburg commuter-rail lines, known locally as the northside lines.

The achievement completes PTC/ATC installation across all 12 MBTA commuter lines, totaling nearly 400 miles, MBTA officials said in a press release.

As a federally mandated safety control system, the MBTA’s $900 million commuter-rail safety and resiliency program to install PTC and ATC has been the authority’s highest priority capital program, they said.

The northside ATC project took over five years to design, install and commission. Construction work on the 170 miles of track included 400 design packages, construction work at 300 signal locations and the operation of 500 test trains.