KCSR's telecommunications team pitches in on PTC implementation

Kansas City Southern Railway Co.'s (KCSR) telecommunications team continues to work on various positive train control (PTC) initiatives.

To assist with PTC implementation, the team over the past several years has completed the microwave backbone network to IP/Ethernet technology, upgraded backup power systems at most field communication locations and performed coverage studies to ensure adequate radio coverage to support PTC radio communications. The efforts support PTC communications from the field to back-office systems.

The telecommunications team also has been working with the legal department to complete Federal Communications Commission-required reviews to ensure compliance with federal regulations, and working with the other Class Is as a partial owner of PTC-220 LLC, which manages the radio spectrum required for all PTC operations.

For the remainder of 2015, the team plans to procure communications equipment, work on proof-of-concept validation and install PTC equipment in a pilot territory in the New Orleans Subdivision. In addition, team members will continue to complete required environmental reviews and the remaining spectrum propagation studies.

"We've been working on critical communications infrastructure to ensure we have a highly reliable network backbone to support PTC messaging," said KCSR Assistant Vice President of IT infrastructure and Telecommunications Danny Hall in an item posted on the "KCS News" web page. "We will continue to work closely with other functional teams to ensure a successful PTC deployment."