LIRR implements PTC on another 108 route miles

MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) has activated positive train control (PTC) on the eastern 108 miles of its system, the commuter railroad announced yesterday.

The trackage runs from Patchogue to Montauk, and from Ronkonkoma to Greenport, New York. The 108 miles nearly double the route miles under PTC operation to 220, LIRR officials said in a press release. Now, 72.5 percent of the railroad’s 305 route miles are PTC-operable.
 
“This latest achievement shows that we are continuing to make steady and deliberate progress as we work toward implementing PTC systemwide by Dec. 31,” said LIRR President Phil Eng.

PTC builds upon LIRR’s existing signaling systems, such as in-cab signaling and an automatic civil speed enforcement system. The safety measures already provide some of the most substantial PTC functions, LIRR officials said.
 
With some limited exceptions, PTC now is operating from: Penn Station to the East River Tunnels; Jamaica to Montauk; Woodside to Port Washington on the Port Washington Branch; Hicksville to Port Jefferson; and Ronkonkoma to Greenport. The technology also has been implemented on the Hempstead, Long Beach, Oyster Bay, Far Rockaway, West Hempstead and Central branches.