Metrolink ready to power up PTC system on San Bernardino Line

Metrolink will advance its positive train control (PTC) program today when it begins a revenue service demonstration project along the line between Los Angeles and San Bernardino, Calif.

This project will help the railroad remain on track to become the nation's first passenger-rail system to have a fully implemented, interoperable PTC system in place, according to a Metrolink press release.

Functional testing on the San Bernardino Line began in July 2014. In addition to extensive end-to-end functional testing, more than 150 unique test cases were performed on the subdivision, Metrolink officials said. The Federal Railroad Administration granted approval in February for the railroad to begin the revenue service demonstration.

"We fully understand the challenges of implementing PTC and continue to work with our rail partners to make certain every inch of the Metrolink service area is covered," said Metrolink Chair Shawn Nelson. "We remain on track to have our entire system fully operable with PTC well before the December 2015 federal deadline."

Metrolink first launched PTC in revenue service demonstration under the authority of BNSF Railway Co. last month. That area of track includes portions of Metrolink's Orange County, 91 and Inland Empire-Orange County lines.

Metrolink recently completed end-to-end testing on the Ventura County Line and initiated similar testing on the Antelope Valley Line, which are the next two lines expected to enter revenue service demonstration. Testing and revenue service demonstration will begin on the Orange County Line this spring.

The plan calls for completing revenue service demonstration on all track that Metrolink dispatches by late summer, railroad officials said.

Metrolink is using Wabtec's Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS)^® to operate PTC in revenue service demonstration.