North Carolina to buy PTC equipment with federal funds

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will equip five converted cab control units with interoperable electronic train management systems using federal funds designated for positive train control (PTC) implementation.

North Carolina will receive $771,070 in federal funds to purchase the equipment and pay for system tests on the Piedmont corridor or within adjacent rail territory of Norfolk Southern Railway and Amtrak, NCDOT officials said late last week in a press release.

"The safe movement of passengers and freight on our rail system is our top priority," said North Carolina Transportation Secretary Nick Tennyson. "These funds will help us ensure that we have the technology to prevent crashes and save lives."

North Carolina was one of six states to receive the PTC funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Under its Piedmont Improvement program, the state is making additional investments in rail safety, including the construction of 12 bridges to separate traffic from trains, eliminating more than two dozen grade crossings and adding 31 miles of passing track.

The federal funds were part of a $25 million grant package recently announced by the Federal Railroad Administration.