Amtrak Positive Train Control on fast track

From Railway Track and Structures

Amtrak is moving ahead aggressively to expand and build out its existing and proven train collision prevention safety technology-commonly known as Positive Train Control-to cover all of the tracks it owns along the Northeast Corridor and on its Michigan Line by the end of 2012, three years ahead of a federal deadline.

“Amtrak has long been a leader in the development and operation of PTC safety technology and we are extending it to cover all of the tracks we own,” said President and CEO Joseph Boardman, noting federal law requires PTC on most tracks where passenger trains operate by the end of 2015.

PTC technology can control train movements to prevent train-to-train collisions, derailments caused by excessive speed and certain human-caused incidents such as misaligned track switches. It can also protect roadway workers by slowing or stopping trains from entering work zones.