Side Effects

This article discusses how the regulatory environment surrounding positive train control (PTC) implementation is continually changing. In March, the Association of American Railroads (ARA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) reached an agreement where the FRA will develop a proposed rulemaking that could scale back some of the requirements that have been stipulated in the final implementation rule. For example, the new rulemaking might reduce the number of U.S. track miles requiring PTC systems and require that a second onboard display unit be non-interactive, or read-only. The article shows how regulations are subject to change and so are specifications for PTC wayside devices, which control points, switches and signal aspects, and wirelessly interface with onboard locomotive devices and central control systems. Ensuring wayside devices work as intended per multiple specification changes is almost as daunting a task as mandating railroads to implement PTC by December 31, 2015.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/4175009
• Authors:
  • Stagl, Jeff
• Publication Date: 2011-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Pagination: pp 42-44, 46, 48, 50
• Serial:
  • Progressive Railroading
  • Volume: 54
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: Trade Press Publishing Corporation
  • ISSN: 0033-0817
  • Serial URL: http://www.progressiverailroading.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Positive train control; Railroad signals; Railroad traffic; Railroad traffic control devices; Railroad transportation; Specifications; Wayside signals
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01350616
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 29 2011 7:43AM