Q: Do train crews have the ability to activate or deactivate crossing lights and gates? — Richard Collingwood, Milan, Ohio A: No. Here’s why: Crossing circuits have set approaches based off of warning time required and maximum speed of the trains. The modern day crossing processors — mini computers inside a crossing gate bungalow (the metal […]
Train Topic: Signals & Train Control
Complexity slows NJ Transit efforts to meet PTC deadline NEWSWIRE
An afternoon NJ Transit train arrives Short Hills Station in April 2017. The Morris and Essex line here is the positive train control proving grounds for the rest of the NJ Transit system. New multiple-unit cars expected to arrive in the mid-2020s will replace locomotives on most trains. Ralph Spielman NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit “still […]
NJ Transit adds more PTC funding, authorizes emergency planning study NEWSWIRE
Rebuilt GP40H-2B No. 4024, an ex-Penn Central unit, pushes NJ Transit Main Line train No. 1118 out of Secaucus toward Hoboken in August 2019 afternoon. Additional PTC funds ensure that this unit will be able to operate until replacement locomotives arrive at the end of 2020. Ralph Spielman NEWARK, N.J. — NJ Transit’s board of […]
Rail consultant: New York Air Brake’s feat is the next step to automated railroading NEWSWIRE
New York Air Brake’s test train. New York Air Brake ATLANTA — One independent railroad professional sees New York Air Brake’s recent automation break through as an incremental step to fully automated railroading. Gary Wolf, principal at Wolf Railway Consulting, tells Trains that New York Air Brake’s Friday announcement that it started a stopped freight […]
Local government insists on full safety recommendation implementation before Point Defiance Bypass re-opened to passengers NEWSWIRE
SEATTLE — The Pierce County Council has passed a resolution calling on Amtrak, the Washington State Department of Transportation, Sound Transit, and other agencies not to reopen the ill-fated Point Defiance Bypass line to passenger service until the full menu of recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board is put in place. WSDOT and Amtrak […]
Federal Railroad Administration publishes PTC updates for the second quarter NEWSWIRE
WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration today provided a quarterly status update on railroads’ progress in fully implementing positive train control systems. Based on railroads’ second quarter 2019 PTC Progress Reports which were due to FRA by July 31, 2019, the 42 railroads subject to the statutory PTC mandate are making steady progress. “FRA is […]
Why positive train control is vulnerable to a cyber-attack NEWSWIRE
Even as railroads continue to roll out positive train control, one question remains front and center: Are the systems vulnerable to a cyber-attack? “Those are questions that have been raised at the highest level to the lowest levels,” says Jim McKenney, technical director at United Kingdom-based NCC Group’s Transportation Assurance Practice. “Those are continuously being […]
California town holds ‘Wig Wags Forever’ festival to celebrate restoration of signals NEWSWIRE
Wig-wag signals in downtown Richmond, Calif., are being restored to operating condition. Google Street View RICHMOND, Calif. — Richmond will hold a “Wig Wags Forever” festival on Sunday, celebrating the restoration to operating condition of two of the nearly extinct grade-crossing protection devices. The signals, near 1 West Richmond Ave. at a grade crossing in Point […]
Wabtec closes first PTC-digital tech deal since merger with GE Transportation NEWSWIRE
WILMERDING, Pa. — Wabtec Corp. was selected to provide fully integrated positive train control, digital imaging, and data transfer and analytics capabilities for Iowa Northern Railway, marking Wabtec’s first such deal since closing its merger with GE Transportation. Under the contract, Wabtec will provide an integrated offering, including its Interoperable Electronic Train Management System PTC […]
Montana Rail Link gets $3.5 million federal grant for PTC NEWSWIRE
MISSOULA, Mont. – Montana Rail Link has obtained a $3.5 million grant from the federal government to install positive train control on 600 miles of main line across Montana and Idaho. MRL spokesperson Ross Lane tells Trains News Wire that the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation will […]
FRA’s Batory testifies before Congress on crew sizes, PSR, and Positive Train Control NEWSWIRE
Train length is an issue that Congress is interested in. These Union Pacific trains are meeting at Nunn, Colo. Trains: Jim Wrinn WASHINGTON — During an at times testy hearing on Capitol Hill Thursday, congress members peppered Federal Railroad Administration administrator Ron Batory about Precision Scheduled Railroading, Positive Train Control, and the recently dismissed crew […]
PTC stalls Tri-Rail move to MiamiCentral station
MIAMI — Positive train control issues will delay Miami’s Tri-Rail commuter service from starting operations at Virgin Trains USA’s MiamiCentral station before the end of the year, as had been anticipated. Miami Today reports that Virgin Trains host and parent Florida East Coast Railway is still awaiting government certification for its PTC system, and that […]
