WASHINGTON — NJ Transit is now considered the only railroad at risk of not meeting the Dec. 31, 2020, deadline for positive train control implementation, according to the latest assessment of PTC progress from the Federal Railroad Administration.
The FRA’s third-quarter report, based on information received from railroads by Oct. 31, indicates that just 223 miles subject to the PTC mandate remain to be activated. As of Sept. 30, PTC was in operation or in the final testing phase, revenue service demonstration, on approximately 57,314 route-miles, or 99.6% of those requiring the safety system.
“Full implementation of PTC is in sight, owing to everyone’s unparalleled cooperation and determination,” FRA Administrator Ronald L. Batory said in a press release. “I’m incredibly proud of the intensive collaborations we have forged. Once complete, railroads, rail workers, and rail passengers will all benefit from this transformational accomplishment in railroad safety.”
As of Sept. 30, NJ Transit was in the revenue service demonstration phase on 48% of its 375.9 route-miles reuiring PTC. The FRA says it is directing additional resources and technical assistance to NJ Transit, including on-site support. NJ Transit has repeatedly said it will make the deadline, most recently at a Nov. 12 board meeting [see “Digest: NJ Transit says it is 80% of the way to PTC implementation …,” Trains News Wire, Nov. 13, 2020].
The FRA posts infographics on PTC progress here and public versions of each railroad’s quarterly PTC report here.
