Positive Train Control

Positive train control (PTC) describes technology designed to automatically stop or slow a train before certain an accidents occurs.  In particular, PTC is designed to prevent train-to-train collisions, derailments caused by excessive speed, unauthorized incursions by trains onto sections of track where repairs are being made, and movement of a train through a track switch left in the wrong position.

The Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA) requires Class I railroads to install PTC systems on their tracks that carry passengers or toxic-by-inhalation (TIH) materials.  The law requires fully-functional PTC systems to be in place by the end of 2015.

Approximately 70,000-80,000 miles of rail miles will be affected by the PTC mandate.  Freight railroads will have to spend more than $5 billion just to install PTC systems, plus pay hundreds of millions of dollars more each year thereafter to maintain them.  The total costs of PTC to freight railroads over 20 years is estimated at $10 billion to $14 billion.

America’s railroads are committeed to meeting the 2015 PTC deadline as required by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008.  However, the industry supports common-sense implementing regulations that do not impose unnecessary costs and funding assistance to help railroads offset PTC’s huge costs.

More Information:

 AAR Background Paper: Railroads, Moving America Safely (PDF)

 AAR Background Paper: Positive Train Control (PDF)

July 2009 FRA Economic Analysis of Positive Train Control Systems (PDF)