Report: Most railroads to miss positive-train-control deadline

A detailed report recently sent to Congress indicates that most railroads will miss the Dec. 31 deadline to implement positive train control (PTC) implementation, set by Congress in 2008.

The report said these railroads that won't make the deadline received significant assistance from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

The FRA sent its Status of Positive Train Control Implementation report to Congress, as required by the House Appropriations Committee.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) first began to encourage the implementation of train-control systems, such as the PTC, in 1969.

“Positive train control is the most significant advancement in rail-safety technology in more than a century,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said. “Simply put, it prevents accidents and saves lives, which is exactly what we seek to do at the Department of Transportation every single day. We will continue to do everything in our power to help railroads install this technology.”

“The Federal Railroad Administration will continue to use its resources and expertise to help railroads achieve the critical goal to have positive train control implemented,” Sarah Feinberg, the FRA's acting administrator, said.