§20157 Implementation of Positive Train Control Systems

Summary

Railroads must send the Secretary of Transportation, within 90 days after the Positive Train Control Enforcement and Implementation Act of 2015 passed, an updated plan to have positive train control (PTC) working by December 31, 2018 on main lines with regular intercity or commuter passenger service, on main lines that carry certain toxic-by-inhalation hazardous materials, and on any other tracks the Secretary requires. The plan must show how the PTC will work with other railroads, how higher-risk areas will be handled first, and must include required technical content. It must list when needed radio spectrum will be acquired, totals of PTC hardware by major category and by year, how many employees must be trained and the yearly training totals, remaining technical and program challenges (like funding, interoperability, spectrum, software, permits, and testing), and a schedule for putting PTC in place. A railroad may propose an alternate schedule but it must aim to finish as soon as practical and no later than 24 months after December 31, 2018. Railroads can amend plans under existing rules and must follow the approved plan. Each railroad must file a progress report by March 31, 2016 and every year after until PTC is complete, giving the same spectrum, hardware, training, schedule, resource, and route-mile details and other information the Secretary asks for. The Secretary will review plans and reports at least yearly, post reports online within 60 days (but may omit proprietary or security-sensitive material), and send a progress report to Congress by July 1, 2018. Civil penalties under chapter 213 can be imposed for violations or failure to follow plans. The Secretary will write rules about PTC functions and approvals, and must certify any PTC system or component under part 236 before it is put into regular revenue service (but may allow phased use). For a limited transition period tied to the last Class I carrier’s full implementation, some operational limits are eased if the railroad keeps an equal or better level of safety. If a certified PTC fails, the railroad must try to fix it quickly and notify the regional FRA office within 7 days. Host railroads must file electronic PTC performance reports (Form FRA F 6180.152) on or before April 30, July 31, October 31, and January 31, showing initialization failures, cut outs, malfunctions, enforcements, cases where an accident was likely prevented, initialization attempts, train miles, and actions to reduce problems; reporting may be reduced to at least twice a year beginning 3 years after the Passenger Rail Expansion and Rail Safety Act of 2021 unless the Secretary keeps quarterly reporting. Tenant railroads must continuously share the same data with hosts. Carriers using FRA–TA–2010–001 or FRA–TA–2013–003 must begin reporting the enforcement metric by January 31, 2023. Definitions (one line each): "Equivalent or greater level of safety" — operating under the same or safer rules and following applicable safety regulations. "Hardware" — physical PTC equipment like radios, onboard devices, wayside units, back-office gear, and towers. "Interoperability" — the ability of different railroads’ locomotives to communicate with and follow the same PTC system across property lines. "Main line" — tracks carrying 5,000,000 or more gross tons a year (the Secretary can add or redefine tracks when appropriate). "Positive train control system" — a system to prevent train-to-train collisions, over-speed derailments, work-zone intrusions, and moves through a switch left in the wrong position.