Railroad Regulators Award $25 Million for Automatic Braking System
Railroad operators around the country got a boost from federal regulators in their efforts to implement the automatic braking system known as Positive Train Control.
The Federal Railroad Administration awarded $25 million on Aug. 16 to 11 rail services ranging from the Twin Cities & Western Railroad Co. in Minnesota, which received $3 million, to the Fort Worth & Western Railroad in Texas, which received $2.56 million. The recipients are listed on the agency’s website.
The National Transportation Safety Board has called repeatedly for safety upgrades to oil tank cars and the implementation of Positive Train Control technology across the industry. Congress set a Dec. 31, 2018, deadline for when railroads would have to implement PTC technology.
“These grants get us a bit closer to implementing Positive Train Control — a long overdue technology that prevents accidents and saves lives,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said.
“Every dollar we invest in implementing Positive Train Control as quickly as possible is money well-spent because ultimately it means fewer accidents and fewer fatalities,” FRA Administrator Sarah Feinberg added.
