Positive Train Control

E4790

Positive Train Control is an advanced, federally mandated train safety technology designed to automatically prevent collisions, overspeed derailments, and other dangerous train movements.


Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf railway signaling system
safety technology
train control system
alsoKnownAs PTC
appliesTo certain freight railroads
lines carrying certain hazardous materials
main lines with commuter rail service
main lines with regularly scheduled intercity passenger service
passenger railroads
canInterveneBy automatically applying brakes
enforcing speed restrictions
stopping a train before a conflict point
countryOfUse United States
hasComponent back-office PTC system
onboard PTC equipment
wayside PTC equipment
wireless communications network
hasDeadline extended implementation deadline 2018
final extended deadline 2020
original implementation deadline 2015
hasLimitation depends on accurate track and signal databases
does not prevent all types of accidents
hasPurpose enhance railroad safety
prevent movement of trains through misaligned switches
prevent overspeed derailments
prevent train-to-train collisions
prevent unauthorized train movements in work zones
industryStandardFor safety overlay systems on U.S. railroads
isImplementedBy Amtrak
Class I freight railroads in the United States
many U.S. commuter rail agencies
isMandatedBy Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008
isPartOf United States rail safety program
isRelatedTo Automatic Train Control
Automatic Train Protection
legalStatus federally mandated for certain U.S. rail lines
monitors authorized movement limits
signal status
switch position
train location
train speed
regulator Federal Railroad Administration
United States Department of Transportation
usesTechnology GPS
back-office servers
onboard computers
wayside interface units
wireless communications


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