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 millionon 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 .
The National Transportation Safety Board has calledrepeatedlyfor 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.
