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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Restricted Speed Enforcement for Positive Train Control Systems

Document Series
Technical Reports
Author
Federal Railroad Administration
Report Number
DOT/FRA/ORD-24/15
Office
RDI-23
Subject Communications, Train Control
Keywords
Restricted speed, Positive Train Control, PTC, risk, operation capacity, benefit-cost analysis, BCA, benefit-cost ratio, BCR
Document

As defined by current regulations (Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 236 Subpart G), restricted speed is a speed that will permit stopping within one-half the range of vision, but does not exceed 20 mph. In the U.S., restricted speed operation is a common type of train operation on virtually every mile of automatic blocks and is also common in terminals and yards. From February 2017 to May 2020, the Federal Railroad Administration supported Rutgers University and HNTB Corporation in analyzing the frequency, severity, and other characteristics of restricted-speed train accidents. The team evaluated the safety benefits, incremental costs, and operational impacts of implementing Positive Train Control (PTC) in restricted-speed train operations, focusing on end-of-track collision prevention. A Concept of Operations (ConOps) was proposed, with a “what-if” scenario-based analysis for the Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System (ACSES) and Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS). A benefit-cost analysis indicated that the safety benefits may exceed the incremental costs if PTC is enforced to prevent end-of-track collisions over a 20-year period under specified circumstances and assumptions. Finally, a field test plan was proposed which can be used to validate the proposed ConOps.


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Last updated: Friday, April 12, 2024