PRESS RELEASE NUMBER: News Digest
CONTACT: FRA Public Affairs
PHONE: 202-493-6024
SUBJECT: Positive Train Control
KEYWORDS: PTC, Positive Train Control

Due to multiple inquiries, we are providing the following background information:

As of December, eight of the 37 railroads required to implement PTC systems on their own tracks have obtained conditional PTC System Certification from FRA. In total, 41 railroads are subject to the statutory PTC implementation mandate and must implement FRA-certified PTC systems by the December 31, 2018 deadline mandated by Congress, unless a railroad obtains a limited deadline extension. 

Twelve railroads have completed installation of all hardware necessary for PTC system implementation. Another 12 railroads report having installed less than 50 percent of the hardware required for their PTC systems, as of September 30, 2017.

Twenty-six railroads have begun field testing PTC systems on segments of track. Data submitted by railroads show that PTC systems are in operation on 45 percent of the required route miles of track owned by freight railroads and 24 percent of the route miles of track owned by passenger railroads.