(Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) press release, April 30, 2020)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Positive train control (PTC) is a communications-based system designed to automatically slow or stop a train that isn’t being operated safely. 42 railroads—including Amtrak, 30 commuter railroads, and several freight railroads—were required to implement PTC by December 31, 2018. Almost all received 2-year extensions. Most railroads were in the final testing and implementation stages of PTC at the end of 2019. However, several face tight schedules for the rest of the work, making problems with software and vendors more acute. Nonetheless, railroads are generally optimistic about finishing required work by the end of 2020.
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