The status of implementing positive train control (PTC) technologies on the nation’s rail network will be the subject of a Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials hearing at 10 a.m. Thursday in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C.
PTC technologies are designed to automatically stop or slow a train before certain accidents occur — specifically, train-to-train collisions, derailments caused by excessive speed, unauthorized incursions by trains onto sections of track where maintenance activities are taking place and movements of trains through track switches left in the wrong position.
The Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 initially required that certain freight, commuter and passenger rail lines in the United States install PTC by Dec. 31, 2015. Congress extended that deadline to Dec. 31 of this year. Congress also has provided grants and loans to help railroads implement PTC technologies. During the hearing, the subcommittee will examine the progress railroads have made and the challenges that remain in meeting the December implementation deadline.
The hearing will be chaired by Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif. Scheduled witnesses are Ronald L. Batory, administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration; Robert Sumwalt, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board; Susan A. Fleming, director of the physical infrastructure team in the Government Accountability Office; Scot Naparstek, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Amtrak; Edward Hamberger, president and chief executive officer of the Association of American Railroads; Jeffrey D. Knueppel, general manager of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority on behalf of the American Public Transportation Association; and Stacey Mortensen, executive director of the Altamont Corridor Express.
A live webcast will be available here.
PTC technologies are designed to automatically stop or slow a train before certain accidents occur — specifically, train-to-train collisions, derailments caused by excessive speed, unauthorized incursions by trains onto sections of track where maintenance activities are taking place and movements of trains through track switches left in the wrong position.
The Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 initially required that certain freight, commuter and passenger rail lines in the United States install PTC by Dec. 31, 2015. Congress extended that deadline to Dec. 31 of this year. Congress also has provided grants and loans to help railroads implement PTC technologies. During the hearing, the subcommittee will examine the progress railroads have made and the challenges that remain in meeting the December implementation deadline.
The hearing will be chaired by Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif. Scheduled witnesses are Ronald L. Batory, administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration; Robert Sumwalt, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board; Susan A. Fleming, director of the physical infrastructure team in the Government Accountability Office; Scot Naparstek, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Amtrak; Edward Hamberger, president and chief executive officer of the Association of American Railroads; Jeffrey D. Knueppel, general manager of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority on behalf of the American Public Transportation Association; and Stacey Mortensen, executive director of the Altamont Corridor Express.
A live webcast will be available here.