Positive Train Control for Commuter Rail

Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) provides commuter rail service in the Los Angeles region. SCRRA is implementing an interoperable Positive Train Control (PTC) system on all of its line segments where passenger operations are conducted. The project will design, furnish and install, test and commission a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) certified system at the same pace as the BNSF, UPRR and Amtrak Southern California PTC deployments targeted for December 31, 2012. The University of Southern California (USC), in partnership with Rail Safety Consulting LLC (RSC), and with the support of the SCRRA, will execute a research study of the implementation of this new PTC system. The goal of this research is to evaluate and promote the development of new technologies that will improve the safety and efficiency of rail transit system operation. The research project will focus on the safety and reliability of PTC technology in the commuter rail operating environment, and on developing recommendations concerning best practices in the implementation of PTC systems. The research will include the evaluation of current PTC technology; the SCRRA PTC system; the documentation of related implementation issues; and will identify the needs for further research in Rail Transit Signal and Control Systems (RTSCS) for commuter rail operations relating to PTC objectives.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Program Information: National Research Program, National Research

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $900000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  CA-26-7084

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Department of Transportation

  Office of the Secretary
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Federal Transit Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Centolanzi, Patrick

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Southern California, Los Angeles

  Viterbi School of Engineering
  Los Angeles, CA  United States  90089-2531
• Principal Investigators:

  Moore, James

• Start Date: 20110816
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 20130630
• Source Data: RiP Project 28919

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Best practices; Passenger transportation; Positive train control; Rail transit facilities; Railroad commuter service; Railroad safety; Railroad transportation
• Identifier Terms: Amtrak; Southern California Regional Rail Authority
• Geographic Terms: Los Angeles (California)
• Subject Areas: Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01489231
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Federal Transit Administration
• Contract Numbers: CA-26-7084
• Files: RIP
• Created Date: Aug 5 2013 12:56AM