Positive Train Control- Ready to Go?

In this article the authors discuss the use of positive train control (PTC) technologies, which implement automation to train control in order to reduce the likelihood of train collisions. While much of the technological capability is currently available, there remain a number of technical and financial hurdles to the implementation of PTC in the U.S. While PTC is already of interest to Amtrak, freight rail is also investigating its applicability. The major technical hurdle that remains is the coordination of different PTC infrastructures that might be employed regionally. While such systems may function well autonomously, their coordination in terms of different cars traveling over each area needs to be researched further, authors note. Economic aspects of implementing PTC are also described.