Delivering Positive Train Control (PTC): An Insider’s Guide Dear colleague, With the 2015 federal mandate for Positive Train Control rapidly approaching but still wrapped in uncertainty as to any possible extension, railroads across the US continue to strive towards deployment but face evolving challenges of Many thanks unprecedented complexity. for downloading For this e-book we’ve spoken to those at the heart of the development of Delivering Positive Train Control (PTC) from DART, NTSB, Alaska Railroads, HP and Positive Train many more. We take a look at the latest developments, speak to industry experts and analyse trends and future opportunities. It’s not just another Control (PTC): An collection of facts and figures but an insight into the reality of the direction Insider’s Guide. of Positive Train Control (PTC); the opportunities and potential but also the challenges still to be overcome.

All the contributors to this e-book are confirmed as speaking at the Positive Train Control World Congress taking place in Orlando Florida on April 15-17th. It’s the only dedicated congress for the whole value chain and is completely free to attend for railroad and government employees. Join over 300 senior PTC professionals and over 50 expert speakers for 3 days of case studies, workshops, demos, professional training and roundtable sessions to drive the US rail network forward and successfully deliver PTC.

Each of the features within this e-book was first published on SmartRail World www.smartrailworld.com which offers a truly global perspective on rail and metro signalling with a specific focus on Positive Train Control. To ensure you are enjoying the latest news and become a subscriber for free today. Many thanks to all the contributors who took time to speak to me and help make this book happen.

We hope you enjoy this e-book and find it stimulating, informative and perhaps even a little inspiring.

Regards and thanks,

Luke Upton Editor SmartRail World

PS – If you would like to contribute to SmartRail, please email: [email protected]

2 www.SmartRailWorld.com Delivering Positive Train Control (PTC): An Insider’s Guide Contents

1. Infographic – How to keep your 5. Helping to solve the ‘Achilles’ heel’ of positive train control plan on track Positive Train Control: PTC-220 LLC.

2. Metrolink – on track to be the first 6. Positive Train Control (PTC) in focus: commuter railroad in the U.S. to North County Transit District (NCTD) deploy PTC. in California.

3. Alaska Railroad funding request 7. Executive Interview: Timothy McKay, puts fresh spotlight on Positive Train Executive Vice President Growth and Control (PTC) funding. Regional Development at Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). 4. “We are urging the railways to have higher expectations,” how a famous old name is offering creative new solutions in rail.

3 www.SmartRailWorld.com Delivering Positive Train Control (PTC): An Insider’s Guide How to keep your positive train control plan on track

HOW TO KEEP YOUR POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL PLAN ON TRACK

For US railroads to operate as safely and e!ciently as possible, it is imperative PTC is installed successfully. As the numbers highlight, this is a complex and expensive challenge for all key stakeholders involved. Put your railroad on the right track, by joining us at the PTC World Congress.

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Wayside Units across much of US track need to be upgraded or reinstalled Locomotives need to be shopped + outfitted with Learn how SFRTA interoperable hardware & LA Metro completed track Meet the leading upgrades hardware providers in our exclusive PTC World Congress exhibition

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of 150,000 employees need some 75%+ training for PTC Don’t miss Training Workshop hosted by Corys Thunder and their Class 1 customers 4

Estimated total cost to install and maintain PTC over next 20 years Meet over 40 railroads looking for cost e!ective solutions

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miles of track to be mapped in US Optimize operations with an e!ective communication network, with solutions providers such as Leidos and Power Trunk and 1,000+ injuries across 26 NTSB investigations could have been avoided with Positive Train Control technology Put your questions to the NTSB Chairman in an exclusive Q&A

Download the PTC 7 World Congress brochure for more details

7 Class 1 railroads and over 25 commuter train lines need to be made interoperable and fully functional to ensure safety across the US freight and commuter rail network Benchmark against success stories at Sound Transit, NCTD, DART and Alaska Railroad

The PTC World Congress is FREE to attend for all railroad and government representatives

Learn more about Positive Train Control from the leaders in the industry. Visit www.ptcworldcongress.com for more details and join us today!

4 www.SmartRailWorld.com Using SmartRail technology to build the railway of the future. Positive Train Control in focus: Metrolink - the first commuter railroad in the U.S. to deploy PTC

“We believe PTC is perhaps the most important safety innovation in our lifetime…”

Following the Hudson Line tragedy of the 1st December, Positive In order to meet the mandate laid out in the 2008 Rail Safety Train Control (PTC) is again under the spotlight, with claims that if Improvement Act, Metrolink began the search for the best it had been deployed, the fatal accident would not have occurred. solution. The selected solution must also allow BNSF, UP and Experts state that if PTC had been deployed on the Metro-North Amtrak to safely operate on Metrolink’s network, which means line it would not have allowed the train to exceed the speed limit that the PTC system must be interoperable with each rail agency’s and it would have slowed and eventually stopped the train when operating systems to ensure continued smooth, uninterrupted the driver became unresponsive. Although the investigation into train operations among each agency. the Hudson Line derailment is on-going, initial reports point at driver error and the potential that he momentarily fell asleep As a result of its innovative efforts, Metrolink is on schedule to whilst in control of the train which barreled into a curve at 82 miles become the first commuter railroad in the US to fully deploy a PTC per hour, nearly three times the speed allowed through the area. system that integrates GPS technology with train management computers and digital radio communications with the help of Railroad and federal safety officials have long pushed for PTC CalAmp’s 220 MHz Interoperable Train Control (ITC) transceivers. (which combines GPS, wireless radio and computers to monitor CalAmp’s 220 MHz ITC Transceivers provide Metrolink with the trains and stop them from colliding, derailing or speeding) but critical data link needed between locomotives, base stations, the nationwide development of this has been opposed by some wayside signals and switches and other railroad systems in an within the railroad industry because of the high cost, technological automated command and control network. CalAmp’s solution issues and perceived short deadline of 2015. SmartRail World allows Metrolink to meet the federal mandate requiring PTC, as goes back to where the PTC debate began and takes a look at the well as work towards its own safety goals. development of what is on track to be the first commuter railroad in the US to deploy PTC System with GPS – Metrolink in California. The wayside train signal system uses the CalAmp ITC 220 MHZ Transceivers to provide signal and switch status indications to Formed in 1991, Metrolink is governed by the Southern California the Metrolink dispatch system, as well as directly to approaching Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) and comprises five county trains. The radios communicate with the train’s on-board agencies that are tasked with reducing highway congestion and computer, allowing it to display the train’s safe braking distance improving mobility throughout Southern California. Metrolink based on the train’s length, width, weight, along with the grade began service in October 1992 to fill a void in Southern California’s and curvature of the track. An audible warning notifies operating transportation infrastructure. The organization has served as personnel of possible unsafe situations. If the engineer does the link between six Southern California counties by providing not respond to the audible warning, the on-board computer will commuters seamless transportation connectivity options. activate the brakes and safely stop the train. Metrolink has grown from its original three service lines, 11 stations and 2,300 daily passengers to seven service lines, 55 “Metrolink is committed to an early implementation of PTC. One of stations with 44,000 weekday passengers, across its 512 mile the project risks was the development and creation of an industry network. standard interoperable radio. CalAmp was the manufacturer who stepped up and provided the quantity and quality of radios our On Sept. 12, 2008, a Connex engineer operating a Metrolink project required and furnished them within our timeline.” Dan train failed to stop at a red signal, causing a collision with a Guerrero, Assistant. Director PTC, C&S SCRRA. Metrolink will be Union Pacific freight train. In this incident, 25 lives were lost and the first commuter rail in the nation to implement this state-of- another 135 people were injured. California Senators Barbara the-art technology, moving the agency closer toward its goal of Boxer and Dianne Feinstein led Congress in adopting the Rail becoming the safest commuter rail in the nation. “We believe PTC Safety Improvement Act of 2008, which mandated the installation is perhaps the most important safety innovation in our lifetime,” of Positive Train Control (PTC) by the end of 2015. The Metrolink said former Metrolink CEO John E. Fenton. Board of Directors committed to implementing PTC in advance of the federal deadline to ensure Southern Californians are among The Southern California Regional Rail Authority became the first the first in the nation to benefit from this life-saving technology. US commuter rail operator to begin using Positive Train Control PTC will prevent train to train collisions, over-speed derailments in revenue service on February 17 2014 . Metrolink has started and prevent the movement of trains through switches left in the operating with PTC on selected trains using the BNSF tracks wrong position. PTC monitors and, if necessary, controls train between Los Angeles and Riverside. movement in the event of human error. PTC may also bring trains to a safe stop in the event of a natural disaster.

5 www.SmartRailWorld.com Delivering Positive Train Control (PTC): An Insider’s Guide Alaska Railroad funding request puts fresh spotlight on Positive Train Control (PTC) funding

The news in February 2014 that Alaska Railroad requested the At Ferromex in Mexico, for the last fiscal year they budgeted $450 Legislature to add $26 million to the governor’s budget to keep million for capital expenditures — or 30 percent of the railroad’s a $153 million Positive Train Control (PTC) upgrade on track has total income “That’s the highest of any other Class I in North again cast a spotlight on the issues of financing the system as America, U.S. railroads are around 17 percent; Canada’s, too” the federally mandated 2015 deadline approaches. “We think it’s stated Ferromex Chief Executive Officer Rogelio Vélez. “Our five- a prudent decision for the Legislature and we hope you see it the year plan calls for aggressive growth — growth that is over the same way,” Alaska Railroad President and CEO Bill O’Leary told country’s growth,” says Vélez, who’s been with Ferromex since the Senate Finance Committee. If the state-owned railroad doesn’t 2000 and CEO since 2008. “We will be spending heavily in the next push ahead with the costliest safety automation effort in its five years. We need to make sure that we have enough capacity.” history, federal law could bring a halt to all passenger service and fines of up to $25,000 a day, O’Leary added. The contrast between Alaska needing to seek more funding whilst BNSF and Ferromex having the resources to invest significantly O’Leary and Alaska Railroad Vice President Eileen Reilly made in new infrastructure underlines further the problem that many their case to the Senate Finance Committee why the $15 million seeking to deploy Positive Train Control have. And with an already proposed by the governor for automation should be increased tight federal budget seeking major support from Washington to $41 million. “Our capital budget for 2014 is just a little above is a hard task. It’s clear that the vast majority of U.S. railroads $20 million. We need to be putting somewhere closer to $40 to will not install PTC by the end of 2015 and it’s expected that the $50 million per year into the railroad just to maintain what we’ve Federal Railroad Administration will not issue fines or penalties got. This is not expansion capital. This is just keeping what I call if the railroad appears to be acting in good faith. Of course the the wheels on the wagon,” O’Leary said in quotes reported in the primary driver of PTC is safety but let us just to conclude view Alaska Dispatch, Reilly added that if equipment and tracks are not another aspect – the Metro-North Railroad derailment that killed kept in good repair, there are all sorts of mechanical problems four people in the Bronx in December 2013 caused more than $9 that can cause accidents and have nothing to do with human million in damage to the railroad, requiring seven coaches and error by train personnel. But what about some of the other major track to be repaired or replaced and that is excluding any costs railroads and their financial plans for PTC? from personal injury lawsuits. These could have been avoided with safety technology, however until a consistent level of financing Fort Worth, Texas-based BNSF Railway Co. said on February across America’s railroads exists, a nationwide deployment of PTC 5th 2014 that it plans to spend $5 billion this year on capital seems some distance away. improvements, an amount that, if achieved, would be a $1 billion increase over 2013 levels and would shatter capital expenditure records for the railroad industry. It will spend approximately $900 million for terminal, line, and inter-modal expansion and efficiency projects, and another $200 million to install Positive Train Control (PTC). No U.S. railroad has ever spent $5 billion in capital expenditures in one year.

6 www.SmartRailWorld.com Delivering Positive Train Control (PTC): An Insider’s Guide “We are urging the railways to have higher expectations,” how a famous old name is offering creative new solutions in rail

HP is already in your office. And they probably have been for some Another recent highlight for HP has been their work in time. There are few more familiar information technology providers increasing energy efficiency for Kazakhstan Temir Zholy in the market. And their classic blue and white logo sits atop many (KTZh), the Republic of Kazakhstan’s railway system operator. of the hardware, software and services technologies that have In deploying the HP/IPESOFT REMS (Rail Energy Management shaped modern business. But what you may not be as familiar System) solution they were able to achieve 7 percent in with is the work that HP do within rail, where they are rapidly electrical energy consumption and 13 percent in diesel fuel developing a reputation for delivering innovative IT solutions for consumption. HP provides Applications Transformation and a changing industry. SmartRail World takes an exclusive look at Integration Services to connect REMS to the existing systems, some of the projects, talks to their Chief Technologist about what transforming the KTZh infrastructure into one that is more makes their offering unique and gains a preview of what is coming modern and better equipped to analyse available information up on the horizon for HP. and help reduce energy use.

Our journey begins in Moscow where HP, though admittedly not one With clients already in Russia and Kazakhstan, I asked Werner of the biggest players in the railway market lists Russian Railways, what made these Eastern European and Central Asian markets so the world’s second-largest railway company as a client. When keen on rail IT innovation: “Well, these are evolving countries who Russian Railways which operates 86,000 kilometres of routes, and are incredibly keen to progress quickly. They have moved rapidly carries approximately 1 billion passengers and 1.2 billion tonnes into the more advanced areas of rail bypassing some of the slower, of freight annually across nine time zones needed to boost the legacy systems that exist in what might be perceived as more maturity of its IT systems to meet its business goals it called HP. advanced nations. So these countries have moved from behind the rest of the world to quite rapidly ahead of most of it.” continued ­ “New challenges faced by the Main Computing Centre have driven demand for a fundamentally new approach to managing the support of IT services,” said Alexey Illarionov, Chief Information Officer, Russian Railways. “We needed a quality breakthrough in terms of IT-systems use. HP made it possible to increase the quality of IT services without increasing the number of IT specialists.”

The process-focused system delivered by HP in Russia is now used by 11,000 IT staff members and key IT providers, as well as 250,000 employees. With the world’s largest installation of HP Service Manager software, Russian Railways has automated processes for all incidents, changes and work orders carried out within the company’s IT infrastructure and is able to reallocate the most advanced IT resources for more innovative tasks.

The fact that this major project has been delivered by HP may surprise some. I spoke to Werner Dorfmeister, Chief Technologist, HP Enterprise Services about when they first moved into rail: “Well, HP has actually been in the rail sector for 30-40 years offering a broad range of services. But only within the last five years have we begun to develop specific solutions. We saw that the railway industry was changing and so were its needs and we produced a snapshot of what the industry would look like in 2020. Working back from this we took time to evaluate the market further and develop a proposition that was both valuable and unique to the industry. And the result is the HP i-Rail Initiative which offers solutions for all the technical subdivisions of a railway infrastructure in one portfolio. We ensure each client we work with has a solution tailored for them. What we deliver is fully customizable and integrates railway- specific know-how. Let me give you an example, when working with Russian Railways our partners there had a large amount of knowledge. We changed a lot of their systems for sure, but we didn’t want to dismiss the huge pool of existing expertise, so we ensured that it was harnessed and able to be used in a smarter and more efficient way.”

7 www.SmartRailWorld.com Delivering Positive Train Control (PTC): An Insider’s Guide “We are urging the railways to have higher expectations,” how a famous old name is offering creative new solutions in rail [cont.]

So from some of the rapidly developing rail nations to one of the In concluding we discussed some of the advantages of working most established, the USA as I was keen to ask Werner about HP’s with HP; “Well, let me tell you something, I have at events been developing work with Positive Train Control (PTC), the GPS-based asked why it is that someone that sells printer cartridges is safety technology being deployed against a 2015 government set involved in this area of rail? I laugh but there is an advantage for deadline. us in this perception. We don’t have to capitalise our investments. When we build a new system, it’s an open standard. If you want “We believe our technology offers a great platform for engaging to walk away you can, other vendors can come in and pick up the with PTC technology. Certainly it’s a busy market, with established work. We aren’t the usual suspects and we aren’t walking down players that we are entering into, but I believe that through our the same one way street as everyone else.” experience from a lengthy heritage of innovation allied with a strong emphasis on building partnership and open architecture we Before we conclude I can’t help but ask Werner, whose can deliver. We are already talking to Class 1 Railroads and various enthusiasm for this aspect of our industry is abundant about what, key players in the US PTC ecosystem“ aside from his work at HP most excites him about the rail: “I love this industry, and I really believe it’s got the brightest future of Taking this further, I asked if the potential of PTC was truly being many industries. Two main reasons I see for such potential, firstly recognised, beyond its primary goals of safety, Werner again the industry hasn’t changed much over the course of its 150 year “Safety is the top priority and of course always should be. But history until its recent, rapidly developing digital aspect. It’s a there is so much more that can be delivered by PTC. In signalling revolution! And secondly society is changing and becoming more for example, why are we not combining automated signalling with urban and as such requires a completely new way of thinking the system? PTC takes an enormous amount of effort, energy about public transport. In big cities people are moving away from and knowledge to make it happen. Many don’t think beyond its the car and into public transport. I think in many ways a car in the initial deployment. We are urging the railways to have higher near future will be like a motorbike is now. Fifty years ago it was expectations.” deemed an essential mode of transport, now for many it’s used purely for sport and hobby. People say the era of rail was the 19th And so the same for CBTC? “Yes, I think it’s a fair comparison. Century, but I think it’s actually now!” CBTC perhaps has a greater focus on efficiency than safety. But there is still much more that it can deliver than many are currently receiving.”

8 www.SmartRailWorld.com Delivering Positive Train Control (PTC): An Insider’s Guide Helping to solve the ‘Achilles’ heel’ of Positive Train Control: PTC-220 LLC

SmartRail World looks at PTC-220 LLC, an alliance between To find out some more about PTC-220 LLC, we spoke to Henry the seven Class 1 railroads with the aim of securing spectrum McCreary, Director PTC Communications at CSX and President to support interoperable Positive Train Control (PTC). Wireless PTC-220. We started by asking Henry what some of the objectives connectivity has long been considered one of the “Achilles Heels” of PTC-220 in 2014 were; “PTC-220’s objectives for 2014 are of PTC and PTC 220 is an effort to solve this problem. Formed by focused on the 220 radio network deployment for Positive Train NS and UP in late 2007 it now composed of seven equal members Control. We’re continuing to refine our RF prediction tools and comprised of the Class 1 railroads (CSX, BNSF, UP, NS, KCS, planning systems to support the significant deployments of the 220 CN, CP) and operates through multiple committees made up of radio network for PTC. Additionally, PTC-220 is becoming more volunteers from the Members. The original purchase of 280 kHz of proactive in its efforts to support the spectrum needs of non- nationwide 220 MHz spectrum was made in 2008. member railroads in the geographic areas where we have excess spectrum capacity.” All members and non-members will have leases to allow use of PTC-220 spectrum. And PTC-220 provides spectrum whilst the Whilst speaking to Henry I also asked if railroads were taking lease holders provide the infrastructure. advantage of opportunities to leverage PTC beyond just safety; “Any additional opportunities for business benefit from the As part of the PTC-220 LLC spectrum use, it’s ensured that investment is not the focus at this time. But the near term focus the primary use is for PTC traffic using ITCnet channel access of PTC efforts is to meet the regulatory mandate.” And broadening protocol and the secondary use for Non-PTC traffic. PTC-220 the view from just PTC, asked Henry what excited him most about LLC’s lease fees are cost recovery based and assessed to non- the future of North American rail; “What excites me most are the Members reflecting a reasonable allocation of investment and opportunities to offer efficient and environmentally friendly rail other operating costs. And although members represent the transportation – something that the American economy needs majority of PTC deployment the fees may be off-set or eliminated more of!” by contributions of spectrum by a lessee.

“What excites me most are the opportunities to offer efficient and environmentally friendly rail transportation – something that the American economy needs more of!”

9 www.SmartRailWorld.com Delivering Positive Train Control (PTC): An Insider’s Guide Positive Train Control (PTC) in focus: North County Transit District (NCTD) in California

SmartRail World journeys to California to find out how the North We spoke to Robert Paladino, Rail Systems Engineer at NCTD, County Transit District (NCTD) is working with Positive Train about what challenges they overcame in installing the new system; Control (PTC) and integrating the system without interrupting “The two main challenges we have faced with on-board is placement service. The NCTD is the agency responsible for publication of the TMC within the locomotive and the cab car. We needed it to be transportation in North San Diego County and transports over 1.6 in a place that didn’t restrict the engineers view and allowed them million passengers per year, Multiple railroads operate and enter to be able to use the screen. The next obstacle was meeting the 49 NCTD Territory: BNSF, Amtrak, Pacific Sun, and Metro link and CFR 238.103 which is Passenger Equipment Safety Standards. No NCTD dispatches all trains within its territory. one thought about this and the wiring in our locomotives for PTC didn’t meet the fire standards. All the wiring had to be pulled and NCTD’s implementation of PTC is well underway as they new wires had to be placed inside the locomotive.” have already begun installing the fiber optic cables from the Orange County line to Old Town in San Diego. The next phases And then asked what advice Robert would give to other railways of implementation will include installing communications what advice would you give to a railway just beginning the testing infrastructure along the right of way, installing the on-board process? “NCTD is currently just beginning the testing process in system, and conducting extensive testing. the test and training facility. I think the key is to make sure your crew has a proper understanding of how the equipment works and NCTD is constructing a PTC test and training facility. The test how to properly conduct each test.” and training facility is equipped with all PTC elements and will perform end-to-end testing before and after NCTD’s PTC system is After testing is fully complete the Federal Railroad Administration commissioned. NCTD will also use this facility to familiarize train (FRA) will examine and certify the PTC system and operation operators and maintenance staff with the requirements of PTC and before it is commissioned. NCTD is on target to implement PTC to test hardware and software modifications. before the deadline of December 31, 2015.

NCTD will use a hy-rail suburban vehicle to test the PTC system. This vehicle is outfitted to run on the railroad tracks and is equipped with interior infrastructure to mimic a train, gather track data, and communicate with all PTC segments. The test vehicle will be used before and after PTC is commissioned to test the PTC system on the rail corridor.

VIEW THE INTERACTIVE SIMULATOR (Opens in New Window. Large file, please allow several minutes to open)

10 www.SmartRailWorld.com Delivering Positive Train Control (PTC): An Insider’s Guide Interview: Timothy McKay, Executive Vice President Growth and Regional Development at Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)

SmartRail World talks to Timothy McKay, P.E., Executive Vice President Growth and Regional Development at Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), a transit agency based in Dallas, Texas. Founded in 1983, it operates buses, light rail, commuter rail, and high-occupancy vehicle lanes in Dallas and 12 of its suburbs across a distance of 700 square miles. The DART Rail (light rail) network covers 85 miles providing 29.5 million passenger trips a year. Timothy is a professional engineer who graduated with a BSCE from Michigan Technological University and began serving DART as a consultant in 1987.

Luke Upton (LU): Hello, many thanks for the time today. Your host Amtrak. DART via the TRE is the contracting authority for position at DART is that of ‘EVP Rail Program Development’, a shared Operations and Maintenance contract which enables perhaps we can begin by you telling us a little more about your role the authorities to maximize efficiencies and optimize the use of and responsibilities? technology across the region. We are exploring opportunities with Class 1 railroads in the region to further leverage PTC and other Timothy McKay (TMcK): “Hi Luke, of course. My role as Executive operational and trackage rights agreements for mutual benefit.” Vice President of Growth and Regional Development involves decision making and oversight for the departments of Commuter LU: Sounds great, and so how important is developing Rail, Rail Program Development, Planning and Development, interoperability and open standards for maximizing the potential Rail Planning, and Innovation/Transit Oriented Development. for PTC? Some of the programs and strategies include continual transit system evaluation and corridor opportunities; system integration, TMcK: “Open standards are vital to interoperability and successful continually planning, upgrading, and implementing systems operations of train movements across the nation’s railways. services – such as new corridor opportunities, high-speed rail Beyond the obvious benefit of ensuring that equipment from coordination, implementing a new street car system. Continually different suppliers work seamlessly, open standards allow coordinating and working with the Member Cities to augment and suppliers to offer competitive solutions and options for Operators. improve services and programs through the transit communities.” Furthermore open standards allow suppliers to develop innovative LU: At the PTC World Congress you’ll be presenting a case study solutions that ultimately advance the technology making it more on planning and compatibility across a regional rail network, can resilient and affordable. you give us a quick preview of some of the key insights you’ll be delivering? A key to the long-term viability of PTC interoperability lies with technology sustainability which will only be achieved if open TMcK: “In North Texas DART is working in collaboration with standards are applied and maintained. Of course with opens the Fort Worth Transportation Authority, and Denton County standards, a big challenge will be to find a way to maintain Transportation authority to implement a single PTC solution for quality, configuration management, version control to ensure the three agencies including: shared back-office solution, shared implementation consistency and ongoing interoperability.” dispatch, shared disaster recovery, shared radio system designed to serve the three transit authorities, shared ROW designs and LU: PTC is a topic that gets significant media coverage, but the fiber optics that may be shared across the region. DART owns message is sometimes misunderstood by non-rail professionals. over 250 miles of rail corridor throughout North Texas and is host Do you think the industry does enough to communicate this to BNSF, UP, FW&W, and the DGNO and in the near future will development effectively? continued ­

11 www.SmartRailWorld.com Delivering Positive Train Control (PTC): An Insider’s Guide Interview: Timothy McKay, Executive Vice President Growth and Regional Development at Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) [cont.]

TMcK: “We can always strive to do a better job of communicating. LU: Thanks very much for that insight and just to conclude, and That said, and specifically with regard to PTC there is a degree broaden the view from just PTC, as a rail professional what excites of caution that is being taken given current realities – this is an you most about the future of North American rail? unfunded federal mandate and some railroads will be challenged to meet the federal deadline, concerns that the technology will TMcK: “Of course improving the safety of our nation’s railroads is be well tested and ready in time to meet the federal deadline with always a priority and something we strive to achieve to reduce the confidence that interoperability with all participating railroads can potential for accidents and loss of property and lives. be achieved and standards, and equipment, that while they are being developed and delivered, have little time in the field prior to Going beyond the stated goals of PTC, the added benefits that PTC the federal deadline. will bring in the future include leveraging infrastructure such as fiber optics and radio spectrum for other operational initiatives Whilst, commuter railroads are faced with very limited options such as advanced real-time onboard and ROW diagnostics and when it comes to selecting equipment, buying or leasing spectrum monitoring activities. and funding this initiative. Longer term, we all are going to be faced with maintaining systems/technologies that frankly I’m not Once implemented, the potential to leverage PTC infrastructure sure as an industry, that we have completely thought out how that (radios, spectrum and or fiber optics) for other operational will be done to maintain interoperability. programs including: integration of technologies at Rail Platforms (Integration with Visual Message Boards, TVMS, Call Boxes, Lastly, PTC is a highly technical and complex solution that that will Camera Systems), intersections and Road Crossings (Camera’s, require significant capital and operating funds to implement and signals, signage), the potential to replace some of the existing operate. equipment currently used on the TRE (redundant CTC radios and related infrastructure) and integration and consolidation of other With these kinds of challenges in mind, I think it is hard to onboard vehicles systems such as digital signage and advertising, develop a communication strategy at this point given the industry automatic train announcements, passenger counters and other is at different levels of maturity and implementation. Before a equipment that use antenna arrays; have a need to store event and communication strategy can be addressed we have more pressing positional data.” matters such as addressing the federal deadline, establishing dedicated funding and making spectrum easier to obtain.”

“Open standards are vital to interoperability and successful operations of train movements across the nation’s railways.”

12 www.SmartRailWorld.com Delivering Positive Train Control (PTC): An Insider’s Guide METROS AND FOR FREERAILROADS,

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“I’ve learnt a lot just listening to the “I learn more in a networking coffee “PTC World Congress provides an other case studies, they were very break at PTC World Congress than I excellent networking opportunity useful. Invaluable.” do at any other industry event.” to learn how others meet their PTC Rick Stones, AVP, Advanced Systems Planning, Steve Hooper, Director of Operations, challenges.” Kansas City Southern Panama Canal Railway Sid Bakker, Committee 39 Positive Train Control, AREMA

Don’t miss your chance to meet the industry’s leading PTC implementers across the whole value chain of railroads, metros, government officials and innovating suppliers.

Book your place today www.ptcworldcongress.com