US-based Wabtec has secured contracts worth $45m from the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad (Metra) and Parsons Transportation Group (PTG) to provide equipment and services for a positive train control (PTC) system on the Chicago commuter rail network.
With a fleet of 146 locomotives, 843 passenger cars and 185 electric-propelled cars, Metra operates commuter rail service in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs, serving more than 100 communities at 241 rail stations.
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In September, Metra has selected Parsons to install PTC anti-collision technology on its commuter trains in Chicago.
Parson’s PTC was approved by the US Government to prevent train-to-train collisions, overspeed derailments, incursions into established work zones, and movement of trains through a main line with switch left in an improper position.
As part of the deal, Wabtec will supply its interoperable electronic train management system (I-ETMS) equipment, including replacement parts and TMDS back office system, as well as track data, training, and related services.
Wabtec president and CEO Raymond Betler said: "We have worked with Metra for several years to develop and design their PTC programme."
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By GlobalDataAccording to Wabtec, Metra’s system will be fully interoperable with the PTC systems currently being rolled out by the Class 1 freight railways in the US.
The US Government recently passed the five-year transportation funding bill, now known as the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.
Commenting on the FAST Act, Betler said: "The new bill include several provisions that should be good for the US transit industry and, therefore, for Wabtec.
"For example, this is the first multi-year bill passed in a decade, and that means transit agencies should have a longer-term planning horizon for potential projects. In addition, the bill calls for a 10.2% funding increase in year one and further increases in future years."
