The Canadian National Railway (CN) has met the federal requirements to implement Positive Train Control (PTC) in all 35 of its subdivisions in the US.

PTC helps in preventing accidents that occur due to human error including overspeed derailments. In situations where no action is taken during an incident, the system engages a full-service brake application to halt a train.

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The deadline for equipping all the subdivisions with PTC was December 2020. This is said to be the biggest technology programme undertaken in the history of CN. The deployment of PTC is expected to create a framework for technological advancements in the future.

Canadian National Railway executive vice-president and chief operating officer Rob Reilly said: “This milestone is a testament to the tenacious dedication of our CN railroading family.

“It has been a tremendous journey, full of challenges and obstacles, which we overcame.”

CN is currently interoperable with Amtrak, CSX, NS, BNSF, CP and WSOR. The company has said that it will be interoperable with all tenant railroads by 31 December 2020.

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Reilly added: “We can be proud that we met our regulatory targets and implemented a broad new portfolio of innovative technologies in geospatial information systems, location tracking, data analytics, machine learning, automation, a new dispatching system and safety and reliability engineering.”

Last month, the OmniTRAX-operated Illinois Railway installed fully functional PTC equipment on three trains to improve passenger safety.

In April, Virginia Railway Express completed the implementation of PTC on its trains.

In March, New Jersey Transit secured an extension for the implementation of PTC system.

In January, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority secured approval for its application to extend the deadline for PTC system implementation.

North County Transit District has also completed the PTC safety system implementation.

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