New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) in the US has secured an extension for the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) system.
In December, the New Jersey-based transportation system submitted an application to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for an alternate schedule that will enable it to complete full PTC implementation by 31 December 2020.
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The FRA approved the request after NJ Transit fulfilled all necessary criteria to qualify for the extension.
PTC technology is a federally mandated train protection system that monitors the speed of trains, slowing it down during potential hazards.
The initial deadline to implement the system was 31 December last year.
NJ Transit executive director Kevin Corbett said: “This approval recognises all of the hard work that so many of our employees and contractors performed over the course of 2018.
“We had to accomplish four years’ worth of work in just ten months and couldn’t have been successful without the support and guidance from our partners at the FRA.”
The agency has completed the installation of PTC system hardware on 282 locomotives/cab cars, 120 wayside interface units and 112 poles.
It also acquired all necessary wireless spectrum and completed the training of at least 823 employees.
Additionally, the agency started field functionality testing on the Summit- Denville segment.
New Jersey Department of Transportation commissioner and NJ Transit board chair Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti said: “I commend the NJ Transit staff for the incredible work that was done to meet the December 2018 FRA requirements that ultimately resulted in the approval of the alternative schedule.”
Last month, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority also secured FRA approval to extend PTC implementation deadline.
