President's Message

Fall/Winter 2003
Volume 110 - No. 3

President's Message

Positive Train Control

A life-saving technology

by Don M. Hahs
International President

Positive train control technology is not a new concept. It has been around for many years. PTC was first utilized on Amtrak's tracks on the Northeast Corridor and then in pilot programs around the country.

The technology varies from project to project, but the concept is essentially the same, with variations adapted to fit the different railroads. The variations are acceptable because one technology may not fit on every railroad. As physical operating conditions differ between the railroads, technological concepts are being tested to allow for these differing conditions.

Most of the systems fall within two categories. There are high integrity train control systems based on track circuits, such as those on Amtrak in the Northeast Corridor and on New Jersey Transit. Other railroads have train control systems which are communications based. The Northeast Corridor and New Jersey Transit systems are the most widely utilized.

Locomotive Engineers have been involved in the development of all the PTC systems. Their involvement has helped the technology evolve as an engineer-centric system. Some of the engineers who were involved in the implementation of the various systems have been included in the focus section of this Journal.

While the technologies differ, the effect of the technology is the same - enhancing the safety in the industry. We think that it would be advantageous for all the railroads to have PTC in order to prevent the loss of life, injuries and damage to equipment and lading.

With this technology, there is a high probability of preventing accidents, whether they are caused by human error or mechanical failure. It may not prevent all accidents, but it is a step in the right direction. For many years, we have been saying that our goal is to have zero accidents and injuries in the industry, and this technology may help us to get a little closer to achieving this long-sought goal.

Protecting the lives and livelihoods of our members is the goal of this organization. For years, we have been asking for this technology because we believe that it can help us achieve our goal.

The industry, with a push from the Federal Railroad Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, is finally coming around. Pilot projects have been started around the country, and the technology is being rolled out and refined. It will be years before it is fully implemented on all the railroads, if at all, but steps are being taken in the right direction.

Navigating the regulatory process has been as daunting as understanding the technology itself. The BLE has spent over a decade working within the regulatory system in order to achieve the goal of getting a FRA rulemaking. The experience has been a trying one, but everyone involved has learned a lot in the process.

The BLE is first and foremost concerned with protecting the lives of its members. The key issue for the BLE is to develop a system that will enhance the locomotive engineer's ability to run the train without superceding his or her duties and responsibilities. PTC can serve as a tool to make sure that operating crew members get home alive. It is troubling to us, however, that, if the technology is improperly deployed, it could distract locomotive engineers and interfere with their vigilance, endangering both crew members and persons who may access the right of way.

The craft of locomotive engineer has been technologically advancing for many years. Locomotive engineers have been using various forms of train control technology since 1926. We are hopeful that any new system that may be implemented is, at the least, as reliable as those which have been in place for years. The BLE has embraced technologies which enhance workplace safety for our members since our founding. Positive train control is just another stone on the path to the safest workplace possible.

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