SFRTA set to test PTC on revenue service

The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) received approval to test trains operating revenue (regularly-scheduled) service with Positive Train Control (PTC) technology from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). SFRTA will launch the Revenue Service Demonstration (RSD) on its entire commuter operating corridor, which runs from West Palm Beach to Miami, beginning June 29.

The milestone moves the agency closer to having PTC technology certified and implemented on the South Florida Rail Corridor. Revenue trains will be incrementally added in the demonstration phase until the entire fleet is operating with PTC systems.

SFRTA does not anticipate any major delays due to PTC while it is being demonstrated and after it is fully implemented. PTC however, is an incredibly complex system that involves numerous components that must constantly communicate with each other. Because it is a new system for SFRTA engineers and maintainers to learn, the potential exists for minor glitches and minor delays, particularly in the early days of implementation.