Positive train control implemented on Illinois Railway

OmniTRAX Inc. controlled Illinois Railway LLC has become one of the first short line railroads to implement positive train control (PTC) and enable advanced safety on its trains. Kevin Shuba, OmniTRAX CEO, said: “We are delighted to be a first mover on PTC in the short line industry and are making our railroad even safer than it already was.”

Three vehicles have been installed with positive train control equipment in order to maintain inter-operability with similar technology used by BNSF and Metra trains. The Illinois Railway’s PTC system continuously monitors numerous locomotives, track, and train network variables. The technology communicates with BNSF track wayside units and acts to prevent speed violations and collisions.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded a grant to Illinois Railway for 70 per cent of the positive train control deployment cost. The implementation of the systems took less than a year from grant award to deployment.

Chief Operating Officer at OmniTRAX, Sergio Sabatini, said: “OmniTRAX works hard to be a good corporate citizen at all of our rail operations. The PTC system on the IR is state-of-the-art for a shortline railroad and will work to keep the citizens of the area safe while enabling our customers to continue efficiently moving their freight.”