Posts Tagged: "train"

DC Metro subway shutdown brings America’s aging subway systems into focus

Today, we’re taking a look at the needs of America’s urban rail systems, especially subways, to see what public transportation issues exist and how they might be overcome. The reasons behind subway system degradation are manifold and are much more complex than simple age-related degeneration. Poor management is cited in some cases, including the recent DC Metro shutdown, for an inability to respond to safety concerns. Low levels of funding from governmental agencies also hurt light rail systems; recent remarks from DC Metro’s board chairman Jack Evans indicates that the subway system needs $25 billion over ten years to ensure that it remains operational and safe.

Amtrak derailment focuses attention on railroad safety technologies

Positive train control, or PTC, seeks to create a complex infrastructure network for railroad lines which enable the real-time sharing of information between trains, rail wayside devices and software programs referred to as “back office” applications. The communication system tracks a train’s position and movement and determines any speed restrictions as well as the state of signal and switch devices along a railway. If a railway vehicle is speeding or a risk of a collision develops, the PTC system takes control of the train away from a human operator to reduce the speed or take other actions to prevent a collision.