December 18, 2020

Chair DeFazio Statement on Railroads Meeting Deadline for Full PTC Implementation

Washington, DC – Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) issued the following statement in response to the news that all freight, Amtrak, intercity, and commuter railroads will meet the December 31, 2020 deadline for implementing positive train control (PTC):

“The announcement that all freight, Amtrak, intercity and commuter railroads will meet the deadline for implementing positive train control is a major win for public safety—one that fulfills a longstanding priority of the National Transportation Safety Board, which issued its first PTC-related recommendation half a century ago.

“For years, I have worked diligently with my colleagues to ensure that railroads follow through on implementing this lifesaving technology and be held accountable if they fail to do so in a reasonable timeframe. In 2008, Congress finally enacted the mandate to install PTC when it passed the Rail Safety Improvement Act. In the 12 years it has taken the railroads to comply with this landmark law, tragically other PTC-preventable accidents have occurred, and lives have been lost. But Congress held firm on the revised compliance date, and today’s certification marks an important achievement for railroads in installing this lifesaving technology before the end-of-year deadline.

“While there is always room for safety improvements and more work lies ahead, completion of PTC installation ushers in a new chapter in railroading safety. And rest assured, our Committee will continue working to ensure that tragedies like those in North Philadelphia; Graniteville, South Carolina; DuPont, Washington; Chatsworth, California; and so many more never happen again.”

Additional information: 

In September 2018, the Committee held a hearing titled, “The State of Positive Train Control Implementation in the United States.” For more information, click here. 

In February 2018, the Committee held a hearing titled, “Oversight of Positive Train Control Implementation in the United States.” For more information, click here.

In June 2015, the Committee held a hearing titled, “The State of Positive Train Control Implementation in the United States.” For more information, click here.

 

--30--