Fort Worth Western gets TIGER grant for Positive Train Control
August 20th, 2016
August 16, 2016 - TRA Newswire
One of the receipients of the latest round of Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants is Fort Worth Western Railroad.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced the recipients of $500 million in grants that were awarded to projects in two U.S. territories, 32 states and 40 communities across the nation.
In a news release the Federal Railroad Administration announced that regional railroad Fort Worth Western will receive $2.56 million to install PTC on-board equipment and 220 MHz radios on nine locomotives in a phased installation, develop a crew initialization back office server, and train necessary personnel to operate and maintain the PTC system. FWWR operates freight service over 276 miles of track in North Central Texas
"For the eighth year running, TIGER will inject critical infrastructure dollars into communities across the country," said Foxx in a press release. "This unique program rewards innovative thinking and collaborative solutions to difficult and sometimes dangerous transportation problems."
'These grants get us a bit closer to implementing Positive Train Control, a long overdue technology that prevents accidents and saves lives', said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. 'We will continue to do everything in our power to help railroads install this technology. We encourage Congress to fully-fund the President's request for significant funds to help more railroads activate PTC.'
The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) said short lines have to fund PTC implementation with scarcer resources and at a higher cost per mile compared to large railways.
'The implementation of PTC is one of the most complex and challenging projects to be mandated for the US rail system, particularly for our 460 short line members, who often do not have the technology staff and expertise, but have a complicated roll to play, integrating with multiple Class I systems", said ASLRRA President Linda Bauer Darr on August 16. 'This grant will enable us to rapidly move forward with providing an affordable solution for small railroads."
One of the receipients of the latest round of Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants is Fort Worth Western Railroad.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced the recipients of $500 million in grants that were awarded to projects in two U.S. territories, 32 states and 40 communities across the nation.
In a news release the Federal Railroad Administration announced that regional railroad Fort Worth Western will receive $2.56 million to install PTC on-board equipment and 220 MHz radios on nine locomotives in a phased installation, develop a crew initialization back office server, and train necessary personnel to operate and maintain the PTC system. FWWR operates freight service over 276 miles of track in North Central Texas
"For the eighth year running, TIGER will inject critical infrastructure dollars into communities across the country," said Foxx in a press release. "This unique program rewards innovative thinking and collaborative solutions to difficult and sometimes dangerous transportation problems."
'These grants get us a bit closer to implementing Positive Train Control, a long overdue technology that prevents accidents and saves lives', said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. 'We will continue to do everything in our power to help railroads install this technology. We encourage Congress to fully-fund the President's request for significant funds to help more railroads activate PTC.'
The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) said short lines have to fund PTC implementation with scarcer resources and at a higher cost per mile compared to large railways.
'The implementation of PTC is one of the most complex and challenging projects to be mandated for the US rail system, particularly for our 460 short line members, who often do not have the technology staff and expertise, but have a complicated roll to play, integrating with multiple Class I systems", said ASLRRA President Linda Bauer Darr on August 16. 'This grant will enable us to rapidly move forward with providing an affordable solution for small railroads."