Union Pacific Updates Its Progress on PTC
The company also reported it educated more than 3,400 additional employees on PTC operations during the quarter, bringing the total number of employees trained to about 16,000 (40 percent completion), and also increased by 1,900 the number of route miles in PTC operation.
Union Pacific recently posted a report on its progress during the second quarter of 2017 in implementing Positive Train Control (PTC). The Omaha, Neb.-based company reported it prepared 27 additional track segments for PTC operations, bringing the total number of track segments to 104 (56 percent complete); the 27 track segments are equipped with signals, switches, and radios and have defined GPS coordinates, which identify thousands of precise locations for UP's systemwide PTC coordination.
The company also reported it educated more than 3,400 additional employees on PTC operations during the quarter, bringing the total number of employees trained to about 16,000 (40 percent completion), and also increased by 1,900 the number of route miles in PTC operation, bringing the total number of route miles in PTC operations to 5,864 (34 percent completion).
Through the second quarter, 74 percent of its required locomotives are equipped with PTC technology; 87 percent of required radio towers are equipped with PTC technology; UP's PTC Safety Plan has been approved by the Federal Railroad Administration; and UP acquired the necessary spectrum to support PTC operations.
The report said Union Pacific plans to spend approximately $300 million on PTC in 2017 toward its current total estimated $2.9 billion cost.