Railroads' Joint Request To Amend Their Positive Train Control Safety Plans and Positive Train Control Systems

Issuing agencies

Abstract

This document provides the public with notice that on March 22, 2023, twenty host railroads submitted a joint request for amendment (RFA) to their FRA-approved Positive Train Control Safety Plans (PTCSP) reflecting the updated PTC onboard software, I-ETMS On-Board 6.5.0 and On-Board 6.5.1. This RFA includes modifications to the associated PTC Concept of Operations and PTC System Description documents, change or addition of system safety-critical functionality, modification to target safety levels and changes to the human-machine interface which requires amendments to PTC training for train crews. The functionality changes include: updates to Train Restriction Types to address the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) final rule which restricts operating speeds of High-Hazard Flammable Train; the addition of a new system safety critical function, PTC Suspension, that prevents the generation and enforcement of targets within the limits of a PTC Suspension area with the exception of navigation failure and synchronization errors; and updates to the onboard display to show prompting to the train crew whenever a system fault related to braking prediction calculation exits. As this joint RFA involves requests for FRA's approval of the proposed material modifications to FRA-certified positive train control (PTC) systems, FRA is publishing this notice and inviting public comment on railroads' joint RFA to their PTCSPs.