The President of Metro-North Railroad says roll-out of Positive Train Control is nearly completed and is expected to be complete on time by the end of the year, despite the unprecedented and catastrophic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the finances of the railroads’ parent organization, the MTA.  

East of the Hudson River, installation of PTC equipment along the wayside is complete and all trains on the Harlem Line, Hudson Line, and Danbury Branch are operating with Positive Train Control. On the New Haven Line and the New Canaan Branch, the railroad has completed testing the PTC software for the line’s M8 electric cars and is obtaining the safety certification that will allow M8 trains to enter PTC operations at the end of the month.

The Waterbury Branch in Connecticut is exempt from the federal PTC mandate due to the small number of trains. Connecticut has opted to have a new cab signal system installed on the Branch though to improve overall safety, and PTC will be implemented as an overlay to the new signal system by the end of 2021.