New rule to help STB judge PTC expenditures

   The Surface Transportation Board has decided to require railroads to differentiate between positive train control (PTC) expenses and other capital investments when reporting their annual financial statements.
   On August 14, the board adopted the new rule, which applies to Class I railroads and will help the board so they can better judge what railroads are spending on PTC, a system designed to prevent train-to-train collisions. The Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 required trains that carry either passengers or hazardous goods that are classified as toxic or poisonous if inhaled to invest in PTC.
   The new rule will help the board and the general public see the actual cost of PTC implementation, the STB said in its final ruling. – Jon Ross