Watco taps Herzog for PTC implementation

Under the strategic partnership, Herzog Technologies will provide short-line railroad operator Watco Cos. with positive train control program management and back-office hosting services, according to a spokesperson for Watco.    Short-line railroad operator and holding company Watco Cos. LLC has tapped Herzog Technologies Inc. to assist with implementation of positive train control (PTC), a spokesperson for Watco has confirmed.
   Under the strategic partnership, Herzog will provide Watco with PTC program management and back-office hosting services, including coordinating with the Federal Railroad Administration and interoperable railroad partners, training and compliance.
   In addition, Herzog PTC Hosting will allow Watco locomotives to connect to the company’s Interoperable Train Control network, which will allow for full operation in PTC required territories.
   PTC is a wireless communication system that can override a conductor to slow or stop a train to prevent an accident. Supporters of the system claim it will drastically improve railroad safety, but railways have complained that PTC, which relies on GPS, wireless radio and computers, is complicated and expensive to install.
   In 2008, Congress mandated implementation of PTC for all U.S. railroads by Dec. 31, 2015, but when railroads realized last year they would fail to meet the deadline, many threatened to shut down entirely rather than be subject to steep fines and increased liability, prompting lawmakers to extend the deadline in order to avoid a potential shutdown of major cargo and passenger services. The deadline extension to 2018 included a provision under which railroads could petition the FRA for an extra two years to implement the intricate system.
   FRA last month issued a status update on PTC implementation that the agency said highlighted the need for greater funding from Congress for railroads to implement the technology “as quickly and safely as possible.”
   This story was first reported by industry news outlet Progressing Railroading.