PTC-still getting “signal issues”?

[DennisInGeorgia]

Looking over the delayed-train reports on the Amtrak Alerts page, I see a noticeable group of delays from “signal issues’. What? Wasn’t PTC, after truckloads of money spent on just that feature, supposed to make that source of delay disappear? Instead, it seems that “signal issues” still seem to plague their share of passengers. Should we expect the signal issues to be rare since computers are now involved and running trains without threat of human error? Then why shouldn’t we expect “signal issues” to be rare instead of still occurring all too often and delaying passengers? Before we’re told how terrific PTC is, shouldn’t it be made more reliable?

 

[jis]

Looking over the delayed-train reports on the Amtrak Alerts page, I see a noticeable group of delays from “signal issues’. What? Wasn’t PTC, after truckloads of money spent on just that feature, supposed to make that source of delay disappear? Instead, it seems that “signal issues” still seem to plague their share of passengers. Should we expect the signal issues to be rare since computers are now involved and running trains without threat of human error? Then why shouldn’t we expect “signal issues” to be rare instead of still occurring all too often and delaying passengers? Before we’re told how terrific PTC is, shouldn’t it be made more reliable?

The underlying signaling system on which PTC is overlayed is not going to automagically become more reliable just because PTC has been overlayed. PTC enforces signals and civil speed limits. It does not do dispatching or interlocking by itself. That is what the dispatching and signaling system and CTC systems do.

 

[Trogdor]

The point of PTC was never to make signal-related delays go away.

 

[MikefromCrete]

It's a new technology. There's always problems with new technology. New technology never works as well as its hyped.

 

[user 14106]

What they all said - PTC does not replace the signal system. The main job it does is enforce the maximum authorized speeds along with permanent and temporary speed restrictions and ensuring a positive stop at stop signals at control points. It can also provide enforcement of intermediate wayside signals or cab signal aspects where that isn’t already done by an existing automatic train control system.

 

[user 14106]

https://downloads.regulations.gov/FRA-2020-0084-0001/attachment_1.pdf
CSX wants to discontinue using automatic train control on their locomotives on the RF&P subdivision. They are arguing the traditional ATC speed control is now redundant because PTC can enforce the cab signal aspects and this would cut down on PTC having to be cut out due to equipment issues. This appears to only apply to CSX power and not any tenants so presumably Amtrak will continue the status quo.