CN completes US Federal requirement to operate positive train control ahead of schedule

CN announced today that it has successfully completed the federally required interoperability testing with tenant railroads so they can operate Positive Train Control (PTC) on CN’s 35 subdivisions equipped with PTC in the United States. CN also announced that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has approved and certified CN’s PTC system. These important achievements underscore CN’s continued progress in deploying technology.

“Safety is a core value at CN and we are proud of what our CN railroaders have achieved, securing certification from the FRA of CN’s PTC system and completing the interoperability testing by working with our tenant railroads. We look forward to using this investment in PTC as a platform for future technology initiatives to enhance the safety of our employees and the communities in which we operate,” said Rob Reilly, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer at CN.

PTC is a safety overlay designed to prevent certain accidents resulting from human error, such as overspeed derailments. The system can initiate a full service brake application to stop a train if the crew does not take action. It is the largest technology program deployed in CN’s history and is a major investment in its network.

CN is currently interoperable with its tenant railroads, which include the Class I railroads, Amtrak, Metra, and shortlines that are required to implement PTC. Interoperability allows a tenant railroad to move over CN’s PTC-equipped track in PTC operation.