US: MBTA Completes Work on ATC on All Northside Commuter Lines

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has completed the final stages of the implementation of Automatic Train Control (ATC) on all of its northside Commuter Rail lines.

Work on the design, installation and commissioning of the ATC across the MBTA’s northside Commuter Rail lines took just over five years, and involved 400 design packages, construction work at 300 signal locations, and the operation of 500 test trains.

Initial works to install the system were first completed in 2020, with Phase I seeing the implementation of the initial Positive Train Control (PTC) system across all Commuter Rail lines before Phase II initiated the implementation of ATC on all South Side lines that same year.

Through the use of PTC, the MBTA hopes to reduce the risk of collisions along each line, with all train speeds now automatically controlled by the upgraded system.

Transportation Secretary and CEO, Monica Tibbits-Nutt, said:

Our state transportation system must be safe for all users, and completing MBTA Automatic Train Control and Positive Train Control projects is a huge step forward in protecting our passengers and employees on commuter rail routes.

We are in a good place with the MBTA’s capital investments as they are furthering safety goals and supporting the comprehensive vision in the Safety Improvement Plan to increase workforce training and improve policies, procedures, and quality management.

The switch to the PTC/ATC system, which was carried out via the MBTA’s 900 million USD Commuter Rail Safety and Resiliency Program, was required by way of a federal mandate made in 2008, which stated that all railroads across the United States must implement the new systems.

With the work complete, the work has also seen the modernisation of the MBTA’s rail infrastructure as a whole, with the removal of intermediate signals, upgraded signal lighting, bi-directional signals on the Rockport and Haverhill lines and new microprocessor interlocking track areas.

MBTA General Manager and CEO, Phillip Eng, said:

The successful completion of our PTC / ATC safety system is a major accomplishment and required a nonstop commitment toward safety and driving the project to successful completion – I extend my congratulations and thanks to the entire MBTA team for delivering this system.

This is the kind of behind-the-scenes project that riders may not physically see but required a monumental effort and results in the safest service possible for both our riders and employees.