MARC & VRE face shutdown if PTC not installed by Dec. 31

[davinp]

Positive Train Control is safety equipment that will slow down a train to prevent a derailment.
Back in 2008, Congress mandated that all railroads install Positive Train Control by December 31, 2015.
But they did not provide funding and PTC is expensive and complicated to install.
This is why CSX and other freight railroads say they cannot meet that deadline and are hoping Congress will pass an extension.
If this does not happen, VRE & MARC could be forced to shutdown come January 2016.

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2015/07/me ... 15856.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://potomaclocal.com/2015/07/15/vre- ... rovements/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[NH2060]

The article is dated July 23rd. The government has since given all RRs a 3 year extension.

[MCL1981]

Since it doesn't appear any such extension actually exists, I think this is a pretty significant topic. Denying the extension isn't going to change reality. Being done by 12/31/2015 is physically and financially impossible. Threatening punitive actions against the railroads doesn't change those impossibilities. MARC's Camden and Brunswick lines do not have it and neither does any of VRE. The only thing that could continue to run is the MARC Penn Line. Dumping tens of thousands of additional people on the highway and Metro rail is not going to be pretty.

[mmi16]

The House needs to find some leadership - January 1, 2016 is fast approaching.

[Jeff Smith]

http://www.nscorp.com/content/nscorp/en ... gposi.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) today said its rail operating subsidiaries will no longer accept shipments of Poisonous-Inhalation-Hazard commodities, effective Dec. 1, 2015. PIH commodities in transit on Dec. 1 will be delivered to destination by Dec. 31. Additionally, passenger and commuter trains operated by Amtrak, Virginia Railway Express, and Metra will be prohibited by law from operating on NS after Dec. 31.

[davinp]

VRE has released this press release
If an extension is not passed and service is suspended, VRE will advise their passengers of alternative transportation options prior to December 14 so those with SmartBenefits may allocate employer-provided commuter benefits to other public transportation options. VRE has been briefing our Congressional delegation since July and they are fully supportive of extending the PTC deadline.

http://vre.org/PTC%20Press%20Release%20 ... 002%29.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://wjla.com/news/local/virginia-rai ... 10-22-2015" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.csx.com/index.cfm/about-csx/ ... -partners/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;