[Southsider2k12]

http://chestertontribune.com/Northwest%20I..._looms_in_2.htm

PTC delay requested

The NICTD board voted unanimously to seek an extension from the Federal Railroad Administration on the December, 2015 deadline for full implementation of the FRA’s mandated positive train control, which affects all railroads.

NICTD’s PTC implementation plan was approved in 2010, but Noland said the district’s first bids for the anti-collision system were over three times the engineer’s estimate. “We’re not alone in this sticker shock,” he told the board. New bids are being sought in January.

Noland said no off-the-shelf technology existed when Congress passed the PTC law in 2008. The GPS-based system is still in its infancy nationwide, he added, and all railroads are competing for vendor time, resources and software modifications at the same time.

Whatever system NICTD chooses has to coordinate with both Metra and the private SouthShore freight line that uses NICTD’s tracks. NICTD shares Metra tracks in Illinois.

LaPorte County Commissioner David Decker asked that commissioners in the four NICTD counties also ask for a FRA extension at their respective meetings.

South Shore marketing director John Parsons said the railroad had its strongest October ridership since 2010, and overall ridership should end on a positive trend by year’s end barring extreme weather. Through October, 3,029,064 passengers rode the trains.

To acommodate travelers for popular Chicago holiday events, NICTD will offer an extra 8 p.m. eastbound departure Nov. 22 from Millennium Station to Michigan City as well as extra eastbound trains Nov. 26 and 29.