FRA Approves Historic Regulation for Passenger Train Speed
Chicago, Ill. -- October 11, 2005 -- The trip for Amtrak passengers in Michigan will be faster after an historic Federal Railroad Administration approval to increase passenger train speed to 95 mph on Amtrak's service in Michigan.
This marks the first time in the U.S. in 20 years that revenue passenger trains outside the Northeast Corridor are operating at speeds of 95 mph. The milestone is made possible by GE's wireless train control technology called Incremental Train Control System. ITCS offers the rail industry the same freedoms that cellular technology provided the telecommunications industry. Rather than purchasing and using traditional signalling infrastructure, customers using ITCS can increase speed, line capacity and safety using satellite positioning technology and wireless communication to transmit signalling and crossing information to trains.
As the first to offer wireless train control in revenue service, GE is helping to bring additional safety to one of the safest modes of transportation. ITCS can increase safety by controlling train movement to protect the crew, rail workers, passengers and the general public. ITCS also increases savings with the initial investment at a fraction of the cost and twice the functionality over traditional train control systems.
"The rail industry has invested heavily in technologies that improve their performance and safety," said Kevin Caponecchi, General Manager of GE's Global Signalling unit. "The benefit of ITCS is that it can be deployed incrementally to solve some of the industry's capacity needs, while reaping the benefits of increased safety and velocity as well."
The Federal Railroad Administration approved the increase in maximum passenger train speed on the Amtrak owned Michigan line from 90 mph to 95 mph demonstrating its confidence in wireless train control technology.GE and Amtrak will continue their progress toward the ultimate goal of 110 mph in 2006.
"We are pleased that this collaborative effort of various stakeholders has resulted in another incremental improvement to passenger train service on this important Midwest rail corridor," said Michael W. Franke, Amtrak Senior Director, Corridor Development"
GE's Rail business deployed ITCS in 1996 on a 66-mile stretch of Amtrak's Chicago-Detroit corridor to decrease overall travel time between the two cities. More than 450,000 passengers annually ride trains that use this route Over the course of the deployment, ITCS has helped Amtrak increase its speed from 79 mph to the newly approved 95 mph speed limit, driving down passenger trip time on the high-speed service in Michigan. GE also is installing ITCS as a standalone signalling system for both passenger and freight trains on over 1,000 kilometres off-track in Western China, helping China's Ministry of Rail run more trains closer together, more safely.
Positive Train Control Technology.
GE Transportation's global rail business is one of the world's leading suppliers to the railroad, transit, marine, stationary and mining industries, providing freight and passenger locomotives, motorized systems for mining trucks and drills, railway signalling and communications systems, value-added services and information technology solutions to its customers.
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About Amtrak
Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail services to more than 500 destinations in 46 states on a 22,000-mile route system. For schedules, fares and information, passengers may call 800-USA-RAIL or visit Amtrak.com.
Contacts:
GE Transportation
Shaunda Parks
816-650-1639
Amtrak
Marc Magliari
312-880-5390
Chris Banocy