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Re: Railroads, GOP try to delay crash prevention plan
Author: Ernest H. Robl
Date: 04-25-2012 - 11:17
Narrowbanding makes sense as it uses existing technology. And, apparently there are
areas where additional channels would be useful.
PTC, on the other hand, still has huge technical problems. Yes, most people think
that GPS is a proven technology, and therefore there should not be problems applying
it to railroads. But, among other things, GPS has margins of error, which increase
in difficult terrain. And, with parallel tracks on 15 foot center (old standard), you
do not want the system's ability to determine on which of two parallel tracks a train
is on to be within the margin of error.
I've talked, off the record, with railroad officials about this -- and these are people
in management and technical areas of large railroads -- and they are having real problems
with implementing this system.
Yes, simpler forms of automatic train stop have existed for a long time, but the current
mandate for PTC tried to leap far ahead of these.
-- Ernest
areas where additional channels would be useful.
PTC, on the other hand, still has huge technical problems. Yes, most people think
that GPS is a proven technology, and therefore there should not be problems applying
it to railroads. But, among other things, GPS has margins of error, which increase
in difficult terrain. And, with parallel tracks on 15 foot center (old standard), you
do not want the system's ability to determine on which of two parallel tracks a train
is on to be within the margin of error.
I've talked, off the record, with railroad officials about this -- and these are people
in management and technical areas of large railroads -- and they are having real problems
with implementing this system.
Yes, simpler forms of automatic train stop have existed for a long time, but the current
mandate for PTC tried to leap far ahead of these.
-- Ernest
