The threat of disruption in Virginia Railway Express (VRE) service at the end of 2015 was averted this week when Congress passed and President Obama signed into law H.R. 3819, the “Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2015.”
The short-term surface transportation funding authorization bill (H.R. 3819) includes a three-year extension to the December 31, 2015, deadline for implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC), according to The White House press release. The new deadline is December 31, 2018.
“This means that there will be no service disruption to VRE due to this issue,” VRE said in a statement. “VRE extends its sincere thanks to the entire Virginia Congressional delegation which was supportive of the PTC extension.”
“We are happy this has been addressed by Congress so we can continue providing you service in 2016 and are continuing the hard work with our host railroads to get this enhanced safety feature in the VRE system as soon and reliably as possible.”
More
Spotsylvania VRE Station Opens November 16
VRE To Suspend Service Without PTC Extension
VRE Receives TSA’s Highest Security Rating
VRE Names Locomotive for Stafford Supervisor Paul Milde
See Tracks, Think Train
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