FCC approves Southern California Rail Authority PTC operations

The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Wireless Telecommunications Bureau last week authorized the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) to deploy an interoperable positive train control (PTC) system on its rail lines serving California’s Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.

Under a license modification, the FCC granted SCRRA permanent authority to operate 17 PTC wireless radio base stations, 546 PTC wireless radio wayside stations, and related mobile locomotive stations.

The FCC also waived certain rules to facilitate SCRRA’s PTC deployment, according to the authorization letter.

SCRRA operates the Metrolink commuter railroad. The action also will benefit three railroads that operate as tenants on portions of the SCRRA rail network — Amtrak, BNSF Railway Co. and Union Pacific Railroad.