Amtrak service on the Point Defiance Bypass resumes
Last edited Thu Nov 18, 2021, 10:56 PM - Edit history (1)
Amtrak’s Nov. 18 resumption of its Cascades passenger service on the Point Defiance Bypass follows Amtrak and other agencies work to meet rigorous requirements imposed by Sound Transit.
Rather than permitting service on its tracks according to any predetermined schedule, Sound Transit committed to approve resumed service only when compliance with stringently imposed safety requirements were fully met and verified. Safety measures implemented prior to testing and ultimate approval of resumed service included but were not limited to:
Amtrak and all passenger rail agencies in the region now utilize a powerful automated safety system called Positive Train Control (PTC). Under PTC, trains are tracked by satellite. Should an engineer exceed a permitted speed, PTC automatically applies brakes and stops the train. Sound Transit has verified the proper functioning of PTC equipment on its tracks and on Amtrak trains that will use the tracks.
Any train that is not under active PTC monitoring is limited to 30 mph over Sound Transit owned track — a standard which is stricter than current federal regulations.
https://www.soundtransit.org/get-to-know-us/news-events/news-releases/statement-sound-transit-chief-safety-officer-david-wright
