TRENTON, N.J. — NJ Transit’s efforts to meet the Dec. 31, 2018, deadline for installation of positive train control equipment has led to an unusual sight: cab-control cars running in front of locomotives on some trains.
Those cab cars, which are closed to passengers, have PTC equipment installed, allowing NJ Transit to operate locomotives which have not yet been equipped, NorthJersey.com reports. The transit agency had 282 cab cars and locomotives equipped by Dec. 31, but roughly 150 other cab cars and locomotives still need the equipment installed. [See “NJ Transit meets PTC installation deadline, qualifies for extension,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 18, 2018.]
“We’re pursuing creative, ‘out-of-the-box’ solutions and expending every available resource to maximize service delivery,” NJ Transit spokesman Jim Smith told NJ.com.
NorthJersey.com also offered more details on NJ Transit’s lease of seven AEM-7 locomotives from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, which had recently retired the locomotives. [See “SEPTA’s AEM-7s get second lease on life in New Jersey,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 26, 2018.] A SEPTA spokesman said the locomotives are being leased for $250 a day for six months, a total of $315,000 for the duration of the lease. The locomotives are PTC-equipped, helping NJ Transit meet the Dec. 31 deadline. NJ.com said NJ Transit did not immediately respond to questions how the leased locomotives would be used.
