MBTA 2020 Annual PTC Progress Report - Regulations.gov

1 FRA F 6180.166 (06-20) OMB Approval Granted 06/05/2020

OMB Approval Expires 06/30/2023

OMB Control No. 2130-0553

The Annual Positive Train Control (PTC) Progress Report is due by March 31st of each year until full PTC system implementation is completed.

The Annual PTC Progress Report must cover the railroad’s implementation efforts and progress from the directly previous calendar year, and

must be submitted electronically to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) via the FRA Secure Information Repository at

https://sir.fra.dot.gov.

MBTA 2020 Annual PTC Progress Report

2020 Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)

FRA-2010-0030

https://sir.fra.dot.gov/




General Instructions:

1. References to a railroad’s PTC Implementation Plan (PTCIP) in this form refer to the railroad’s revised PTCIP submitted under the Positive Train Control Enforcement and Implementation Act of 2015, or the most current amended PTCIP FRA has approved, if any;

2. If a particular category listed in a table does not apply to the railroad’s technology, please indicate “N/A”; and 3. For Sections 2, 4, and 6, please select a “Status” option from the drop-down menus provided. 4. *NEW* – As labeled, Sections 2, 3.1 (not including the software-related narrative section), 3.2, 3.3, and 5 are optional for any railroad that

previously demonstrated to FRA it had finished acquiring all necessary spectrum, installing all PTC system hardware for the implementation of its PTC system, and/or training all employees required to receive PTC training under 49 CFR §§ 236.1041 through 236.1049, consistent with the governing FRA-approved PTCIP.1 Section 4 is optional only for a railroad that reports in Section 1 of this form that its PTC system is governing operations, including RSD, on all PTC-mandated route miles.

Name of Railroad or Entity Subject to 49 U.S.C. § 20157(a): Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

Railroad Code: MBTA

Annual PTC Implementation Progress Report for: 2020

PTCIP Version Number on File with FRA (basis for goals stated): Revision 13

Date of Submission: 3/31/2021

1 These sections are currently mandatory only for railroads that are still in the spectrum acquisition, hardware installation, or employee training phases, which is the case for certain railroads that, for example: (A) commenced regularly scheduled intercity passenger or commuter rail service after December 31, 2018; (B) are in the process of constructing new main lines subject to the statutory mandate; or (C) have one or more lines that are subject to a temporary main line track exception and must still implement a PTC system.




Contents Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) ................................................................................................................................. 1

1. Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 4

2. Annual Update on Spectrum (Optional for Most Railroads) ........................................................................................................................... 6

3. Annual Update on Major Installations ............................................................................................................................................................. 7

3.1. Locomotive Status (Optional for Most Railroads) ...................................................................................................................................... 7

3.2. Infrastructure/Back Office Status (Optional for Most Railroads) .............................................................................................................. 9

3.3. Infrastructure/Wayside Status (Optional for Most Railroads) ................................................................................................................. 10

4. Installation/Track Segment Progress (Optional for Some Railroads) ............................................................................................................ 11

5. Annual Update on Employee Training (Optional for Most Railroads) .......................................................................................................... 14

6. Annual Update on Interoperability Progress and Other Formal Agreements .............................................................................................. 15

7. Progress on Implementation Schedule/Milestones....................................................................................................................................... 17

8. Summary Update of Challenges/Risks............................................................................................................................................................ 17

9. Annual Update for Intercity or Commuter Rail Passenger Transportation (if applicable) ........................................................................... 18

10. Estimated PTC Safety Plan (PTCSP) Submission Date (if not already submitted) ......................................................................................... 18

11. Testing and Integration Efforts (if applicable, laboratory, integration, and revenue service demonstration) ........................................... 19




1. Summary

Category Quantity

Completed During Calendar Year

PTCIP Year End Goal (If Applicable)

Cumulative Quantity

Completed To Date

Total Quantity Required for PTC Implementation

Locomotives Fully Equipped and PTC Operable 0 179 179 179

Installation/Track Segments Completed 0 394 394 394

Employees Trained 0 1277 1195* 1277

Route Miles in Field Testing2 0 356 Complete 356

Route Miles in Revenue Service Demonstration2 93 356 Complete 356

Route Miles in PTC Operation 356 394 394 394

* There were 1,277 employees in total to be trained for full PTC implementation. Due to Attrition (Resignation, Transfer, Dismissal, Retirement

or Death) the number of employees necessary to be trained reduced from 1,277 to 1,195.

2 As applicable, enter the number of route miles where a PTC system is currently undergoing field testing in one row and, in a separate row, the number of route miles where a PTC system is currently in revenue service demonstration. Railroads must only identify in the “Route Miles in Field Testing” and “Route Miles in Revenue Service Demonstration” fields any route miles that are still currently undergoing PTC field testing and/or revenue service demonstration. For example, if field testing is complete and a railroad is operating its PTC system in revenue service demonstration exclusively, a railroad may write “Complete” in the “Route Miles in Field Testing” fields. Once a railroad has received written authorization from FRA to operate its PTC system in revenue service (through either provisional operations authorization under 49 U.S.C. 20157(h)(2) or PTC System Certification under 49 U.S.C. 20157(h)(1), the railroad must identify any route miles where a PTC system is being operated in revenue service in the “Route Miles in PTC Operation” field. If a railroad is operating the PTC system in revenue service and has completed all field testing and revenue service demonstration, it may write “Complete” in the “Route Miles in Field Testing” and “Route Miles in Revenue Service Demonstration” fields.




Provide a narrative summary of overall PTC implementation progress during the preceding calendar year (January 1 to December 31):

In 2020, the MBTA fully implemented a Positive Train Control (PTC) system on their main lines in advance of the December 31, 2020 Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) deadline. After the MBTA made their initial PTC Safety Plan to the FRA on September 30, 2019, the FRA provided comments on the document March 26, 2020. The MBTA completed their review and responses to those comments through a series of workshop meetings with the FRA that ended May 15, 2020. The MBTA submitted their revised PTC Safety Plan on June 5, 2020. On June 30, 2020 the FRA conditionally approved the MBTA's revised PTC Safety Plan. At the beginning of 2020 the MBTA had the Franklin Line and Worcester (CP-3 to CP-21) remaining to put into Extended Revenue Service Demonstration on the South Side and Western Route Phase II (CP-LJ to CP-HA) on the North Side. On May 7, 2020 the Western Route Phase II (CP-LJ to CP-HA) entered ERSD. With the Western Route in ERSD all North Side lines were in ERSD. May 12, 2020 the Franklin Line went into ERSD and the Worcester Line (CP3 to CP21) entered Revenue Service on August 14, 2020. All MBTA lines in ERSD were placed into PTC Revenue Service starting July 1, 2020 following FRA Conditional Approval of the MBTA Safety Plan. As of January 2020, the MBTA has successfully completed PTC employee training of all 1,195 employees. Due to Attrition (Resignation, Transfer, Dismissal, Retirement or Death) the number of employees necessary to be trained reduced from 1,277 to 1,195. The current ACSES II onboard software version being used for PTC operation is Revision 11.4. Hitachi released the onboard software Revision 11.4 on August 17, 2020 for revenue service installation. The Revision 11.4 onboard software was completely installed on the MBTA fleet by September 30, 2020. Revision 11.4 resolved a running reset and maintaining TSR list as valid beyond 3 BCP zones without radio communication. In September 2020, during MBTA STS – Amtrak STS field testing with an MBTA test train an issue was discovered with how the D2 value is programmed in the Amtrak WIU and how the MBTA ACSES OBC interprets the value for zero (0) distance. The MBTA has worked with Siemens for an onboard software release, Revision 11.5, to fix this defect and is planned to be released to the field in mid-2021. Transponder reading issues presented in November 2019. The MBTA analysis showed that a significant percentage of previously recalled Siemens Transponder Antennas and CTV Units were failing to process the transponder information. These Siemens equipment failures were having a negative effect on revenue operations requiring the affected vehicles to run with PTC cutout. In response to these failures, Siemens made a hardware change to the CTV Unit to stabilize the downlink signal to the wayside transponder. Siemens also developed Corrective And Preventive Actions (CAPAs) for the Transponder Antenna. In order to implement these changes, Siemens initiated another recall of 120 CTV Unit and Transponder Antenna sets. As of September 18, 2020, Siemens has delivered all 120 sets of equipment required to be replaced. In addition to the Siemens efforts, Hitachi has been monitoring the MBTA lines for systemic transponder misses and replacing transponders that appeared to have failed in the field. Through both onboard and wayside corrections, the MBTA has seen continued improved performance reading transponders.




The MBTA has implemented and is running with wireless security enabled on all of their vehicles and lines. The backup Back Office Server was completely installed and failover tested December 11, 2020.

2. Annual Update on Spectrum (Optional for Most Railroads3) Area or Location (e.g., county)

That Requires Spectrum, as Reported in PTCIP4

Status at End of Calendar Year

Projected Status That Was Listed in PTCIP for Calendar

Year

Spectrum Coverage Area or Location†: Entire System

Acquired And Available For Use

Acquired And Available For Use

Describe the basis for how the railroad is determining that the acquired spectrum is available for use by PTC radios (e.g., ensuring non-

interference with other radios), and provide any additional narrative for Spectrum below:

3 This section is optional for any railroad that previously demonstrated to FRA it had finished acquiring all necessary spectrum, consistent with the governing FRA-approved PTCIP. 4 If the railroad reported in its PTCIP that all necessary spectrum had been acquired and was available for use, or the railroad’s technology does not require the use of spectrum, please indicate “N/A” in this table.

†Note: To add rows for additional spectrum areas or

locations, click on the blue “+” symbol at the bottom

right-hand corner. Please be sure to first click anywhere inside the table to activate this function.

If this function is unavailable for your document, please manually add additional rows.




MBTA has acquired spectrum in the 220 - 222 MHz band to be utilized for its PTC system. Overall, ten (10) 15 kHz channels and four (4) 25 kHz channels were acquired (in total 250 kHz of spectrum was acquired). MBTA was then approached by FCC, Amtrak and CSX and notified about potential interference between MBTA’s ACSES PTC utilizing the 220-222 MHz and freight I-ETMS PTC system utilizing spectrum in the same band. Amtrak and CSX (through their spectrum holder PTC-220 LLC) agreed to purchase spectrum in the Boston area that the MBTA could use in the 217 - 218 MHz range and swap it with the MBTA's 220 - 222 MHz spectrum. The MBTA and PTC-220 LLC have signed an agreement that provides MBTA with sufficient quantity of channels in the 217-218 MHz band to meet the necessary requirements for interoperable PTC operation between the MBTA, Amtrak and CSX. The FCC has granted an approval of this agreement. The MBTA submitted application to FCC for Permanent License on May 25, 2018. The FCC approved the MBTA Permanent License application on June 12, 2019.

3. Annual Update on Major Installations

3.1. Locomotive Status (Optional for Most Railroads5)

Category / Installation Feature

Quantity Installed During Calendar Year

(Sum of Quarterly Totals)


Cumulative Quantity Installed

Grand Total Reported in PTCIP (If Applicable)

Locomotive (Apparatus)6

Locomotives with On-board Computers (e.g., Train Management Computer) Installed

0 179 179 179

Locomotives with PTC Displays Installed

0 179 179 179

Locomotives with PTC-Capable Event Recorders Installed

0 179 179 179

5 This section, except the software-related narrative section below, is optional for any railroad that previously demonstrated to FRA it had finished installing all PTC system hardware for the implementation of its PTC system, consistent with the governing FRA-approved PTCIP. 6 If a particular category listed in this table does not apply to the railroad’s technology, please indicate “N/A.” A railroad may add categories or subcategories if

it wants to provide more detail.





Quantity Installed During Calendar Year




Grand Total Reported in PTCIP (If Applicable)

Locomotives with Locomotive Radios Installed – Primary Communications (e.g., 220 MHz radios)

0 179 179 179

Transponder Readers (e.g., for non I-ETMS systems)

0 179 179 179

PTC Software: Describe 1) the railroad’s approach to installation of PTC software on its locomotive fleet, and 2) any issues the railroad is

experiencing with installed versions of train management software (e.g., reverting back to previous software versions due to errors in the

current version):

The MBTA operated ACSES II Revision 11.0 software on its fleet from January 2018 through May 31, 2019 and ACSES II Revision 11.1 from June 1, 2019 through February 28, 2020. Revision 11.2 onboard software, which was planned for released in October 2019 was unable to be released for revenue service due to new defects in the 11.2 software. Hitachi released the Revision 11.3 onboard software on January 13, 2020 for revenue service installation and installation was completed on the MBTA fleet by February 28, 2020. The current onboard software version being used for PTC operation is Revision 11.4. Revision 11.4 resolved defects relating to a running reset and maintaining TSR list as valid beyond 3 BCP zones without radio communication. Hitachi released the Revision 11.4 onboard software on August 17, 2020 for revenue service installation, which was completed on the MBTA fleet by September 30, 2020.

Provide any additional narrative for Locomotive Status below:

Click here to enter text.




3.2. Infrastructure/Back Office Status (Optional for Most Railroads7)

Infrastructure – Back Office Systems

Met PTCIP Year-End Goal for Installation

of Physical Back Office System

Equipment?

(Choose Yes, No, or N/A)

How many physical back office locations are required

for PTC operations, as reported in the PTCIP? 1

How many physical back office locations have been

constructed with all necessary equipment installed? 2 Yes

Are the Back Office Location(s) fully operable with

PTC? Yes

Are the Dispatching Location(s) fully operable with

PTC? Yes

Provide any additional narrative for Infrastructure/Back Office Status below:

The MBTA's current commuter rail operation is supported by one (1) Back Office and two (2) Dispatching Locations. The Back Office is located at the MBTA's North Side CROCC facility. All fiber connections to the Back Office have been established. The Back Office equipment has been installed, PICO tested, and is PTC operable, supporting PTC Operations and FQT testing. A second physical Back Office location, which will house a backup Back Office server, is scheduled to be installed when the new Railroad Control Center is completed. Until the new Railroad Control Center is completed, the backup Back Office Server has been implemented and housed at Boston Engine Terminal (BET). The backup Back Office Server was completely installed and failover tested December 11, 2020. The MBTA's two dispatching offices are located at the CROCC for dispatching the North Side commuter lines and at the CETC location for dispatching the South Side commuter lines.

7 This section is optional for any railroad that previously demonstrated to FRA it had finished installing all PTC system hardware for the implementation of its PTC system, consistent with the governing FRA-approved PTCIP.




3.3. Infrastructure/Wayside Status (Optional for Most Railroads8)


Quantity Installed During Calendar

Year (Sum of Quarterly

Totals)

PTCIP Year End Goal9


Grand Total Reported in PTCIP

Infrastructure – Wayside Installations (Systemwide)10

Wayside Interface Units 0

195 195 195

Communication Towers or Poles 0

182 182 182

Switch Position Monitors N/A

N/A N/A N/A

Wayside Radios 0

182 182 182

Base Station Radios 0

182 182 182

Are all necessary communication backbone utilities (including fiber, copper, ground wiring etc.) installed and ready for operation? Yes

Provide any additional narrative for Installation/Wayside Status below:

100% of the wayside infrastructure and backbone fiber optic communications network has been installed. All nine South Side lines, Stoughton Branch, Dorchester/Fairmount Branch, Middleboro Main Line, Greenbush Line, Plymouth Line, Kingston Branch, Worcester Line, Needham Branch and Franklin Branch are in PTC Operation. All seven North Side lines, New Hampshire Main Line

8 This section is optional for any railroad that previously demonstrated to FRA it had finished installing all PTC system hardware for the implementation of its PTC system, consistent with the governing FRA-approved PTCIP. 9 Unlike the heading in table 3.1, this heading is not qualified with “(If Applicable)” because each railroad was required to provide year-end goals for these particular hardware categories under the PTC Enforcement and Implementation Act of 2015. 10 If a particular category listed in this table does not apply to the railroad’s technology, please indicate “N/A.” A railroad may add categories or subcategories if it wants to provide more detail.




(including GLX area), Fitchburg Main Line, Wachusett Extension, Eastern Route Main Line, Gloucester Branch, Wildcat Branch and Western Route are in PTC Operation.

4. Installation/Track Segment Progress11 (Optional for Some Railroads12)

Segment Identification13


Current status of installation/track

segment. Choose one:

Number of Route Miles in Segment

Estimated Start Date for Revenue Service

Demonstration (if not already completed)

Precise Milepost (MP) Limits and/or Control

Point (CP) Limits Where PTC was Implemented and

Operable at End of Calendar Year14

Segment: Stoughton Operational/Complete 5 Complete MP 15.5 (Center) to MP

19.0 (Porter)

Segment: Dorchester/Fairmount Operational/Complete 9 Complete MP 219.1 (Hill) to MP

227.0 (South Bay)

11 For passenger rail operations, this information should be further segregated into those routes where it is a host or tenant. 12 This section is optional for a railroad that reports in Section 1 (“Summary”) that its PTC system is governing operations, including RSD, on all PTC-mandated route miles, consistent with the governing FRA-approved PTCIP. 13 Segment identification should be consistent with installation segments as listed in the railroad’s PTCIP (e.g., by track segment, territory, subdivision, district, etc.). 14 This column must identify the precise MP limits and/or CP limits of where a PTC system had been implemented and was operable within the installation/track segment (e.g., MP 100.25 to MP 150 and MP 155 to MP 190). Also, this column must identify any miles of track, by MP or CP, that are excluded from PTC implementation under an FRA-approved exception within the installation/track segment (e.g., Main Line Track Exception (Terminal): MP 1.5 to MP 2 and De Minimis Exception: MP 45 to MP 55). Instead of completing this individual column (Column 5 in Section 4), your railroad may submit a Geographic Information System (GIS) shapefile, directly to the SIR website, identifying the installation/track segments and portions thereof (e.g., route miles) where a PTC system had been implemented and was operable by the end of the reporting period (i.e., the previous calendar year), including the following fields and information: (1) a PTC attribute field (coded with “Y” if line segment has PTC installed and operable, otherwise left blank), (2) a SUBDIV attribute field (populated with subdivision name), (3) the precise MP limits and/or CP limits of where a PTC system had been implemented and was operable, and (4) any miles of track, by MP or CP, that are excluded from PTC implementation under an FRA-approved exception within the installation/track segment (e.g., Main Line Track Exception (Terminal): MP 1.5 to MP 2 and De Minimis Exception: MP 45 to MP 55).














Segment: Middleboro Operational/Complete 35 Complete MP 1.0 (Cabot) to MP 36.4

(Ocean Spray)

Segment: Plymouth Operational/Complete 25 Complete MP 11.25 (Pearl) to MP

35.60 (Plymouth)

Segment: Kingston Operational/Complete 2 Complete MP 33.73 (Seaside) to MP

34.95 (Gravel)

Segment: Greenbush Operational/Complete 18 Complete MP 10.20 (Adams Jct.) to

MP 27.64 (Greenbush)

Segment: Franklin Operational/Complete 28 Complete MP 9.7 (Sprague) to MP

30.2 (Forge)

Segment: Needham Operational/Complete 10 Complete MP 5.0 (Forest Hills) to MP

13.8 (CP Land)

Segment: Worcester Operational/Complete 45 Complete MP 1.1 (Cove) to MP 44.2

(Worcester)

Segment: NHML Operational/Complete 27 Complete MP 0.3 (Tower A) to MP

24.66 (CPF-BY)

Segment: Wildcat Operational/Complete 3 Complete MP 15.2 (Wilmington) to

MP 18.2 (CPW-WJ)

Segment: Fitchburg Operational/Complete 55 Complete MP 1.4 (Swift) to MP 55

(CPF-55)














Segment: East Route /

Newburyport Operational/Complete 36 Complete

MP 1.8 (Reading Jct.) to

MP 36.32 (Newburyport)

Segment: Gloucester / Rockport Operational/Complete 17 Complete MP 18.7 (Beverly Jct.) to

MP 35.0 (CP Loop)

Segment: West Route / Haverhill Operational/Complete 41 Complete MP 1.8 (Reading Jct.) to

MP 36 (CPF-273)

Segment: : Shore Line (Northeast

Corridor) Operational/Complete 38 Complete

MP 0.0 to MP 37.8

Provide any additional narrative for Installation/Track Segment Status below:

All 394 MBTA route miles are Operational/Complete. 100% of the Wayside & Communication Hardware has been installed (182 Radio Towers, 195 WIUs, and 222.9 miles of new Fiber installed (335 including existing and Core Ring connections)).

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5. Annual Update on Employee Training (Optional for Most Railroads15)

Employee Category16

Number of Employees Trained During Calendar Year


PTCIP Year End Goal Cumulative Number of

Employees Trained Grand Total Reported

in PTCIP

Employees who Install, Maintain, Repair, Modify, Inspect, and Test the PTC System

0 291 281 291

Employees who Dispatch Train Operations

0 47 47 47

Train and Engine (Operations) Employees 0 449 448 449

Roadway Worker Employees 0 272 217 272

Direct Supervisors of the Above Employees

0 218 202 218

Provide any additional narrative for Employee Training below:

There were 1,277 employees in total to be trained for full PTC implementation. Due to Attrition (Resignation, Transfer, Dismissal, Retirement or Death) the number of employees necessary to be trained reduced from 1,277 to 1,195. As of January 2020, the MBTA has successfully completed PTC employee training of all 1,195 employees.

15 This section is optional for any railroad that previously demonstrated to FRA it had finished training all employees required to receive PTC training under 49 CFR §§ 236.1041 through 236.1049, consistent with the governing FRA-approved PTCIP. 16 See 49 CFR § 236.1041(a).




6. Annual Update on Interoperability Progress and Other Formal Agreements This section is provided to help railroads describe interoperability information. Please provide any additional information (e.g., an appendix) as

appropriate.

Required content:

• For host railroads: provide updates to any agreements and key milestones for all tenant operations

• For tenant railroads: provide updates to any agreements and key milestones for all operations over tracks hosted by another railroad

Host and Tenant Railroads: Provide a general update on interoperability in the textbox below:

The three tenants that run on the MBTA lines are Amtrak, CSX and Pan Am Railways. The MBTA developed an Interoperability plan and it has been successfully executed. Three types of interoperable tests have been identified to be performed. They are Boundary Tests, Tenant Rev 11 Vehicle Qualification Tests (VQT) on MBTA Rev 11 Wayside, and Siding Interoperability Tests. The MBTA and Amtrak have completed work on the STS to STS communication interface. The MBTA-Amtrak Safety TSR Server interface between the MBTA and Amtrak was placed in service on December 1, 2020. During interoperable STS-STS field testing with Amtrak on September 17-18, 2020, the test train, while on the Amtrak side of the boundary, received a TSR list from the Amtrak STS, but did not profile or enforce the TSR from the Amtrak side. An issue was identified where the D2 distance in the Encoder message was programmed differently between the Alstom and Hitachi WIUs. The Siemens onboard system correctly processed the Hitachi WIU Encoder message but did not correctly process the Alstom WIU Encoder message for a zero-distance value. The MBTA is actively participating in the NEC Change / Configuration Management meetings where the issue is being addressed to mitigate operationally and be resolved. The MBTA is working with its System Integrator for an onboard software update where both D2 values that represent a zero distance will be accepted by the ACSES OBC. The MBTA has completed work with Amtrak on design and testing of Line boundaries. Line boundary testing between the MBTA Stoughton Branch (Junction) and Amtrak NEC, MBTA Dorchester/Fairmount Branch (Transfer & South Bay) and Amtrak NEC, MBTA Needham Branch (Forest & Plains) and Amtrak NEC, MBTA Middleboro Main Line (Cabot) and Amtrak NEC, Franklin Branch (Read) and Amtrak NEC, and Worcester Line (Cove) and Amtrak NEC have been successfully completed and passed. Amtrak has completed South Side Tenant Vehicle Qualification testing, which was performed on the MBTA Dorchester/Fairmount and Worcester Lines. Amtrak completed North Side Vehicle Qualification Testing on the New Hampshire Main Line using an engineering version of Siemens onboard Rev. 11.3E software on April 11, 2020. After Amtrak received Siemens production onboard Rev. 11.3 software to run on their rolling stock fleet, Amtrak performed MBTA North Side Vehicle Qualification Testing on the NHML August 15, 2020 and passed. Amtrak started running their vehicles with PTC operational on the MBTA September 30, 2020.




The MBTA implemented the Wabtec Secure Wireless Communications solution on its system and has completed testing and enabled wireless security with Amtrak, CSX and Pan Am. MBTA has been operating in secure mode on its entire system and fleet since August 2020. CSX successfully passed wireless security testing and enabled wireless security on MBTA territory October 19, 2020. Pan Am successfully passed wireless security testing on MBTA territory November 24, 2020 and enabled wireless security on December 15, 2020. Amtrak successfully passed wireless security testing on MBTA territory September 23, 2020 and enabled wireless security on December 22, 2020. In addition, the MBTA is working with Amtrak, CSX and Pan Am to implement a Key Exchange Service (KES) SD-WAN solution for an automated security key exchange and delivery. The MBTA has coordinated the interface at CP-45 on the Worcester Line with CSX. Testing of the transition from ACSES to I-ETMS at the MBTA/CSX line boundary using an Amtrak consist on the Worcester Line CP45 Interface was completed and placed into service March 12, 2020. The MBTA coordinated Tenant Vehicle Qualification testing with CSX after CSX installed Amtrak production onboard Rev. 11.3 software onto their trains. The MBTA and CSX ran Vehicle Qualification and Boundary testing on August 22 -24, 2020 on the Worcester Line and passed. CSX started running their vehicles with PTC operational on the MBTA October 12, 2020. The Wachusett Extension (Pan Am) is in PTC Operation. The MBTA implemented an ARIS Client at Billerica and trained Pan Am dispatchers on the ARIS Client. As of the end of the first quarter of 2021, Pan Am Railways has successfully equipped all 39 locomotives with ACSES II for operations on MBTA PTC equipped lines. Pan Am successfully completed Vehicle Qualification testing using two vehicle types on July 23, 2020. Norfolk Southern owned locomotives were Vehicle Qualification tested on December 21 and 29, 2020. The wireless security test passed, but the VQT test did not pass. Norfolk Southern is not qualified on the MBTA ACSES II territory. The FRA confirmed Norfolk Southern is considered equipped for the purposes of the Early Adoption regulation and can lead but must run cut-out. New Hampshire North Coast (NHNC) owned locomotives were Vehicle Qualification tested and passed both the wireless security and VQT tests on December 29, 2020. NHNC is qualified to operate on MBTA ACSES II territory with ABS only.

Host Railroads Only: For each tenant, provide additional tenant information below:

Tenant Identification (add rows for additional tenants as necessary)

Estimated Quantity of Tenant Rolling Stock to be

Equipped with PTC

Scheduled Completion Date for Interoperability Testing

Current Tenant Interoperability Status

Choose one:

Amtrak - December 2020

Operational/Complete

CSXT - December 2020 Operational/Complete




Tenant Identification (add rows for additional tenants as necessary)

Estimated Quantity of Tenant Rolling Stock to be

Equipped with PTC

Scheduled Completion Date for Interoperability Testing

Current Tenant Interoperability Status

Choose one:

Pan Am 39 December 2020 Operational/Complete

7. Progress on Implementation Schedule/Milestones Describe the extent to which the railroad or other entity is not complying with the implementation schedule it provided in its PTCIP:

The MBTA complied with the implementation milestones stated in Revision 13 of the MBTA PTCIP.

8. Summary Update of Challenges/Risks Provide any update to the summary of remaining technical, programmatic, operational, or other challenges that the railroad or other entity

provided in its PTCIP, including challenges with availability of public funding, interoperability, spectrum, software, permitting, and testing,

demonstration, and certification. Also, identify any risks that might cause the railroad to miss its schedule milestones (e.g., funding, technology,

agreements):

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• Signal resources and material for North Side ATC cutovers in 2021.

• Project coordination of ongoing Railroad Configuration Changes.

• Defect free onboard software from Siemens.

• Dynamic KES implementation on MBTA and with tenants.

• Implementation of conditions set by FRA in Safety Certification conditional approval.

9. Annual Update for Intercity or Commuter Rail Passenger Transportation (if applicable) If this section is not applicable to your railroad, please write “N/A.”

For each entity providing regularly scheduled intercity or commuter rail passenger transportation, provide a description of the resources

identified and allocated to implement a PTC system:

The MBTA has designated PTC as its #1 priority capital program. The MBTA has a dedicated PTC Program Management Team (PMT) which includes MBTA, consultants, and Keolis resources. The PMT is overseeing and supporting the implementation of the System Integrator, Hitachi Rail (formerly Ansaldo STS). The MBTA has a System Integrator contract in place with Hitachi Rail (formerly Ansaldo STS) to design and implement the MBTA’s PTC system.

10. Estimated PTC Safety Plan (PTCSP) Submission Date (if not already submitted) If this section is not applicable to your railroad, please write “N/A.”

PTCSP Submission Date

09/30/2019

Provide any additional narrative for PTCSP Submission below:

On September 30, 2019, the MBTA submitted their PTC Safety Plan to the FRA. FRA provided MBTA with its comments to the PTCSP on March 26, 2020. The MBTA completed their review and responses to those comments through a series of workshop meetings with the FRA that




ended May 15, 2020. The MBTA submitted their revised PTC Safety Plan on June 5, 2020. On June 30, 2020 the FRA conditionally approved the MBTA's revised PTC Safety Plan.

11. Testing and Integration Efforts (if applicable, laboratory, integration, and revenue service demonstration) Provide an update on testing and integration efforts below:

The MBTA operated ACSES II Revision 11.1 from June 1, 2019 through February 28, 2020. Revision 11.2 onboard software, which was planned for released in October 2019 was unable to be released for revenue service due to new defects in the 11.2 software. Hitachi released the Revision 11.3 onboard software on January 13, 2020 for revenue service installation and installation was completed on the MBTA fleet by February 28, 2020. The current onboard software version being used for PTC operation is Revision 11.4. Revision 11.4 resolved defects relating to a running reset and maintaining TSR list as valid beyond 3 BCP zones without radio communication. Hitachi released the Revision 11.4 onboard software on August 17, 2020 for revenue service installation, which was completed on the MBTA fleet by September 30, 2020. All nine South Side lines, Stoughton Branch, Dorchester/Fairmount Branch, Middleboro Main Line, Greenbush Line, Plymouth Line, Kingston Branch, Worcester Line, Needham Branch and Franklin Branch are in PTC Operation. All seven North Side lines, New Hampshire Main Line (including GLX area), Fitchburg Main Line, Wachusett Extension, Eastern Route Main Line, Gloucester Branch, Wildcat Branch and Western Route are in PTC Operation. The MBTA has implemented and is running with wireless security enabled on all their vehicles and lines. The Backup Back Office Server was completely installed, and failover tested.

Public reporting burden for this information collection is estimated to average 40.12 hours per response, including the time

for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and

reviewing the collection of information. According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, a federal agency may not

conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to

comply with, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control

number for this information collection is 2130-0553. All responses to this collection of information are mandatory. Send

comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection, including suggestions for reducing this

burden to OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: FRA OMB Desk Officer.

MBTA 2020 Annual PTC Progress Report - Regulations.gov

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