California State Rail Plan 2007-08 to 2017-18

Chapter VII – San Joaquin RouteThe system would also have many operational advantages. It would produce areal-time record of all passengers on-board. This is a safety and security featuresimilar to that currently required of the passenger airline industry. This systemwould allow actual trip origin-destination information, instead on the currentestimates (particularly for 10-ride and monthly tickets), to better informmanagement of actual usage, thus allowing better insight and management of theservice delivered to the customer.The CCJPA in early 2008 is undertaking an automated ticket validation pilotproject that is funded by the Department. Depending upon the results,the Department may expand implementation to this Route.Longer-Term ImprovementsElectronic Train Management System - The Department is investigating the useof an electronic train management system. On the San Joaquins, the patentedElectronic Train Management System (ETMS) system is being evaluated, as this isthe system BNSF has chosen to utilize. ETMS is a wireless network ofcommunication between locomotives, wayside signaling systems and dispatchersthat functions as a safety overlay on top of existing train control and signalsystems. The purpose is to improve safety and to prevent train collisions andaccidents. A computerized system is installed inside each locomotive that receivesinformation from the railroad’s existing Global Positioning System (GPS)network, and once the train is underway, ETMS tracks the train’s location. ETMScan: override and automatically control train speed, relay information such asspeed limits and track switch positions to a computer screen inside the locomotivecab, sending warnings to the crew, and automatically starting the braking process(if the crew does not respond promptly). ETMS is a significant safety milestonefor the rail industry.The Department first plans to implement ETMS on the San Joaquin Route becausea majority of the railroad track is owned by BNSF Railway who plans to installETMS in the next few years. As a pilot project in 2004, BNSF installed ETMS on50 of its locomotives along a 135-mile stretch of track in Illinois. In January2007, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) gave approval to begin usingETMS on other parts of the BNSF Railway network. Purchase and installation ofETMS components on BNSF-owned segments of California's San Joaquin Routewould greatly increase the flexibility of rail traffic control as well as improve trainmovements and schedule reliability. For example, trains would also be capable ofsafely passing in opposite directions at or near full speed. The BNSF’s currenttentative timeline is to begin work in FY 2009-10 and complete work inFY 2010- 11. Funding for the project still needs to be finalized.Comprehensive Wireless Network - A comprehensive wireless network couldhave many significant applications for improvement of safety, operations, costcontrol,and customer service. Systems such as this are in use today in Europe.109