BREAKING: NJ Transit Says Rail Service Could Shut Down By New Year

New Jersey commuter trains could cease service by the new year if the federal government doesn’t extend a deadline to install a safety system, according to NJ Transit.

NJ Transit wants an extension of a Dec. 31 deadline to install Positive Train Control systems that automatically stops a train that ignores a signal, according to News12.

“Without a PTC extension, it is unclear whether NJ Transit will be able to operate passenger service as of January 1, 2016,” Nancy Snyder, an NJ Transit spokeswoman, told nj.com. “This is true both for NJT’s own rail lines, and for NJT service over tracks of Amtrak or freight (railroads).”

The first $155 million contract for PTC implementation was awarded in 2011. NJ Transit has budgeted $210 million for design and installation, according to the report.

NJ Transit anticipates “full PTC implementation in 2018, the report said, and the agency believes the project is progressing.

Positive Train Control was mandated in 2008 after the crash of a California commuter train. Experts agree, however, that existing safety technology could have prevented the May fatal Amtrak train accident in Pennsylvania.

“Positive Train Control” keeps track of train speed via GPS, wireless radio and other technology. If a train is not operating by federal guidelines, the system can automatically slow or stop it, according to CNN.

In a statement posted to Amtrak’s blog, Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman said the train service will finish upgrading the Northeast Corridor with Positive Rail Control by the end of the year.

“Our goal is to fully understand what happened and how we can prevent a similar tragedy from occurring in the future,” said Boardman. “We will also continue to focus on completing Positive Train Control implementation in the Northeast Corridor by December of 2015.”