Florida East Coast Railway Opens New Train Dispatch Center

On July 11, Florida East Coast Railway (FECR) successfully transferred its train dispatching operations to a new dispatch center equipped with its new Wabtec Train Management Dispatching System (TMDS).

"The new dispatching system has been in development by FECR and Wabtec for almost 8 months," said Fran Chinnici, senior vice president of engineering, mechanical and purchasing for FECR, "and both Wabtec and our Dispatch System Implementation Team did an outstanding job of developing and integrating the new TMDS system into our rail operations."

The Wabtec TMDS system is now being utilized to assist FECR Train Dispatchers in the management of centralized traffic and track warrant control across FECR's 351-mile rail mainline. The system provides a platform for the company's planned integration of a Positive Train Control (PTC) system.

"The transition to the new Dispatch Center and the technology provided by the new Wabtec TMDS system certainly takes FECR into a new era for train operations and further demonstrates the commitment to leading edge technologies at FECR," said Jim Hertwig, FECR president and CEO. "The functionality of both the new TMDS system will provide increased efficiency, enhanced customer service and prepare FECR for future growth as we prepare for the expansion of the Panama Canal and the strategically positioned Ports on Florida's east coast."

"We are proud to be part of this successful technology project. FECR is a very efficient railway operation and they facilitated a very smooth project implementation," said Ray Betler Wabtec president and CEO.