Tech Mahindra to Digitally Train Employees of U.S. Short Line Railroads to Increase Safety

Tech Mahindra, a leading provider of digital transformation, consulting and business re-engineering services and solutions will launch digital training for employees of railroads in the U.S. for the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association members (ASLRRA). Tech Mahindra will provide Positive Train Control (PTC) digital training customized for short line railroads.

PTC is a system designed to prevent train-to-train collisions, derailments caused by excessive speeds, unauthorized train movements in work zones, and the movement of trains through switches left in the wrong position. Tech Mahindra will develop and provide an online learning platform available by subscription. The offering joins a select group of ASLRRA-curated PTC vendors providing specific services for Class II and III railroads, made possible through a $2.5 million grant awarded by Federal Railroad Administration to assist short lines in meeting PTC deadlines.

Lakshmanan Chidambaram, President, America’s Strategic Verticals, Tech Mahindra, said “We are happy to utilize our core competency of technology to improve the efficiency of the U.S. railroad industry and build a safer environment for citizens. Our customized digital training designed for ASLRRA (American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association members) will enable updating and implementation of training by an industry expert at a cost-effective price.”

The online learning platform will include multiple modules of interactive training followed by assessment and evaluation.  Each module will be completed within 120 minutes.  The modules will cover the statute-required training for those short line and regional railroads that need to equip with PTC including train operations, dispatch, wayside, communications, and the interoperability between various PTC systems.

 Chuck Baker, President, ASLRRA, said, “The implementation of PTC is a complex and costly project for the U.S. rail industry, including dozens of short line railroads.  These small businesses have a complicated role to play, integrating with multiple Class I systems, and are challenged to implement with limited technical expertise and support. Tech Mahindra offers an easily accessible Web-based training program customized for short line railroads, giving our members confidence that they will be compliant with PTC training requirements.”