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FrontRunner Commuter Rail

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This page was last updated on December 17, 2023.

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Overview

In April 2008, UTA introduced the state's first commuter rail line, FrontRunner. The line connects Salt Lake, Davis and Weber counties with stations in Salt Lake City, Woods Cross, Farmington, Layton, Clearfield, Roy, Ogden and Pleasant View. Each station has connections to UTA's bus system and park and ride lots.

The connection between Salt Lake City and Provo, known as Frontrunner South, began operations in December 2012.

Unlike TRAX, which is powered by overhead electrical wires, Frontrunner is a push/pull diesel locomotive system complete with bi-level cab cars and refurbished single-level vehicles. FrontRunner can travel up to 79 miles per hour along the 44-mile corridor.

FrontRunner North

Salt Lake City to Ogden

FrontRunner South

Salt Lake City to Provo

FrontRunner Cars

(Read more about the cars used by Frontrunner)

FrontRunner Locomotives

(Read more about the locomotives used by Frontrunner)

Positive Train Control on Frontrunner

The following was published in the November 2011 issue of Progressive Railroading magazine:

Heading north and south -- The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) expects [PTC] implementation to cost "at least $20 million," says UTA Senior Program Manager Todd Provost, who oversees rail projects.

The agency needs to install PTC on 45 miles of existing FrontRunner commuter-rail track to the north as well as on 45 miles of track UTA is building to the south from Salt Lake City to Provo that's scheduled to open in a few years.

Since 2008, the railroad has used a GE "carborne" system to help prevent train-to-train collisions and overspeed derailments, but UTA will need supplemental systems to cover two other PTC requirements: accident prevention in work zones and proper switch-position movements, says Provost.

In the existing north system, where UTA has seven miles of jointly used track with UP, two locomotives and cab cars will feature I-ETMS capability; in the soon-to-be-built southern extension, UTA plans to install an Alstom system.

"We will start in the south first because it's not in service and we can get it implemented in time, " says Provost. "In the north, design is rolling."

As implementation draws closer, a key issue for UTA is recruiting enough qualified technical workers to complete the work, such as testers, installers and communications experts, he says.

"The Class Is will get the most attention from those people," says Provost. "How do we get those folks?"

Early Studies

Early Studies about the need for commuter rail along the Wasatch Front.

Frontrunner Photos

Photos of Frontrunner -- Photo albums of UTA's Frontrunner, including photos taken during the construction of both Frontrunner North (206-2007) and Frontrunner South (2008-2012)

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