A system for controlling a double transition upshift in an automatic transmission of a vehicle powertrain, comprising: a primary gear section of the automatic transmission; a secondary gear section of the automatic transmission; an input shaft connected to the primary and secondary gear sections (106, 104), and to a power generation unit of a vehicle; an output shaft connected to the primary gear section; an intermediate shaft connecting the primary gear section and the secondary gear section; a processor-based controller in operative communication with the primary and secondary gear sections; wherein the controller is configured to perform closed loop control of the intermediate shaft speed during a double transition upshift using a primary on-coming clutch in the primary gear section to achieve pull-down of the intermediate shaft; wherein the controller is further configured to perform closed loop control of the input shaft speed using a secondary off-going clutch in the secondary gear section to achieve partial pull-down of the input shaft while the intermediate shaft is being pulled down; wherein the controller is further configured to release the secondary off-going clutch and perform closed loop control of the input shaft speed using a secondary on-coming clutch in the secondary gear section to complete the pull-down of the input shaft, characterized in that pull-down of the intermediate shaft is substantially completed before the secondary off-going clutch is exhausted. a primary gear section of the automatic transmission; a secondary gear section of the automatic transmission; an input shaft connected to the primary and secondary gear sections (106, 104), and to a power generation unit of a vehicle; an output shaft connected to the primary gear section; an intermediate shaft connecting the primary gear section and the secondary gear section; a processor-based controller in operative communication with the primary and secondary gear sections; wherein the controller is configured to perform closed loop control of the intermediate shaft speed during a double transition upshift using a primary on-coming clutch in the primary gear section to achieve pull-down of the intermediate shaft; wherein the controller is further configured to perform closed loop control of the input shaft speed using a secondary off-going clutch in the secondary gear section to achieve partial pull-down of the input shaft while the intermediate shaft is being pulled down; wherein the controller is further configured to release the secondary off-going clutch and perform closed loop control of the input shaft speed using a secondary on-coming clutch in the secondary gear section to complete the pull-down of the input shaft, characterized in that pull-down of the intermediate shaft is substantially completed before the secondary off-going clutch is exhausted. wherein the controller is configured to perform closed loop control of the intermediate shaft speed during a double transition upshift using a primary on-coming clutch in the primary gear section to achieve pull-down of the intermediate shaft; wherein the controller is further configured to perform closed loop control of the input shaft speed using a secondary off-going clutch in the secondary gear section to achieve partial pull-down of the input shaft while the intermediate shaft is being pulled down; wherein the controller is further configured to release the secondary off-going clutch and perform closed loop control of the input shaft speed using a secondary on-coming clutch in the secondary gear section to complete the pull-down of the input shaft, characterized in that pull-down of the intermediate shaft is substantially completed before the secondary off-going clutch is exhausted.