Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Metrolink Unveils New 'Positive Train Control' Safety System

LOS ANGELES (KTLA) -- Metrolink officials were scheduled to unveil a new safety system Monday morning designed to keep trains from colliding, even in case of human error.

Called "positive train control" technology, the system links passenger and freight trains together by computer using GPS. The computer tracks the positions of all the trains in the system.

It sends a signal to the engineer if a train is approaching a dangeorus situation, like an oncoming train on the same track, or some other hazard ahead.

If the engineer doesn't stop the train, the computer actually takes over and puts on the brakes.

All of this is in response to what happened on Sept. 12, 2008, when a Metrolink train headed for Ventura collided with a freight train in Chatsworth.

The accident, which was described as one of the worst railroad crashes in U.S. history, killed 25 people and hurt 126 more.

Investigators said it happened becasue a Metrolink engineer was texting on his cell phone and failed to see a red stop signal.

The positive train control system will cost Metrolink an estimated $200 million.

It is supposed to be installed on all trains in the United states by 2015, but Metrolink hopes to have it in place sooner.

Source: http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/latimes/news/science/~3/eospWnfCmRA/ktla-positive-train-control-test-train,0,4623732.story

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