(The Associated Press circulated the following article on March 29.)
NEW YORK — Railroad operators Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. and Norfolk Southern Corp. won government approval to start outfitting trains with improved brake technology, federal officials said Thursday.
The new technology is designed to shorten the distance needed to stop by up to 60 percent and reduce train derailments, the Federal Railroad Administration said.
Joseph Boardman, administrator of the agency said in a prepared statement the technology can prevent accidents.
The electronically controlled pneumatic brakes apply pressure uniformly on all rail cars, not from one car to the next as with conventional pneumatic brake systems, the agency said. The new brakes also perform electronic self-diagnostic checks to identify maintenance needs.
In approving the railroads’ request, the agency permitted the companies to install the new brake systems on trains on certain freight routes to demonstrate the safety of the technology.
The brakes are designed to allow trains to travel up to 3,500 miles without inspections – more than double the distance normally allowed by the government. Boardman also said the agency is considering enacting regulations later this year to allow the widespread use of the brake technology.
Norfolk Southern said it plans to install the brakes on 30 locomotives and 400 coal cars. Burlington Northern said it plans to test the equipment with trains serving Southern California ports.
Shares of Burlington Northern rose 57 cents to close at $80.02 Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange. Shares of Norfolk Southern dropped 11 cents to end at $49.93.