(Source: Associated Press, July 10, 2015)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A transportation bill introduced by a Senate committee chairman eliminate any hard deadline for railroads to start using long-sought technology that automatically stops trains to prevent crashes, safety advocates say. The bill was introduced Thursday by Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the chairman of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
The bill introduced Thursday requires railroads to have the equipment necessary to operate positive train control in place by Dec. 31, 2018, but sets no deadline for when railroads must begin using the technology. Substantial testing would be required after the systems are installed, and then railroads would be required to demonstrate to the government that the systems will work as intended.
Full story: Minneapolis Star Tribune