Speed Control Was Installed, Not On at Time of Amtrak Crash [View all]

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Speed Control Was Installed, Not On at Time of Amtrak Crash

A system that could have remotely slowed the Amtrak train that crashed wasn’t enabled.


By Alan Neuhauser

May 14, 2015 | 6:23 p.m. EDT

A computer system that allows speeding trains to be slowed remotely – potentially averting deadly derailments – was installed in the section of track in Philadelphia where Tuesday’s fatal Amtrak crash occurred but had not been turned on, congressional sources tell U.S. News.

“The PTC was installed in the section of track where the Philadelphia accident occurred, but for whatever reason had not been turned on, the PTC in that section,” Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., tells U.S. News, referring to "positive train control."

His account was corroborated by Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md.

“The tracks had PTC, the train had PTC,” Harris says.

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/05/14/exclusive-train-control-was-installed-turned-off-at-time-of-amtrak-crash-congressmen-say