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 A system called "positive train control" (PTC) automatically slows
or even halts trains that are moving too fast or heading into a
danger zone. Under current law, the rail industry must adopt the
technology by the end of this year.
The investigation into the cause of Tuesday's crash, in which seven
people were killed, has only just begun but initial examination of
the train's data recorders determined the train was traveling 106
miles per hour (171 km per hour) in a 50-mph (80-kph) zone.
It would have been impossible for a train to reach such speeds if
PTC had been in place, officials said.
"Based on what we know right now, we feel that had such a system
been installed in this section of track, this accident would not
have occurred," said Robert Sumwalt, a board member of the National
Transportation Safety Board.
 Amtrak has begun installing components of a PTC system but the
network is not yet functioning, federal officials said.
Amtrak officials did not respond to calls for comment.
Federal rules require the national rail network to have an operating
PTC system by the end of the year, though many lawmakers have
endorsed rail industry appeals for more time to comply.
In March, the Senate Commerce Committee voted to extend the deadline
for implementing PTC until at least 2020. Both Republicans and
Democrats supported the measure which will now go to the Senate
floor.
"This accident is exhibit A for ending the delays and getting
positive train control in place," said Senator Richard Blumenthal, a
Connecticut Democrat.
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The Association of American Railroads has said it wants PTC in place
but blames logistical challenges like acquiring radio frequencies
and placing transmitter towers for the delay.
“This is not off-the-shelf technology; it has had to be developed
from scratch,” said Ed Greenberg, spokesman for the trade group.
Installing radio towers and other hardware at congested rail
junctions, like the site of the Philadelphia accident, poses unique
challenges, according to former and current officials.
PTC control would go as far as overriding a train conductor who was
exceeding posted speed limits, said Joseph Szabo, who stepped down
in January as administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration.
"If there is a red signal you can't pass it, if there is a speed
restriction, it will slow you down," he said of the override system.
(Additional reporting by Mark Hosenball, Andy Sullivan, Bill Trott
and Timothy Gardner in Washington; Editing by Eric Beech and Lisa
Shumaker)
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