NTSB Urges Improvement to Railroad Automatic Braking System for Enhanced Collision Prevention

NTSB Report Highlights Multiple Shortcomings in $15 Billion Positive Train Control System, Suggests Enhancements Including GPS Sensor at End of Train and Improved Rear-end Collision Avoidance.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has highlighted several areas for improvement in the 12-year-old, $15 billion automatic braking system installed nationwide on roughly 58,000 miles of railroad tracks since 2020 to prevent collision and derailments. The system was put in place following a directive from Congress after a deadly collision between a commuter and freight train in California in 2008.
One of the practical recommendations made by the NTSB includes the development of a method to automatically turn the automatic braking system back on after it is manually disabled for common switching movements. This feature is seen as crucial because derailments can happen before the current system reminds an engineer to turn the system back on.
The NTSB, noting that the existing system often only imposes a low speed limit and relies on engineers to stop their trains in time, recommends further development of technology to improve this mechanism. The system should be less dependent on human intervention for maximum efficacy.
To address the challenge of the system in preventing rear-end collisions, the NTSB recommended the Federal Railroad Administration and railroads continue the search for a solution, which could include using a GPS sensor at the end of a train. The system currently has issues with tracking the length of a train and knowing where the back of the train is.
The Safety Board also suggests the development of a set of sensors that could help the system halt a train if an object like a car or person is on the tracks, something the current system lacks the capability to do. It underscores the importance of continuous advancements in technology to enhance the safety of the system.