Schumer Announces FRA Has Heeded Call, Will Push Railroads To Install & Implement Critical Safety System Along Rail Routes Throughout Upstate New York; Lessons From Philadelphia Derailment Will Be Applied In New York

Press Release

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Federal Railroad Administration has heeded his call and issued a safety advisory recommending that the safety system called Automatic Train Control (ATC) -- which could have lessened the impacts of the recent Amtrak derailment be implemented along dangerous curves and routes for trains traveling throughout Upstate New York and across the country. Following the derailment in Philadelphia, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) instructed Amtrak to turn ATC on at the curve in Philadelphia that caused the derailment.

Today, Schumer announced that following his call the FRA has issued a Safety Advisory instructing railroads to make sure the safety system is turned on and installed along rail lines and, if the system is not installed, to ensure that the train operates with two qualified crew members in the cab of the train, to enhance safety and avoid driver distraction. In addition, the FRA instructed railroads to install additional wayside signage alerting engineers to speed restrictions. Following Schumer's push these safety improvements will not just be made along the Northeast Corridor, they will also be made on other passenger rail lines throughout the country, including the Hudson Valley, Albany, Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo.

"After the tragic derailment in Philadelphia, the FRA has wisely responded to our call to immediately establish Automatic Train Control as a vital interim safety measure in Upstate New York and beyond. And, if the system is not installed, the FRA will require that the train operates with two qualified crew members to enhance safety and avoid driver distraction. When it comes to rail safety, ATC is not the whole enchilada of positive train control, but it is an immediately achievable safety improvement that lessens the chance of another fatal derailment," said Schumer. "I am pleased the FRA will work with Amtrak and the freight railroads to determine where else outside of the Northeast Corridor -- in places like the Hudson Valley, Albany, Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo -- we can install ATC and ensure it is functioning properly."

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