Railroad companies continue to fight the installation of the Positive Train Control technology called for in the Rail Safety Improvement Act. Companies argue that the devices are too expensive and that the act did not give them enough time to install PTC. Congress passed the law in 2008; railroads have until 2015 to comply with the PTC rule.

Proponents say the technology will avert train wrecks that are caused by human error -- and about 40 percent of all train accidents, including South Carolina's 2005 Graniteville disaster, are linked to human error. The National Transportation Safety Board says that PTC could have prevented 21 train accidents and saved 53 lives in the past 11 years. In addition to the lives saved, PTC could have prevented almost 1,000 injuries.

Using GPS and wireless communications systems, PTC monitors trains and automatically engages the brakes if the train is about to collide or derail or if the train takes the wrong track or runs a red light. A deadly crash on the West Coast occurred in 2008 when the conductor ran a red light -- he was texting at the time.

In addition to preventing accidents, PTC can help railroads cut shipping time. The technology affords the companies more control of train traffic; the efficiency should save money and increase capacity.

All well and good, say opponents, but the systems are too expensive, and the technology needs more work. Plus, not every stretch of track needs such a sophisticated system. The Association of American Railroads and the American Public Transportation Association are urging regulators to exempt as much as 20 percent of their track.

The White House has perhaps unwittingly supported the railroads' arguments. We'll get into that in our next post.

Source: FairWarning.org, "As Rail Tragedies Fade From Memory, Resistance to Safety Rule Gains Steam," Justine Sharrock, Laurie Udesky, and Stuart Silverstein, Jan. 19, 2012