WASHINGTON - Nearly 58,000 miles of an automatic braking system has been installed by the railroad industry across the country. The railroads have been working together for the past 12 years to develop this technology, called positive train control. The system, being rolled out now, costs roughly $15 billion total and is aimed at reducing the small risk of human error. Ronald Batory, the Federal Railroad Administration chief says this will make this industry even safer. Nearly 150 train crashes could have been prevented since 1969 with this technology.

The braking system uses GPS, wireless radio and computers to monitor train position and speed, and it can give engineers commands. The NTSB said the system could have prevented the December 2017 derailment of an Amtrak passenger train in Washington state that killed three passengers and injured 57 people.

Ian Jefferies, CEO of the Association of American Railroads trade group, said completing the positive train control systems is an important milestone for the industry that will "enhance safety and springboard innovation long into the future.”

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