A government report shows many commuter and freight railroads have made little progress installing safety technology designed to prevent deadly collisions and derailments despite a mandate from Congress.
The technology, called positive train control, uses digital radio communications, GPS and signals located alongside tracks to monitor trains and automatically slow or stop trains that are in danger of crashing.
The Federal Railroad Administration report shows that while some railroads have made substantial progress, others have yet to equip a single locomotive or track segment with the technology, or install a single radio tower.
Congress passed a law in 2008 giving railroads seven years to put the technology in place, and last year extended that deadline for another three to five years when railroads said they wouldn't meet the first deadline.
