SEPTA Ensures They Are All About Safety Following Hoboken Train Crash
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The deadly New Jersey Transit commuter train crash in Hoboken has rattled some Septa commuters in Philadelphia. "It's a little scary. You just don't know what happened. Was there a mechanical issue or something else?"
While the investigation into the derailment Thursday morning continues, SEPTA officials are continuing to implement safety measures to keep the thousands of passengers, relying on its transportation system everyday, safe.
Could The Hoboken Train Crash Have Been Prevented By PTC?
"Our entire industry is focused on safety," said Jeff Knueppel, SEPTA General Manager.
Beginning in April, SEPTA began installing Positive Train Control or PTC, a software based system meant to prevent derailments and problems along its regional rail lines. "The train knows where it is, where it should be in an emergency brake situation," Knueppel explained.
For instance if a train is traveling too fast heading into a station or the end of a line...
"It would limit the speed to 5-10 mph," he said.
Knueppel says to date, half a dozen regional rail lines have PTC implemented and by the end of the year all will be equipped with the added safety measure. "The stats still show that train transportation is still the safest means of travel, 10-1 over driving," Knueppel explained.