Amtrak Cascades derailment near Tacoma

[mk378]

There could at least be a stopgap solution of a device to warn the engineer that the train is about to enter a speed zone too fast. This is the first part of positive train control. The second part (the "positive" element) automatically slows down if the engineer does not respond to the warning. A speed warning only system would be better than nothing and would not require any modification to the locomotive.

If PTC ever activates even at the warning stage, the engineer is likely to get fired for not paying attention.

 

[PimTac]

I read somewhere that service will not continue in that line until the PTC is activated at that location. In hindsight, too late of course. They do have it installed on other portions but how they determine where to install it should be questioned as well.