Developments to watch: Engineering can save train engineers

Control engineers should offer railroads simpler and more cost-effective systems to automatically slow or stop trains as needed to lower risk.

By Mark T. Hoske March 25, 2014

Are control engineers missing opportunities to more effectively lower risk for train engineers and their passengers? It seems that easier, less expensive retrofit applications of automation technology to trains could drastically lower risk of multiple accidents related to apparent errors by train engineers.

  • In Chicago on March 24, a commuter train crashed past a station bumper and went up an escalator, resulting in multiple injuries; had people been in the wrong place at the wrong time, deaths could have resulted.
  • In New York, a February 2013 crash killed four and injured more than 60.
  • In Spain, July 2013, 80 people died and more than 100 were injured when a train failed to slow for a curve.

Manufacturing machines can stop automatically to reduce risk. Automobiles can stop automatically to reduce risk. And trains? Some railroads have installed positive train control (PTC) systems. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board has recommended PTC for years, said a 2007 post on the NTSB site. Current systems, some suggest, are costly and complex. Developments to watch: Smarter, less expensive, easier-to-install machine vision, sensors, and fail-safe controllers to slow or stop trains based on obstacles or conditions…before more people die. (This seems like so last century.) Putting related keywords into a browser returns attorney advertisements among search results. I cannot imagine that paying damages and attorney fees could be more cost effective than installing PTC safety systems on trains. Below, see related links.

– Mark T. Hoske, content manager, CFE Media, Control Engineering, mhoske@cfemedia.com.

ONLINE extras

CBS Chicago: O’Hare commuter train crashes 

Huffington Post: NYC train crash 

BBC: Train crash in Spain 

NTSB said in 2007 it had been recommending positive train control for years


Author Bio: Mark Hoske has been Control Engineering editor/content manager since 1994 and in a leadership role since 1999, covering all major areas: control systems, networking and information systems, control equipment and energy, and system integration, everything that comprises or facilitates the control loop. He has been writing about technology since 1987, writing professionally since 1982, and has a Bachelor of Science in Journalism degree from UW-Madison.