Amtrak Demonstrates Its Newly Operational Train Safety System
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- At top speeds of 125 miles per hour, there is little room for error operating an Amtrak train.
In May, eight people died and 200 more hurt when a train derailed.
Authorities say it was going 106 m.p.h. into the 50 m.p.h. Frankford Junction curve in North Philly.
Today Amtrak gave Eyewitness News' Cleve Bryan a demonstration of a newly operational safety system they say forces trains to always travel under the speed limit.
The Positive Train Control System uses sensors that constantly calculates the train's speed and if it goes too fast approaching a curve or stop signal, it automatically applies the brakes.
While Amtrak won't comment on why the may derailment happened - they say this system will prevent engineers from speeding.