Metrolink Approves Millions For Safety

October 26, 2008 (by Otto Smyth)

According to reports Metorlink who is facing probable legal suits for wrongful death and personal injuries in the Chatsworth commuter train crash has approved millions of dollars in safety improvements.

It has been reported that the Metrolink Transportation Authority Board of Directors of Metrolink has approved safety upgrades which will cost and estimated $10.6 to $12.6 million and this will include additional engineers and conductors, along with Automatic Train Stop technology and the replacement of incandescent light bulbs on signals with light emitting diodes. The Automatic Train Stop technology is planned to be put into operation in 50 locations at an estimated cost of $1.1 million and used for the next several years until a more advanced system is available. This system has been used since the 1940’s and has receivers approximately 100 feet before each warning signal. This is an alarm that the conductor must acknowledge within an eight second time frame or the train will automatically slow and come to a stop.

The board approved additional hiring of engineers and conductors for trains running that will not have the Automatic Train Stop technology.

The Metrolink board has already allocated $5 million for the Los Angeles County safety improvements. The Metrolink Transportation Authority is the major source of funding for Metrolink and the five counties in Southern California that it operates.

Another item the board approved at a cost of $1 million was the changing of signal bulbs at 650 signals to give the higher visibility with the new bulbs. They also approved relocating or changing five signals that will be an approximate cost of $3 to $5 million.