Sen Thune Sets Passenger Rail Safety Hearing

The Senate Commerce Committee will hold a full committee hearing titled, “Passenger Rail Safety: Accident Prevention and On-Going Efforts to Implement Train Control Technology” on Wednesday, June 10, 2015, at 10:00am EST. Following the tragic Amtrak derailment in Philadelphia on May 12, 2015, this hearing offers an opportunity to hear testimony from expert witnesses about ongoing efforts to prevent passenger rail accidents, particularly through the use of train control technology.

Witnesses have been requested to discuss the capabilities and limitations of train control technologies (including positive train control systems); the current status of the deployment and functionality of positive train control systems; and current challenges with on-going efforts to install, test, and certify positive train control systems by the December 31, 2015, statutory deadline. Witnesses include Robert Lauby, Associate Administrator for Safety / Chief Safety Officer, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration; Charles Mathias, Associate Bureau Chief, Federal Communications Commission, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau; and DJ Stadtler, Executive Vice President / Chief Operations Officer, Amtrak