Rail safety legislation is enacted

The House of Representatives and Senate passed a major railroad safety reform bill requiring new technology to prevent crashes and limit hours engineers can work, the Associated Press reported. President Bush signed the bill last fall.
The legislation is in response to a commuter train crash last September that killed 25 people in Los Angeles. The deal includes a requirement for the installation by 2015 of technology that can engage the brakes if a train misses a signal or gets off track. This would be required on all rail lines that carry passengers and on freight lines that carry hazardous materials.