Nelson Statement on Report That Basic Safety Measures May Have Prevented Amtrak Crash

Press Release

the top Democrat on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation, issued the following the statement in response to a Wall Street Journal report today that Amtrak crews may not have followed basic safety procedures that could have prevented Sunday's deadly train accident in Pennsylvania.

"It's disturbing that this tragic accident may have been prevented by following basic safety measures, " said Nelson. "There needs to be redundant protections, such as shunts, in place to prevent these kinds worker-related accidents. Federal regulators should also take a look at whether there is a larger pattern of safety lapses at Amtrak."

The FAST Act, which was signed into law in December, includes a Commerce Committee provision that requires the Department of Transportation to come up with a rule on redundant signal protections needed to prevent such accidents.

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