Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Train Safety provided by Citizens through Mobile phone app.

Train safety cell phone app.
With a few minutes of research it appears to me a mobile phone app could have saved those people in the recent Philadelphia train crash, on 5/12/2015.  Amtrak already has a reservation app, they just need to program a gps speed monitor and link the app to a database of track speed limits.  Then simply put the cell phone number of the conductor and presto you have a crude safety net, as least as far as monitoring speed limits.  {In fact a car stuck on tracks could warn a train if they already had the app as well} If multiple phones report a speed violation and Amtrak HQ can not slow the train remotely the app issues a warning to the mobile phone owner to contact train personnel or to execute an emergency stop.

Here is the link, to the current 'Vital Positive Train Control' video.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIsQuoFXwe4   and here is a link to the Amtrak app, https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.amtrak.rider&hl=en

This seems like an easy move to make at least until they get there professional grade system working everywhere.

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