President Bush and Congress have passed the most comprehensive railroad safety legislation in three decades, according to published reports. 

President Bush signed the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 on Thursday. 

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is praising the move.  The law requires passenger railroads to install the Positive Train Control System (PTC) by 2015.  The PTC would control the train if the engineer failed to act.

The deadly September Metrolink train collision in Chatsworth that killed 25 people and injured 135 others could have been prevented by the PTC system, the NTSB said.  The engineer in that crash failed to stop at a red signal on the track and collided with a freight train, investigators said.

Under the new law, railroads would have to limit shifts to 12 hours and give workers at least 10 consecutive hours off in a 24-hour period.  In addition, conductors would have to pass certification and meet minimum training standards.

If you or someone you know was injured in the Chatsworth train collision, call or write an experienced personal injury attorney at The Gomez Law Firm today.