US officials, Metro-North agree on safety equipment loan

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Federal transportation officials and the Metropolitan Transportation Agency have agreed on a nearly $1 billion federal loan to install technology that could slow trains when necessary on the Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Railroad.

Connecticut U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Wednesday the Federal Railroad Administration and MTA agreed on a $967 million loan to install Positive Train Control technology. It automatically slows the train if the operator or a malfunction places it in jeopardy.

MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan says Metro-North and the LIRR are putting in place the system, which includes installing on-board components for 1,455 rail cars and transponders.

A Metro-North train derailed in the Bronx on Dec. 1, 2013, killing four passengers. The engineer told investigators he felt "dazed" before the train hit a curve.