Seven rail projects in the US will receive a shared federal grant of $50m to deploy collision avoidance systems and other advanced technologies on the country's rail network.
The Positive Train Control (PTC) collision avoidance systems will use global positioning system technology to monitor and control train movements and to enforce speed limits to prevent collisions.
The projects will receive money through the Railroad Safety Technology Grant programme, which was authorised by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008.
The act imposed a statutory deadline of 31 December 2015 for PTC implementation on mainline tracks that carry passenger trains and certain hazardous material shipments.
The Southern California Regional Rail Authority received $6,605,446 for the development of LA PTC Communications Infrastructure.
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation in Washington received $12,850,000, while the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Long Island Railroad/Metro North Railroad, New York received $6,596,000.
Meteorcomm Communications Corporation received a $21,050,000 grant, Howard University was awarded $857,106, the Railroad Research Foundation will receive $1,541,448 and Westinghouse Airbrake Corporation will receive $500,000 for implementing PTC systems.
