Amtrak Will Install Cameras in Locomotives

Inward-facing cameras in locomotive cabs are designed to help find clues in future crashes.

Emergency personnel work the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia. An Amtrak train headed to New York City derailed and crashed in Philadelphia.

Emergency personnel work the scene of a train wreck, Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia. An Amtrak train headed to New York City derailed and crashed in Philadelphia.

Following the deadly Philadelphia train derailment that killed 8 people earlier this month, Amtrak says it will install cameras in the cabs of its locomotives, to provide more information in the event of future crashes.

“The National Transportation Safety Board has been recommending that the Federal Railroad Administration require passenger and freight train cabs to have audio recorders since the late 1990s,” 6ABC reports. “They revised that recommendation five years ago to include inward-facing sound and video cameras.”

“The change covers only ACS-64 locomotives that power all Northeast regional and long-distance trains between Washington and Boston, as well as Keystone Service between New York, Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pa.,” USA Today adds. “Amtrak said it is still developing plans for installing video cameras on Acela Express locomotives and other diesel locomotives.”