Few railroads likely to meet 2015 deadline for installation of technology to prevent crashes

A government report shows only a handful of railroads are close to meeting a deadline this year to install safety technology that can prevent crashes. That includes derailments due to excessive speed like the Amtrak train that crashed in Philadelphia.

The Federal Railroad Administration report says only three railroads have submitted safety plans to the government. That's a necessary step before they can put positive train control, or PTC, into operation. Those railroads are BNSF Railway and commuter railroads in the Philadelphia and Los Angeles areas. BNSF is the nation's second largest freight railroad.

Amtrak hasn't submitted a plan yet, but has said it expects to meet the Dec. 31 deadline.

The nation's largest freight railroad is Union Pacific, which hasn't equipped any of its 6,532 locomotives with the technology.