changes it was committed to making while the investigation into the accident was under way and
lawmakers worked to pass federal safety legislation. Among the changes the agency implemented were
increasing crew member efficiency testing to ensure that safety and operating rules were followed and
temporarily adding a second engineer on board as many trains as possible traveling on single track
shared with freight trains, a practice that came to be known as the "second set of eyes." Metrolink also
modified its operating rules to ensure proper "calling out" or verification of all signals by train engineers
and conductors while operating trains, and updated its emergency preparedness and response plans and
protocols. In addition, the agency began exploring PTC technology and expanded the Sealed Corridor
Program it originally introduced in 2006.
included selecting a subcommittee to appoint an independent commuter rail safety peer review
panel to conduct a thorough analysis of Metrolink's entire operations, Metrolink conducting its own
independent background check of all contracted engineers instead of depending on Connex/Veolia
Transportation's background check, revisiting of the agency's operating contract with Connex/Veolia
Transportation and the independent review of engineers' hours of service to ensure engineers are in
top shape and not fatigued when operating Metrolink trains. At the time, the FRA did not have hours
of service requirements in place for railroad agencies, only recommendations, something that Metrolink
wanted to change, according to Los Angeles County Metro representative Richard Katz. However, the
FRA did have hours of service requirements for other transportation providers such as school, tour bus
and truck drivers, and aircraft and helicopter pilots, something that Metrolink wanted to change.
said then Board Chairman and Riverside County representative Ron Roberts. "From our soon-to-arrive
passenger cars with Crash Energy Management technology to our Sealed Corridor initiative, Metrolink
has consistently been on the leading edge of rail safety. We intend to lead the industry into the next
phase of rail safety development."