SOFTWARE GLITCH MUTES CSX TRANSPORTATION COMMUNICATIONS

SOFTWARE GLITCH MUTES CSX TRANSPORTATION COMMUNICATIONS    CSX Transportation said an apparent software problem caused CSXT trains throughout the south to lose communication with each other early Friday, the Associated Press reported.
   No accidents were reported. Crews used handheld radios to communicate during the communications shutdown.
   The problem affected automatic controls that tell train crews when to stop, start, slow down and other commands.
   MCI WorldCom, CSXT's communications provider, was undergoing planned maintenance when the outage occurred, at about 4:30 a.m. EDT Friday, a railroad spokesperson said. By late morning communications were restored.
   CSXT, which has been struggling to integrate those systems acquired during the Conrail division, will investigate the problem with MCI WorldCom., the railroad spokesperson said.