General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRailroads Want One Man Crews
I've posted about this last year when my union, SMART formerly UTU, was in negotiations with the railroads for 1 person crews. It was the union heads that negotiated in secret and membership was blind sided by it. Membership voted it down. It's blatantly obvious how dangerous that would have been. However, the railroads have been pushing this for a long time because it's a cost cutting move to increase profits.
The conductor on the train would have been replaced with a so-called "master conductor" that would be in a vehicle to go help an engineer if/when they needed to set out some cars on the train. If the engineer should have a medical emergency, too bad for that person as there would be no one there to help.
From Feb 20, 2015 Railroads Want One-Man Crews on Massive Freight Trains
Railroad executives counter that a new GPS-based braking systemrequired by Congress by the end of this yearwill be enough to blunt that risk. But railroad workers, environmental groups, and people in the communities along the tracks strongly disagree.
"It's a recipe for disaster," said Mark Voelker, a switchman for BNSF Railway and an organizer for the SMART union, which represents conductors nationwide.
"These are mile-long trains carrying every kind of hazardous material you can think of through communities," said Jen Wallis, another BNSF employee and founder of a caucus with members from 13 different railroad unions. "Why would you compromise the safe passage of these trains for profit?"
Oktober
(1,488 posts)... if the whole thing is kept on a dead man switch as opposed to just plowing on in the absence of command.
neverforget
(9,436 posts)However, the engineer will have no one there to help should they require medical assistance such as CPR. There are many places where it is extremely difficult to get too.
There is aleady GPS on the engine and the end of train device (ETD) that tells the dispatcher where the train is located.
Oktober
(1,488 posts)... and could suffer a medical problem as opposed to the necessity for two people to make the train run properly?
neverforget
(9,436 posts)You have to stay alert for up to 12 hours all the while sitting down with the train rocking back and forth. It's difficult to do. If there is a problem with the train such as a hot box, the conductor on the train will walk back to the car with the problem while the engineer stays on the locomotive. If that car needs to be set out in a siding, the conductor has to do it while giving the engineer commands over the radio.
PTC would be a safety enhancement but shouldn't be a replacement for the conductor.
MicaelS
(8,747 posts)Oktober
(1,488 posts)... And a train can.
DanTex
(20,709 posts)It would seem to be tiny, compared to everything else involved.
xfundy
(5,105 posts)Every penny is up for scrutiny. Every damn one.
Initech
(100,102 posts)Poor people have to account for every last dime they spend, and god forbid that they spend a dime on any sort of luxury items. But corporate crooks can make billions dissappear. Billions!!! And no one is held accountable, no one is punished. Kansas can pass a law saying poor people can't spend money on cruise ships. Buy corporate criminals can steal, lie, cheat, murder, and destroy the environment. Not a damn thing happens to them. What is wrong with this picture?
Initech
(100,102 posts)pansypoo53219
(20,995 posts)lostnfound
(16,190 posts)around 260 people were on board that train .. like a big airplane.
Would I trust technology to replace one person? Maybe, but not here, with all of the skimping on infrastructure we do here.
cherokeeprogressive
(24,853 posts)The ISS moves at 17,000+ mph yet we send unmanned capsules to it on a regular basis. Tell me a vehicle on rails traveling routes that in some cases haven't changed in way more than a century needs someone to guide it, and I'll sell you a really neat bridge in NYC.
neverforget
(9,436 posts)The train isn't going to stop with people or a vehicle on the track because the train doesn't know that there is something on the rail that's not supposed to be there. A human can see it and attempt to stop or blow the whistle to get them to move.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)But a human will still be needed both as a fail-safe against the possibility of tech failure, hacking, and programming sabotage, and as a reassurance to the traveling public that if the tech goes haywire for ANY reason, there is still someone there to make sure it won't kill us all.
1939
(1,683 posts)If you are on the tracks and the train is moving at 40 MPH or more, by the time the engineer sees you, it is already too late.