2007-08-11 16:51:46 · 14 answers · asked by hound dog 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Rail
Think they will and that they are about to. I think the next national contract between the BLE and the NCCC will be one man crews. I think the UTU will pay dearly for allowing RCO agreements.
You really don't need conductors anymore. Most through trains the conductor does nothing but sleep anyway. 75% wouldn't have a clue if the engineer had a heart attack or not.
Reny's mom: We don't want your loser foamer bf either.
2007-08-12 02:02:55 · answer #1 · answered by penhead72 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Unfortunately, it's right around the corner and will follow not far behind on the heels of implementation of "Positive Train Control".
It won't run the train of course, but will allow for stopping the train in the event of incapacity on the part of the engineer. Although being touted as a safety measure, any benefits realized by its implementation will be quickly eroded through the loss of a second pair of eyes in the cab.
Keep in mind, due to the location of the seats in a locomotive cab, a person or a vehicle on the opposite side of the cab disappears from view many feet before the locomotive reaches that point where the person is. Although you almost always know when you've tagged a vehicle, pedestrians are a different story and when hit on the opposite side of the locomotive are not visable or heard, in many instances.
So, will the railroads ever go for it? Big time. Afterall, they need to cut costs. The UP just posted a net income of over $386 million dollars (remember, I said "net") for the first quarter of 2007. I guess times are tough all over.
With the implementation of PTC, there needs to be protection built in that will not reduce the ability of the train crews to recognize dangerous situations the PTC will not address, as suggested above.
And those miraculous new electronically controlled air brake systems that are close to becoming a reality, which boasts a reduction in stopping distance by as much as 60%, will be of no safety value either. All you'll see are trains that are 60% heavier with tonnage.
That's the way it has always been with any new technology since the first trains rumbled along in the east..... It isn't going to change now.
Write your representatives in D.C. The public is being fed a bunch of BS.
2007-08-12 17:10:55 · answer #2 · answered by Samurai Hoghead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some shortlines have been allowed to run with just an engineer, but I have doubts the Class 1 railroads will anytime soon. Part of the reason is the public is very uncomfortable with the thought of a big long train running 50 mph with only one guy running it. The technology is there to run trains with only one person, but considering the price of the cargo, locomotives, and rolling stock, it seems like cheap insurance to keep the two man crews. It would be public outcry to the FRA that would stop the change, I think.
Kent in SD
2007-08-12 12:01:33 · answer #3 · answered by duckgrabber 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sadly, I agree with Hoghead. One man crews will be a reality in the not-so-distant future. I'd look for incidents to increase, because like hoghead said, you're missing an extra set of eyes, and you can only see so much from just one side of the cab. I don't see it lasting very long whenever it happens. Once the 1st major accident happens with one man crews and the railroads get hit with some hefty law suits, they will go back to 2 man crews. But for now, just be glad that it hasn't happend yet!
2007-08-13 16:03:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh, I'm quite sure that will go over with the railroad. That is, if the railroad companies want to continue putting profit over safety for its crews, and the general public. I just wish those idiots would realize one person alone CAN NOT run an entire train.
2007-08-14 01:28:07 · answer #5 · answered by Mike M. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They've already tried it, yes eventually they will.
Amtrak has already tried one man crews on some of their short runs, I think they had to go back to two but I am not sure about taht part,makes you feel real safe doesnt it?
Helpers run one man crews in a lot of places, it is happening incrementally.
Crew costs are one of the easiest places for railroads to cut expenses. For instance they cant cut back on maintenance for very long, and they can't make the price of fuel any less so they see cutting crew costs as a way to add to their bottom line.
It oftentimes backfires on them, I dont think going to remote controlled switchers has saved them anythign, not on this property anyway.
The only thing that is going to keep this from happening is the safety factor and we (rail labor) need public input and legislative help to keep the second person in the cab.
2007-08-12 02:21:04 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, why not. E.g. in Germany all trains up to 160 km/h have just one engineer. For the high-speed lines I don´t know. Might be one man only due to the electronic control of the train.
2007-08-14 22:21:50 · answer #7 · answered by finestrat1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
duck grabber, yes it will happen but the public outcry(which is a great thing) may never happen until it is too late. the media is not prone to publicizing this sort o thing until AFTER the accident has happened.
it is not a wise thing.
ask a manager or executive if he or she will downsize themselves or their position to a "one man operation"?
try to get that executive to operate without a secretary to get him coffee or answer his/her own phone for crying out loud. that will never happen it's 'nimby-ism' at the executive managerial level
what's good for them is forbidden for you
2007-08-13 03:27:38 · answer #8 · answered by nvrdunit90605 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not anytime soon however as the technology advances i think that it will happen sometime way in the future
2007-08-12 14:31:54 · answer #9 · answered by heller 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The rail road's are pushing real hard for it but I don't think that the FRA will ever let them at least I hope not
2007-08-11 23:57:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋