One person crews

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

Greetings -

The concept of one person crews is a little broader than the concept
reflected in the news release below.  AAR has endorsed Remote Control
Locomotive (RCL) one person crews where productive, without compromising
safety of operations.  Class Ones currently have many locations at yards
and industries where RCL has been implemented, with the controller being
a switchman/trainman.  Studies to date show from FRA data that it is
actually safer than the traditional two or three person switch or local
crew.  With the control box in hand on the ground, or riding the lead
car, there is no potential delay or confusion with communications.  The
controls are accessible by the person controlling the movement.
Response and reaction can be instantaneous.  When implemented several
years ago, most employees were not completely sold on the method of
operation.  Once used, the majority of employees actually prefer the RCL
method over the traditional switching.  Class Ones have worked with
United Transportation Union (UTU) in their implementation of the
process.  Hence, my brothers at the BLET have continued on their website
to cite specific man-failures and human factor violations and attribute
them to RCL.  BLET has actively solicited states, cities, and towns to
adopt ordinances and resolutions prohibiting the one person crews and
RCL operations.

Hope this is useful to you all.

William M. Browder
Director of Operations
Association of American Railroads (AAR)
50 F Street, N. W.
Washington, D. C.                20001-1564
phone: 202 639-2474
fax:     202 639-2930
email:  wbrowder at aar.org

-----Original Message-----
From: nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org
[mailto:nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org] On Behalf Of
nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org
Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 6:00 PM
To: NW Mailing List
Subject: One person crews

Union balks, but U.P. set for one-man crews
Omaha (NE) World-Herald - April 27 2005

Eight railroads, including Union Pacific and BNSF
Railway Co., filed notice with the engineers and
conductors unions of their intent to negotiate
one-person crews and to consolidate engineer and
conductor jobs into a single category: transportation
employee. The railroads requested that a federal
mediator step in, saying negotiations have stalled
with the United Transportation Union, which represents
conductors.