(The following story by James Burger was published in the January 27 online issue of the Bakersfield Californian.)
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Members of the Bakersfield, Calif., City Council’s Legislative and Litigation Committee recently listened to concerns from local members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers about new remote- controlled trains recently put into use in Bakersfield.
The technology uses railroad workers on the ground to move trains through the railroad yard.
Richard Brand, speaking for the engineers’ union, said the remote-controlled trains are dangerous.
Train operators on the ground can’t see people running across the tracks and can’t sense when there is a problem, Brand argued.
That means the number of derailments and injuries will climb, he said.
“Please understand that this is a public safety issue and people are going to get hurt,” said fellow union leader Diz Francisco.
But Mike Furtney, regional director of public relations for the Union Pacific Railroad, said the warnings are a scare tactic the union has been using since the remote-control train program began in the country a year ago.
“The railroad would never implement anything that would increase accidents,” he said. Besides not wanting anyone to be hurt, “…it would be financially insane in today’s litigious society.”
City Manager Alan Tandy told council committee members that the city has no jurisdiction over the new trains.
Committee members voted to send a resolution to the full council that asks the federal government to make sure the new trains are safe.