(The BLE’s Pennsylvania State Legislative Board issued the following news release on October 14.)
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The idea of moving hazardous and dangerous materials in and around populated areas on locomotives and trains with no engineer on board and in control of lethal rail equipment is meeting stiff and growing resistance in communities, municipalities, cities and counties across America.
To date almost 50 cities and counties in every region of the country have taken action to ban the use of remote controlled locomotives.
Elected officials state a variety of reasons for their actions including, “a lack of comprehensive Federal safety controls; a series of dangerous remote derailments around the nation; the lack of local emergency plans in the event of disaster, or acts of terror; and a complete lack of regulation of proper training for remote train operators.”
“The next derailment might be one where there’s chemicals on the train and we can’t get our people out,” Baton Rouge Mayor Lorri Burgess said after the City Council passed a resolution to ban the use of remote control locomotives in that city.
Detroit’s City Council adopted a resolution that banned the use of remote control locomotives and called for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to immediately adopt comprehensive regulations governing the use of remote technology.
Detroit’s resolution said that remote control locomotives cannot be used to transport materials on or near tracks occupied by hazardous materials.
It also resolved that remote control locomotives cannot be operated over a public or private highway-rail grade crossing without “a person occupying the cab of the locomotive who has the required skills to stop the locomotive and its attached equipment.”
When the City of Boston took action against remote control locomotive operations, city council cited various safety concerns, including terrorism, public safety around the tracks, passenger rail safety and the lack of training by remote control operators.
Boston also asked the FRA to create more comprehensive safety requirements, while the city prepared plans for emergencies in the area.
The City Council of Cleveland adopted an “emergency measure” recently that asked members of the Ohio State Legislature to quickly pass legislation addressing security and safety concerns surrounding the use of remote control locomotives in the state.
Cleveland asked state and federal agencies that regulate railroad operations to work with the Department of Homeland Security to establish regulations to address remote control locomotives.
Meanwhile Erie County, Ohio, told railroad companies to refrain from operating remote control trains in Erie County until several safety considerations are met, including:
* Remotes cannot be used to transport hazardous materials and/or move near tracks near hazardous materials;
* Remotes cannot be operated over a public or private grade crossing without a person occupying the cab of the locomotive who has the required skills to stop the locomotive and its attached equipment;
* Railroads must provide effective and reliable protection at the point of movement in any location accessible to the general public for any remote control operation; and
* Remote control engines must be equipped with devices to secure the operating cab and its controls against terrorists, vandals, and other authorized persons.
The Township of Woodbridge, N.J., adopted a resolution citing safety risks associated with remote control locomotives and demanded the risks be eliminated before the technology is implemented in Woodbridge.
“I don’t see any reason to run remote-control locomotives,” said Woodbridge City Councilman Vincent Martino. “The state of New Jersey is one of the most-populated states. It’s too congested. There are many grade crossings.”
Martino added, “This is a way of sending a message to the elected officials on a national level. Hopefully, we’ll get federal legislation to limit the use of remote-control engines in populated areas.”