CLEVELAND, June 7 — Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers conducted informational picketing in Kansas City on Tuesday to protest the Union Pacific Railroad’s replacement of locomotive engineers with pilotless remote control trains.
The engineers claimed that UP’s remote control operations in Kansas City began only a few weeks ago, but there has already been a derailment involving a remote control locomotive. They also noted that there have been numerous incidents at other locations where UP uses remote control technology, including rail yards in Des Moines, Iowa, and Hinkle, Oregon.
“Because Union Pacific Railroad is a major transporter of nuclear waste, hazardous materials and deadly chemicals, the BLE feels it is imperative that the public be made aware of potential safety issues created by the implementation of remote control operations,” the BLE members said in a written statement.
“The BLE believes that Union Pacific could avoid potential safety hazards and operating efficiency issues by using federally certified locomotive engineers to operate remote control locomotives.,” their statement continued. “Locomotive engineers are the most highly trained, skilled and experienced employees in the railroad industry and are the only railroad employees who are required by the federal government to be licensed and certified to perform their duties.”
The Kansas City engineers pointed to a May 25 alert from the U.S. Department of Transportation, warning about possible terrorist attacks on commuter and freight railroads in the United States.
“While the airlines and airports are increasing security by placing trained professionals in airports and on airplanes, Union Pacific is taking skilled, Federally certified engineers off the trains,” said Local Chairman Randy Schneider. “It makes no sense.”
Photographs of this event are available here.