Just days after an explosive New York Times investigative report exposed the dangers of remote control technology, the Union Pacific launched a wide-ranging initiative to implement remote control locomotives (RCLs) in Las Vegas. Brother Matt Parker, Chairman of the BLET Nevada State Legislative Board, and Jason Doering, Member of BLET Division 766 (Las Vegas), made the public aware of this dangerous leap backward on June 12 when a column they authored was published in the Las Vegas Sun.
Brothers Parker and Doering wrote that UP’s push for RCLs is symptomatic of an alarming trend in the railroad industry to prioritize short-term operational efficiencies and cost savings at the expense of the safety of rail workers and the general public. They wrote: “The dangers of remote operations extend beyond individual incidents. A recent rash of accidents involving remote control locomotives has prompted a federal review of the technology. These trains, often operating without onboard engineers, have been linked to multiple fatalities and severe injuries, further illustrating the peril of prioritizing cost-cutting over comprehensive safety protocols.”
Read the full column here.