SAGINAW, Mich. — Railroad engineers say remote control technology that CSX Transportation is introducing to move and couple cars in rail yards — including one in Saginaw — threatens the safety of employees and the public, although CSX officials cite safety as the primary reason for the change.
A federal agency says the technology is neither more nor less safe.
The Jacksonville, Fla.-based CSX, with rail yards in 23 states, began using remote control locomotives in January. The Saginaw rail yard, bordered by North Washington, Norman, Veteran’s Memorial Parkway and Wadsworth, received its first remote control unit in July. Another is expected by the end of the month. With the technology, two employees stand on the ground and use a remote control belt-pack to guide the movement of train cars in rail yards as the cars are switched from one train to another. Traditionally, an engineer in the cab of a locomotive receives hand signals and radio commands from employees on the ground.
John Bentley, spokesman for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, said the traditional way of moving cars in rail yards is best.
“The danger is replacing an engineer with lots of experience with someone who has 80 hours of training,” he said, referring to remote control operators. “It may cause a derailment of a tanker car with hazardous chemicals (that) could be released because of the derailment.”
He added that a remote control operator in California had his leg amputated two weeks ago after it was crushed by a moving car.
Bentley said he believes money is the real motive for CSX to a make the switch.
“It’s a cost-cutting move on their part to use this technology,” he said.
David Hall, spokesman for CSX, points to statistics from the Association of American Railroads indicating that incidents have decreased by 70 percent at the Canadian Pacific Railroad since it began using remote control locomotives in 1994.
“There are economic benefits, some cost savings,” he said, “but we see the most compelling reason to use this is improved safety.”
Hall said the remote control unit “reduces the potential for miscommunication between the engineer in the cab and the employee on the ground.”
Twelve CSX employees in Saginaw are trained to use the remote control locomotives and six more will complete their training next week, Hall said. Warren Flatau, spokesman for the Federal Railroad Administration, which oversees railroad operations, said remote control locomotives are neither more nor less safe.
“There is no evidence that indicates that safety is degraded or diminished by the use of the (remote control locomotive),” he said.
He said statistics used by railroad companies often do not offer a true comparison because the number of hours worked and number of employees are not equal. The railroad administration has monitored remote control locomotives since it set up guidelines in February 2001.
Remote control operators are required to complete 80 hours of training, while engineers receive eight months of training and are licensed.
“It’s very much watered down compared to what a real locomotive engineer is required to have,” Bentley said.
Bentley said he doesn’t expect the technology will mean lost jobs for the 50 engineers in Saginaw, but he said CSX may require them to work in a different capacity.
A traditional engineer still is needed to operate the train as it travels from Saginaw to its next destination, which means the engineer will have to spend more time away from family, Bentley said.
About seven trains daily, for a total of 300 cars, originate in the Saginaw rail yard, Hall said.
He said grain and coal most frequently travel through Saginaw; other cargo includes chemicals and automobiles.