Freight Railroads Ask Courts to Throw Out New Rule Requiring Two-Person Crews on Trains

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: US News and World Report/AP

April 11, 2024, at 1:00 p.m.


Four railroads have asked federal appeals courts to throw out a new rule that would require two-person train crews in most circumstances, saying the mandate is arbitrary, capricious and an illegal abuse of discretion.

The identical challenges of the Federal Railroad Administration's rule were all filed this week in different appellate courts on behalf of Union Pacific, BNSF and two short line railroads — the Indiana Railroad and Florida East Coast Railway.

The new federal requirement, announced last week, was a milestone in organized labor’s long fight to preserve the practice and came amid increasing scrutiny into railroad safety, especially in the wake of the fiery February 2023 derailment in eastern Ohio.

Most of those railroads didn't immediately offer additional explanation for why they don't like the rule, but the industry has long opposed such a regulation and the Association of American Railroads trade group said last week that the rule was unfounded and not supported by safety data. The Indiana Railroad — like many short lines across the country — already operates with one-person crews, but the major freight railroads all have two-person crews that their union contracts require.

Read more: https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2024-04-11/freight-railroads-ask-courts-to-throw-out-new-rule-requiring-two-person-crews-on-trains

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Reference - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143219460

[elleng]

1. Of course it's NOT arbitrary, capricious and an illegal abuse of discretion.

[Voltaire2]

2. Gotta keep growing the profits.

Too bad about those toxic derailments, not our problem.

[Harker]

3. Two should be the absolute minimum.

A second person is only truly redundant if they're never needed, and I can think of many circumstances under which a backup could prevent grave danger.

[SarahD]

4. Silly old rules!

Requiring two people to operate a train that's a mile long, weighs a million tons, carries incredibly dangerous cargo that can wipe out a whole city, etc. What a bunch of Nervous Nellies! Relax. Have a beer. Don't worry so much. Next thing you know, they'll want to prohibit blind people from driving.

[doc03]

5. That first sentance is the argument Jackie Chiles Krammers lawyer made

on Sienfeld.

[Diamond_Dog]

6. Railroads Complain That They're Being Railroaded.

[Puppyjive]

7. This is unreal to me

These trains are ticking time bombs going thru our towns. They need two people on the crews. I worked for the railroad. Can't believe they are asking for this.

[truthisfreedom]

8. Unless these trains are completely automated as well as

Remote controlled by dedicated engineers focused on just one train each, you need two people on a train in case one loses consciousness.

[Traurigkeit]

10. The cxx level at Railroad corps - do not care about any employee unless it is themselves

Death, destruction means nothing to these men and women in charge of these railroads if it does not affect their salaries/bonuses/stock options.

Those that live near rails or work on the rails are just numbers on a page to cut down to these people.
They all gave up their souls to GREED long ago.
They live as corpses to money

May hell be their reward

[LiberalFighter]

13. Or too tired. Falls asleep. Has a heart attack. Too drunk.

[ArkansasDemocrat1]

9. They're trying to only require one pilot for airlines, too n/t

[pfitz59]

11. Redundancy is safety

What about restroom breaks, or rest period? Or training and promotions? Simple common sense.

[ArkansasDemocrat1]

12. "NONE OF THAT MATTERS TO US!" -- Corporations

They'd rather kill us than have someone at the controls to prevent it. Fuck the suits, eat the rich.

[Gore1FL]

14. The only time I could see a remote argument for it is long-distance hot-shots with no setouts until destination.

Those trains would be short and not have hazmat, and travel along the best routes. I would still think having another set of hands eyes would be a good thing, even if there isn't a lot of work expected to go on.

[Puppyjive]

16. I quit the railroad

Training to be an engineer. Both crew members fell asleep. After I quit, two fell asleep on a steep grade and their train got away from them. Derailed. I wanted no part if that environment. Getting called after 6 hours of rest was not adequate. The corporations are just too big to fight.

[LiberalFighter]

15. I would like to see any railroad exec that flies

Has only one pilot flying them across the country.

[Hekate]

17. So they must figure in the death, destruction, & mayhem as a cost of doing business...

Meaning it costs less for these bozos to let people die and destroy countryside than it does to just hire a few more?

[Orrex]

18. Has Thomas ruled in their favor yet?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

19. Thomas gets a vote?

[Orrex]

20. Well, he's no bossy boiler, that's for sure.