In a letter dated May 26, 2016, to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), SMART TD National Legislative Director John Risch brought attention to the fact that some railroads are requiring needless radio broadcasts to the already-congested radio airways, which caused a derailment and loss of life in the case of the May 2015 Amtrak crash.
“Places where there is too much radio traffic impairs the ability of train crew members to communicate effectively with roadway workers, dispatchers and other train crews causing safety issues,” Risch wrote. “We have reports from members who say they have lost situational awareness because of the constant blaring of the locomotive radio and I can attest that it has happened to me.”
Click here to read Risch’s letter to the FRA in its entirety.
Related News
- TD Local 446 mourns loss of member who died while on the job
- FRA Administrator Bose: Safety is first
- TTD President Regan: Transportation labor has shown it’s a driving force
- TD president addresses SMART General Session, TD officers
- Oberman addresses SMART General Session
- Two-person crew saves the life of missing woman
- TD President Ferguson, three members testify before STB
- FRA NPRM: The truth behind the need for two-person crews
- SMART-TD LACMTA operators ratify tentative contract
- House leaders introduce bill reauthorizing STB and to assist rail customers