So you want to be an Metrolink train engineer.....

[rarkow]

It seems that Metrolink just doesn’t get it

The recent revelations that happened in Washington, D.C. during the hearings about the Metrolink crash were devastating to Metrolink. Not only did the engineer send text messages while driving the train, it was revealed that he had teenage boys actually driving the trains.

How could Metrolink allow this to happen? The answer is simple; the engineers and other employees are not Metrolink employees; they are contractors.

So when bad stuff happens, Metrolink blames the contractor.

But now there is evidence that Metrolink knew about these things and failed to take action. Legally they knew or should have known that there were problems. My own experience with Metrolink involves a conductor that has ignored Metrolink’s orders and does what he wants.

The fact that the engineer in the fatal crash allowed teenage boys to operate a passenger carrying train is, to put it mildly, insane. Yet it did happen.

But what really caught my attention was an article in Metrolink’s own newsletter, Metrolink Matters. The article, titled Visit Railway History at Railfest 2009, stated that: “Take a ‘So You Want To Be An Engineer’ ride down the tracks.”

And in another article, Metrolink says that: “Rail fan Kevin Bleich of Claremont snapped this shot of one of our locomotives at the Claremont station….and wants to be a Metrolink engineer someday.”

Call it bad taste, call it arrogance, call it an unfortunate error on the part of the editor, call it what you will, it shows how little Metrolink cares about how it runs its operations and the safety of its riders.

[half fare traveler]

I have been allowed on engines in Germany to see the inside after obtaining clearance from the railroad. I was a member of the local railroad museum for about three years and had operators training I would never let young teenagers touch the controls as it was a violation of museum safety regulations and also FRA regulations we had to not only remove the reverser key but, lock the brake stand valve as well. Letting someone not trained in the safe operation of a train with passengers on board is a disaster waiting to happen! A person driving a car is only drive a 400 lb object a train operator is moving a 500 ton train not including the weight of the 110 ton locomotive and most the Metrolink trains are six cars long each 500 ton cars just think of the stopping distance a 400lb car can stop (in most cases at 25 mph will stop in about between 20 and 50 feet) A trains stopping distance is measured in miles not feet the same case a train hits a car at 25 mph it may take a mile and a half to come to a stop.

[rarkow]

Wow! I was on vacation for a couple of weeks but I agree, letting kids run the train is insane.

One has to wonder how the management at Metrolink, or more correctly at Connex, did not know that this was going on.

I believe the expression “knew or should have known” applies to this case.

I hope that Metrolink has better luck with their new contractor, Amtrak. They used to run the trains for years with no problems. I suspect they have higher standards, at least let’s hope so!

Comments anyone?


Bob Arkow
Webmaster
www.metrolinkrider.com