J Wrote:
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> The FRA has specific requirements for on-board
> emergency evacuation capability. For single-unit
> vehicles the locomotive engineer can perform that
> duty but with multiple vehicles or
> locomotive-hauled equipment there needs to be
> someone within the body of the train. As an
> example, there was a disabled commuter train on
> the Northeast Corridor and passengers, becoming
> frustrated with the delay, started
> "self-evacuating" onto the multiple track
> high-speed route.
J do you know ......
Is the number of conductors and assistant conductors (if needed) determined by the number of cars or a labor agreement? For example is one conductor sufficient for a train regardless of the number of cars or is there a certain number say more than three cars that requires one or more assistant conductors? I remember when passenger trains had a "flagman or rear brakeman who stood at the back of the train with a red flag at a station stop even though the line had a CTC or ABS signal system. I think that was more of a union requirement than an FRA rule that was adopted before there was even an FRA but the unions forced the railroads to keep a flagman just like they kept a fireman on a diesel train. Lines like BART that are not regulated by the FRA can operate with just one person. The technology is there so the FRA rule may be more political in nature. The argument about assisting with an evacuation does have some merit.