I have several issues with our new reliance on electronic devices:

1. Electronic controls are being extensively used in situations were all they add is an unneccesary complication. The more complicated things are, the more likely they are to fail.

2. The design of modern day microprocessor controls tend to be specialized for most railroad applications - so what happens when they become obsolete in a few short years?

3. Most modern controls are software, not hardware design based. What are the chances that the code is error free? And the latest updated version is installed? (I've had personal experience with this. A mixed set of ACs on a shuttle train went nuts in slow speed. The oldest (CNW) unit couldn't handle the slow speed limit the other units could.)

4. As already mentioned, the electrical noise in a railroad enviroment is a real issue.

The railroads currently have one of the best safety records ever - based on past years and compared to other modes of transport. The only acceptable injury/accident rate is zero, so that is the obvious goal. The big issues with railroads nowadays (IMHO) are the belief that blue collar employees are nothing but a cost, and the 99% who are professionals not being respected as such - The lack of sufficient knowledgeable and experienced line managers to support all the crafts - The lack of experienced employees (Referring to the fact that the engineer and conductor used to have an average of 15 years experience EACH, and now we have conductors being forced into engine service within a few years. Has anyone considered that after all the pre-1985 conductors retire, there will no longer be any "old head" conductors?)

I remember when a 49CFR copy was hard to get because Part 200 for railroads was combined with the rules for the trucking industry, now just part 200 is one full book. Do we really need a rule that has been one or two paragraphs for the last century being changes to three pages by a bunch of bureaucrats? WHo to justify their job also create new terminology?

Remember the old sargeant that @#$%& about the "college boys"? The new generation of engineering types with common sense and practical experience are few and far between.