Derailment prompts safety questions
(New York television station WIVB posted the following story by Erika
Brason on its website on February 9.)
CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. -- A derailment at a Cheektowaga train yard is
prompting questions about safety Monday night. Some CSX employees
believe the new automated cars are a danger to workers and the public.
There were moments of uncertainty Monday morning when eight train cars
derailed in the Frontier Train Yard in Cheektowaga.
Five cars toppled over completely. Three of them were LPG cars
containing residual amounts of liquid propane.
An out-of-town spokesman for CSX Rail says the cars did not leak so
there was no threat to public safety.
Cheektowaga emergency crews responded, but did not need to put a Haz-Mat
plan into action.
Signs posted in the train yard warn people of the use of remote control
operated cars. Although an exact cause of derailment is still being
investigated, some CSX employees say the new technology is an accident
waiting to happen.
We have disguised the voice of an engine service employee who asked to
remain anonymous, "These remote controls have been shoved down our
throat. They think they're more efficient, more effective, more safe.
Well, you can see how safe they are."
The CSX employee says there have been several accidents around the
country involving remote control train cars, many involving injury.
He says CSX officials refuse to acknowledge it, "They think it's more
safe than a two man job which is completely ridiculous. This is another
accident that will more than likely be shoved under the rug."
