Metro North Rail Traffic Controllers Working Seven Days Straight For Weeks On End

[Flashpoint 94]

Metro-North rail-traffic control staff has worked 7 days straight for weeks on end

A shortage of workers has deprived the staff of days off, resulting in a fatigued workforce responsible for ensuring trains dont run into each other or run over employees along the tracks. The shortage is one of the shocking revelations found in a 75-page transcript of an interview with MTA Chairman Tom Prendergast by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Full article: http://nydn.us/1qP1yH2

[TRUCK6018 50]

While I'm sure the work their rest days, I doubt it is severe as reported. The dispatchers are governed by FRA regulations regarding rest requirements. Violation of those regulations carry heavy fines to both the carrier and the individual.

Less than accurate information is the norm when you interview the head honcho that doesn't know the whole situation.

[BmSmall92 1]

Actually I don't know if the dispatchers are covered under the same hours of service laws as Train and Engine service. The only rule I know for sure that the dispatchers share with T&E is guaranteed 8 hours off after a shift. T&E has been subjected to a federal law that divides the nature of the work between Type A and Type B work and the number of consecutive days a worker can work. If the dispatchers are indeed subjected to the HOS rules as T&E then no way they should have been working 14 days in a row without proper rest.

[TRUCK6018 50]

They are not under the same rules as T&E. They can't work more than 9 hours where T&E (under covered service) can't work more than 12 continuous hours or up to 16 with 4 hours interim release.

T&E (under covered service) can work 14 consecutive days under type 1 rules but are then required to have 2 consecutive days rest. This wouldn't happen as the 2 rest days would put the individual off on his normal work days.

Non covered service (conductor flags) are not bound by the type 1 or type 2 rules there fore are able to work months (if they wanted) with out a rest day. Being the contractors they are assigned to don't work on weekends, the conductors won't either.

I'm told the dispatchers are able to work continuous days without rest, although I don't know first hand.