Euphemisms, spin and newspeak abound
Next step: autonomous trains, read: crewless
Quote from the article that mirrors many comments from the real railroaders here:
Be interesting to see the practical logistics involved in the ‘superconductor’ position. Bet a few of the management types have been eagerly following the Gravity belt developments! Can it be long before there are handholds atop the cab for arriving conductors, right next to the drone garages?
Well, we’ve wanted that future since Commander Cody days, so I suppose we shouldn’t complain when it’s shoved at us…
So U.P. plans on one ground roving conductor in charge of several autonomous trains with no human engineers. This will abruptly end the era of monster trains and their broken knuckles, which will be good news to the roving conductors. This will be the ultimate solution to the war between labor and management over crew size. It will also be the ultimate solution to the crew fatigue problem by allowing the roving conductors to rove closer to home, so they can sleep at home every night. It will also usher in the era of short, fast, and frequent trains with their agility and flexibility to live up to the true implication of Precision Scheduled Railroading. Finally all the pieces fall into place.
You forgot the “/s”
What cracks me up is the whole “this will solve crew fatigue problem!”. Yeah, for the conductor. What about the guy actually running the train? He’s still goign to the flea bag hotel, is on call, etc…
I mean, I hope these roving utilities are figured in future contract so we with more seniority get first crack at them.
I am referring to the U.P. They say they will move to autonomous trains and roving conductors. So there won’t be any engineers to be away from home and staying in hotels. No more hotels, and no more fatigue. Just one conductor on the ground managing several nimble, tiny trains.
I have a bridge to sell you.
It sounds like the bridge has already been bought by U.P.
Yeah, and we wer going to have flying cars and nuclear power would give us “energy too cheap to meter”. People like believing in stories.
Yes, just like the new diesel-electric locomotives. “They may be okay for yard switching, but not for pulling trains on the mainline.”
My opinion is that railroads are facing an existential threat right now from autonmous trucks. They had better start trying new things. Therefore, I welcome experimentation with one man crews.
I mean, there’s AI bots for posting to forums. We aren’t even needed.
Although sometimes I wonder if you aren’t a AI bot. The Euclid2000… increase forum participation with this one trick!
No, I think AI is overpromised. And I don’t want to go to Mars.
You all realize this is not just some visionary plan from OM or some other guy who can look to the future. These notions are plans from our largest railroad. Good for customers, good for the railroads; early retirement for operating crews.
Why does the engineer have to be on the train? He/she could be remote.
Just log on from home at say, 7:00 AM. Do whatever needs to be done until 3:00 PM and then pass off the work to the next shift.
No it won’t. Trains size will not be reduced under automonous operation. Even with a “crewless” train you’ll want to keep economies of scale in your favor to remain in competition…
That’s what an AI would say! We’re onto you Euclid2000!
Why wouldn’t we just do that with trucks?
Or just feely-good stuff to please stockhodlers that will not be implemented in our lifetimes.
It could happen.
Trip Op still needs a lot of support from its meatbag ‘training wheels’, I can’t see it running all by itself anytime soon.