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Subscribe to RSSNew York's MTA has launched an investigation after a passenger shoots video of an engineer reading a newspaper while at the controls. WNBC's Katherine Creag reports.
NEW YORK -- A Metro-North train engineer has been captured on video appearing distracted and engrossed in a newspaper while operating a rush-hour train.
Officials said that the engineer, an agency employee since 1988 and an engineer since 2001, has been suspended pending the outcome of an investigation. The MTA declined to release his name.
The video was brought to Metro-North's attention by NBC 4 New York after a viewer contacted the station expressing concerns about the train engineer.
"He only looked up when the bells went off," John Bingham told NBC 4 New York, referring to the sounds that signal when the train was approaching a station. "That made me nervous. What if one of the bells didn't go off and something happened with the train?"
Bingham said he boarded the 8:34 a.m. Grand Central-bound train at Wakefield on Wednesday when he noticed the engineer reading a newspaper "cover to cover."
Read the original report from NBCNewYork.com
The Yonkers resident has been commuting into Manhattan for two years and says he's concerned about engineers being distracted in light of exposed terror plots targeting commuter trains and of past train derailments attributed to distracted engineers.
He said he planned to file a complaint with Metro-North.
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The MTA said in a statement that "reading anything, texting or using cell phones while operating a train is obviously not acceptable. Metro-North will take action to ensure this does not happen again."
After NBC 4 New York reported the story, Metro-North said it planned to reinstruct its train crews on Thursday that the behavior would not be tolerated.
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Leave a Comment:
Did someone say "fire him"????
Hmm, don't we need several thousand pages of law first, like the texting ban hysteria everywhere. Call it Sharon's law in the name of some unfortunate little girl's tragedy involving reading a newspaper. Project the concern over some tragedy to get the legislation through then we can fire them.
And what exactly is he supposed to do if he does spot trouble while operating a train? It.Is.A.Train. They do NOT stop on a dime,they do NOT turn corners, so even if a terror plot were to destroy train tracks to derail a train takes place, unless it happens a hell of a long distance away from him, there is no way to stop the train in time regardless. Trains are operated like most planes, by computers.
If people want to be concerned, they need to be more concerned with airline pilots who actually spend only 10 to 20 minutes during an entire flight actually flying the plane because as in trains, the computers do all the work.The FAA has already voiced their concerns that pilots in all countries forget how to actually fly a plane after several years of allowing a computer to do their job.
That train operates on a track that several other trains also use. There are things called signals along the track that are supposed to tell the engineer if it is safe to proceed and at what speed to do so. If he/she is reading the paper or otherwise distracted, they can miss a signal and cause many people to lose their lives. This happened not all that long ago in California when the engineer was texting someone , ran a signal and ran head on into a Union Pacific Freight Train. The result was that many lost their lives. This engineer violated FRA rules. He may be union, but you can bet he wont be operating a train again. He may not lose his job entirely, and may be demoted, but hes not going to be in the right hand seat in the cab.
EMDF9A: And, much like the engineer in California, he'll probably be dead!! Lesson learned!
OMG!! How horrible! Reading on the job is just unforgiveable. I wasn't there observing, so it's kind of hard for me to say that he never once looked up until a whistle or bell went off. I also do not know how much is involved with his job, how much is computerized, or how much he actually has to do for the train ride from beginning to end. Maybe the whole ride is computerized right until the train stops. Give the guy a break until you hear his side of the story. Sounds like someone might have gotten a little carried away, either the passenger or the media.
I agree with you. It a train it's going to stop for a few hunderd yard if there was a problem. He does look up. By the way, I saw trees and ground, meaning he was in a remote area. The most that could have happen, would have been a tree limb on the track which the train would have destored with no danger to the train or the passagers on board. The guy was clearly paying attention, its not like the train is going to swerve into traffic or across four lanes of traffic.
Wow! I had no idea there were so many train engineers in the world. They could easily fire him since so many of you are confident you know what needs to be done while monitoring a train...He's not there to steer the damn thing around the corners...
The bigger problem here? People not minding their own bloody business, everyone wants to be the hero but when was the last time someone said... I saw him reading the paper I knew the train would veer off the tracks I should have told on him... NEVER! because the guy isn't a complete retard just bored with a not so exciting job of monitoring beeps, lights and gauges. The only reaction he can do is speed up or slow down there is no turn or stop...it's a train not a shuttle bus. LOL when was the last time you heard; Thanks to the quick thinking of the train engineer the train was able to avoid the vehicle stopped on the track just in time? Hence the expression "like a freight train"...
As for people spouting on about airline pilots and so on you know pilots can actually have naps in the cockpits of the planes? Legally? People need to stop being the bosses and let the bosses be the bosses and if they mess up then guess what they will pay the price. If you don't trust people to do their jobs then don't get on public transit because you never know what distraction or issues people maybe facing that day.
If I am a passenger on a train, I think I deserve to have an engineer who pays attention. There have been cases where train engineer inattention has been the specific cause of accidents, with fatalities, due to failure to pay attention to signals, or malfunctioning signals that should have been noted as such and acted upon. Mind my own bloody business? On my train, that is my business, and it's not trying to be heroic by exposing a willful slacker like this moron. You don't like it? Tough! Get over yourself. Don't you ever tell me to mind my own business when it is something that directly concerns myself and my fellow passengers. Don't even try to.
Yeah see here is another train engineer specialist here to point out past tragic events with proof and experience...
I believe he will be disciplined. Looks like he's part of the right demographic for that sort of just treatment. Shouldn't be like the disgraceful non-vetting of our affirmative action Pres. by the biased liberal media.
To those who support this man, ponder this.
I believe it was two maybe three years ago, there was an horrific accident on the DC Metro. Parts of the track safety components failed, which did NOT notify the engineer that there was a stopped train around the curve ahead. Unfortunately, the Engineer died as did several other people. Fortunately, it was NOT a rush hour train so the fatalities and injuries were much less than they would have been.
However, while the Engineer was killed, he DID see the train ahead, unfortunately too late to stop the train, but he was able to slow it, even though minimally, he did slow and possibly saved several lives with his ATTENTION and action. Would he have done the same if reading a newspaper. I think not. He never would have seen the train until they collided.
What would the result have been if a similar situation happened here? What if there was a tractor/trailer stuck across the tracks? What would YOUR reaction be if an accident DID happen and people died? WHEN will we hold people responsible and ACCOUNTABLE for their actions? Especially when those actions or in-actions can affect so many others that depend on someone doing the job they're paid to do? Is that really too much to ask?
I certainly hope that the article he was reading was worth losing his job.
He is actually breaking FRA rules by reading a paper, same goes for anyone in train service on a personal cell phone.
I don't see anything wrong with this, he is on a track (isn't like he is having to steer it), i have worked on restoring trains, the electronic message is indicating the trains position to passengers and he is keeping a eye on the tracks and whats ahead, the real issue is the person filming this, able to get this close to the trains operator, this engineer knows what he is doing with years of experience behind him, not a good idea to get rid of him and his good record, for a person with lack of experience, in illinois you can not film police on the job with out possible arrest, if you ask me this person is filming with out his knowledge or consent and now it is puplic, he is a city employee, sounds like he has a good case brewing here, they should arrest the camera preson.
chriscrossing... look at the picture again. The passenger is taking the picture through the window in the door separating the engineer and passengers.
What if the track signals failed and gave him a green light when it should have been red? If he missed that would be see the train ahead was stopped?
And while the police arrest people for taking films of police actions, those arrests are being challenged and usually tossed. The Courts have already sided with people taking video as they have indicated the police cannot expect "privacy" while doing their job in public. And by his being a "public" employee doing (supposedly) his job while in public, he cannot expect "privacy".
Chrisscrossing,
I too am involved in railroad restoration. YOU should never run anything you have restored. Innattention is the leading cause of almost all accidents. Is steering the only thing that keeps you attentive to YOUR driving? What state(s) do you drive in? I want to know which state(s) to stay out of.
technology and automation have dumbed down Amerika; taken away its pride in its work and killed the work ethic. Robotics will lead to the extinction of human labor. What will those without education or the abilities to assimilate into the New World Order do? Where will they go? The Right wingers want to rebuild the ovens and camps so they can rule the world without the elderly, old, infirm with handicaps, cripples, mentally challenged or able to adjust! Like they did with the Native Americans; extermination and population control through euthanasia, eugenics etc. will occur and "Soylent Green" will be the new food staple for those who live to merely exist!
doc... go take your meds... you're in desperate need.
Although I DO agree with the dumbing down of America. You'll need to blame that on the teachers being forced to teach to the test and all of the politically correct BS they need to deal with.
You forgot the parents. Their the ones who should be preparing the kids so the teacher can do their jobs.
I love laughing and reading you liberal idiots comments, there so priceless,lol
criss,
Talk to XDm9mm,
He's into Springfield Arms 9 millimeter semi-automatic pistols. You guys aren't the only ones who own guns. You have no idea what a liberal is. Good.
The guy's a pro. Leave him alone. He obviously knows how to do his job.
America is becoming "Land of the lazy and destracted." Reading while engineering a train! Texting and taking your eyes off the road while driving!
Technology is making American people STUPID!
thank you!
Probably just reading up on new safety regulations.
I bet everyone that says fire him on here would probably have plenty of reasons to lose their job as well if someone was watching over their shoulder.
A suspension without pay is plenty sufficient. Those trains can practically run on there own. What if the bell did not sound; come on folks. WHAT IF your brakes dont work, WHAT IF that stop light is mal-functioning, WHAT IF that elevator dropped from the 110th floor, WHAT IF the flaps on the plane your in makes a nose dive into the ground, WHAT IF the Verazzano Bridge tumbled into the harbor while driving on it, WHAT IF, WHAT IF ,WHAT IF. We put our lives on the line for so many mechanical and electronic devices everyday. Taking the mans career is a bit harsh. How many of you out there: text, read, shave, put on make-up and a crap load of other things while you drive. You dont think your putting lives at risk everytime. Should you all have your license revoked permanently if caught, even though no one got injured or maimed. A warning and loss of pay for awhile, im sure would get his attention.
NYMarine69...
Would you be so complacent if in a combat situation all of your ammo had everything but the gunpowder? Hell, give the guy a break, he was only reading the paper instead of watching to ensure the loading equipment was working properly.
Yes, there are ALWAYS "what ifs".... but the man was being paid to do a job he wasn't doing and doing so, he endangered the passengers.
And I don't read, text, put on make-up (only make-up I ever put on was camo) while I drive.
Lets put EVERYONE under scrutiny 24-7.
i would like to know how many of you would be so honest enough to admit that you do the very same thing at what ever thing you call your line of employment,
far too many people jump at the chance to criticize others for something as they pay no attention what so ever to the people in society that cause the problems.
i have always seen people in their offices claiming to be so hard at work,
then when passing by them and see their computer monitors,
it has facebook, solitaire or something else having nothing to do with the job they're paid to do.
but the guy should be doing the job he's paid to do as well.
Fire him for reading a paper says all the people reading on their computers at work! lmfao
.
I couldn't agree more.
Everyone calm down. It's not like he was Cranking his stick all crosseyed. Ray Charles could drive a train !!
Heck, he is doing nothing different then millions of car drivers do every day, text, phone calls, eating, make up, shaving. What is amazing is that there are not more accidents and deaths.
By the way, I don't think he can be fired, he's union.
I live in NYC,and have taken the trains; believe it or not, THIS is COMMON PRACTICE!!
Re-instruct the train crews, now that's a good one. You mean to tell me that an action as serious as this will be handled only with a little meeting. Glad I don't ride those things.
The firing is bull**** because these engines couldn't stop for an immediate emergency anyway. At least he isn't drinking booze.