OK, so how long do you think it's going to take the dispatcher responsible for this to get off the "BAD" list? If your decision forces a VP to publically apologize, with his photo in the newspaper, you do have a problem.
What happened was that a Metra train operated by the UP loaded at the downtown Chicago terminal. The temperature was around 15 below zero F. Because the trains were having trouble due to the cold the dispatcher (I'm assuming it was the DS) decided to run the train as an express and skip intermediate stops. So they unloaded a lot of folks at the first available platform out of the downtown terminal. In a 15 below temperature. There the passengers waited without shelter, in the bitter cold. Not a good plan or solution.
I would assume the person responsible has been counseled. As in "YOU MORON, WHAT THE HELL, WERE YOU THINKING?"
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-union-pacific-vp-apologizes-for-unacceptable-performance-during-cold-20140117,0,6305350.story
The dispatcher did as he was told. It would have been up to the trainmaster or superintendent to make such a decision.
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Ken: Interesting story. Back in the horrible winter of 1979, the only way I could get to the Ravenswood station (next stop up from the Clybourn stop on the UP North line in this story) when it was over 20 below with so much snow it cost Bilandic the election, since the CTA L and buses were barely running. In those days, it was the C&NW and it got through when nobody else could.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
henry6 The dispatcher did as he was told. It would have been up to the trainmaster or superintendent to make such a decision.
On the UP, it was most likely the Corridor Manager. The dispatcher would not have the authority to do such a thing.
An "expensive model collector"
Interesting that the dispatcher was only doing his job.
When SP became chopped meat in a hamburger restaurant, we were told that UP gave "officer's" authority to train-dispatchers. in Other words, disobeying, arguing, was insubordinate, a firing offense.
If that's true, when it was "bomb away" on the Enola Gay, right or wrong (only a warped person, spotlighted by history, would argue "wrong,") (equating that this comparison is GHASTLY off-scale,) but if the Dispr didn't want to do what he was ordered to do, and was an officer and could argue with other officers, or was an employee and couldn't argue without risk of being fired,......tell me your guesses....I Do Not Know Them.
Disclosure: as an MP Desk Sergeant,I altered routing of an authorized, though misinterpreted movement order of a brigade, wherein my MP uniform was adorned with Pfc's stripes.
Yeah, I said "no sir, you can't move your Brigade!, 1000 troops, trucks tanks...
First alert to the problem. I'said no sir, to a Major (these in the chain-of-command) 20 minutes earlier.
Then ,I said to a "light" Colonel, "No, Sir, yuo can't, its not safe"
The "bird Colonel," brigade commander stormed into my office and demanded a Moses-like order; LET MY PEOPLE GO.
I said we'll do it my way. or you will stay here. With your brigade and its equipment. sorry Colonel
Colonel submitted to logic.
Brigade and equipment moved, after the recognition of the hazard I prevented.
Saying safety was more important during a war to a field-grade officer, being a draftee PFC,
What should those mid-America people have endured?
Ever hear of word salad?
The version that I read of the incident in question indicated that the train in question was ordered to run express to Crystal Lake (which is apparently a crew terminal) to avoid the problem of the crew running out of time on Hours Of Service before they reached the terminal.
I cannot speak directly to how METRA, BNSF & UP are orgainzed for decision making, since I don't work with them.
With the commuter agencies my carrier works with - The Commuter Agencies are the once that make decisions concerning passengers, passenger stops and passenger handling. Train dispatchers relay the commuter agency directions to the crews operating the trains and arrange their operations to implement those directions.
I fully suspect that only METRA is on the hook for the decisions - not the UP Train Dispatcher.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACD I fully suspect that only METRA is on the hook for the decisions - not the UP Train Dispatcher.
The UPRR VP apologized on camera and said it was a well-intentioned decision in the heat of the moment and will never happen again.
Clearly the UP takes responsibility (whether dispatcher or someone else's decision at UP), even if you think the buck should be passed to Metra.
Suburban trains on the UP and BNSF are not directly operated by Metra, they are operated under a purchase-of-service agreement between Metra and those railroads.
CSSHEGEWISCH The version that I read of the incident in question indicated that the train in question was ordered to run express to Crystal Lake (which is apparently a crew terminal) to avoid the problem of the crew running out of time on Hours Of Service before they reached the terminal.
It is my understanding, subject to correction, that in an emergency a crew may violate the hours of service restriction.
I would say that this did constitute an emergency situation. If the only alternative is to force people out into bitter cold with no shelter, you've got an emergency. People in positions of authority have to think, not just follow rules. That train crew could have worked 13 hours instead of 12 hours for one time.
Maybe there would be extra pay, or other repercussions, but putting people off in 15 below zero weather with no shelter in order to follow a rule is just not acceptable.
Exactly! Nobody bothered to think or if they did decided HOS were more important than common decency to the passengers.
I fully understand 'purchase of service' as I deal with two commuter agencies daily.
I my world, my carrier makes all railroad decisions, the commuter agencies make the passenger decisions. Under similar circumstance on my territory, the situation would be explained to the commuter agency and it would be their decision as to where all passengers would be diembarked so the train could make it's destination for the HOS law.
What has not been specified in this narrative is 'was the train involved, the last train on the line for the day?' If not, subsequent trains could move passengers to their desired stops. If it was the last train then it would be necessary to make arrangements to get the passengers to their ultimate destinations.
From my persepective, between UP & METRA - 'What we have here is a FAILURE to communicate!'
The UP vice president said the railroad was at fault. He never said a word about Metra being part of the decision, because it was not.. Since you do not understand their arrangement, why do you continue to try to impose your perspective when the matter is settled?
The story before he apologized:
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/01/17/metra-board-to-seek-answers-on-recent-weather-delays/
After the meeting, and it answers your question about the following train:
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20140117/news/701179858/
Because the UP said their organization model with METRA is broken - which is what their apology is.
[from the original article greyhounds posted]
"Our performance was unacceptable," Connell [the VP from UP] said. "We will do everything possible to make sure we are prepared for the next storm. I can't apologize sincerely enough. The decision to drop off the passengers was made by a single UP employee "in the heat of the moment," he said, adding that steps would be taken to prevent future errors. Connell also apologized for the removal of dozens of passenger cars from service for weather-related repairs each day over the past week. The car shortages have been one of the biggest sources of complaints from riders, who described being jammed like cattle in vestibules and aisles with little to hang on to. Connell said 45 of the UP's 323 cars were out of service Friday morning.
greyhounds It is my understanding, subject to correction, that in an emergency a crew may violate the hours of service restriction. I would say that this did constitute an emergency situation. If the only alternative is to force people out into bitter cold with no shelter, you've got an emergency. People in positions of authority have to think, not just follow rules. That train crew could have worked 13 hours instead of 12 hours for one time.
I have had a similar situation with Amtrak in the past. The FRA does not think a passenger train stranded at a station on HOS is an emergency. In the situation I was involved with, the whole thing was similar, bad roads due to snow, and only 30 miles from destination. The train was stopped at a station, that station is no more than a glorified bus shelter. My employeer called the FRA, asking if the crew could violate the HOS by 30 minutes to make it to the last station, and they stated that under no circumstance could the train continue with the dead crew.
I don't know if the UP contacted the FRA or not. If they did, and the FRA gave the same answer, you do not disobey them.
Even if that were all true, they could have dropped the passengers at Park Ridge (12 more minutes) on the way to Crystal Lake and still made their HOS limit. The UP took the full blame.
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