Dakguy201While I believe you, I find that situation nearly incredible. Is Amtrak's management really that incompetent? For example, I can sit out here in the wilds of South Dakota and know that this morning's eastbound Zephyr is going to be nearly 3 hours late into the Omaha crew change point, but that information escapes those responsible for crew management? I'd be very interested in knowing any reason why that situation exists.
I've noticed somewhat similar in the Airline Industry. I fly American Airlines to Kansas City sometimes there is a weather event over DFW. Usually I am flying out at 7:10 p.m., they cancel the 7:10 p.m. flght, next mornings flight and usually do not recover until the next afternoon sometime. Meanwhile a few gates over, Southwest Airlines recovers in less than a few hours and is flying with no cancellations the next morning. Both fly to Dallas, one to DFW and the other to Dallas Love field. Granted not the same airport but still. I've seen it at other airports as well. Southwest usually always recovers from a weather event a full 8-12 hours before American Airlines does and the reason American does not recover quicker is usually always crew management releated in my observation.
You would think at a min the Managers at American would notice Southwest flights are up and running and use Southwest to dispatch crews to speed up network recovery instead of waiting on American flights but they would rather sit around and wait.
[quote user="JPS1"]
Here is a related question. Amtrak's crew base in Fort Worth, as well as San Antonio, has an extra board for conductor(s), assistant conductor(s), and engineer(s).
If an engineer, as an example, is on the extra board, is he only paid when he gets called out or does he get paid something even if he does not get called out? [quote]
Hopefully someone can answer this question.
Rio Grande Valley, CFI,CFII
Dakguy201 BaltACD My experiences with Amtrak Crew Managment indicate they DO NOT keep track of where their trains are in relation to their scheduled crew change times and they don't alter the On Duty times of their crews to agree with reality. While I believe you, I find that situation nearly incredible. Is Amtrak's management really that incompetent? For example, I can sit out here in the wilds of South Dakota and know that this morning's eastbound Zephyr is going to be nearly 3 hours late into the Omaha crew change point, but that information escapes those responsible for crew management? I'd be very interested in knowing any reason why that situation exists.
BaltACD My experiences with Amtrak Crew Managment indicate they DO NOT keep track of where their trains are in relation to their scheduled crew change times and they don't alter the On Duty times of their crews to agree with reality.
My experiences with Amtrak Crew Managment indicate they DO NOT keep track of where their trains are in relation to their scheduled crew change times and they don't alter the On Duty times of their crews to agree with reality.
I can't count all the times I have had to contact Amtrak CNOC and tell them that Train X isn't going to make destination within HOS and they need to begin to get a recrew for the train. Trains that were multiple hours late into and out of their crew change points. P030, the Capitol Limited coming out of the crew change location of Pittsburgh has been so late from NS issues that the crew couldn't make the Engineers crew change point a Cumberland and the Conductor couldn't make Washington.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
If an engineer, as an example, is on the extra board, is he only paid when he gets called out or does he get paid something even if he does not get called out?
DeggestyAbout three years ago, the California Zephyr left Chicago a little over two hours late--and kept losing time along the way. I went to bed somewhere in eastern Iowa--and woke up in Lincoln--where we were five hours late. The operating crews that come on Lincoln had been called for their regular time--and so had been on duty for five hours before they were able to work. Somewhere in the wilds of western Nebraaka they were relieved because their time had run out.
About three years ago, the California Zephyr left Chicago a little over two hours late--and kept losing time along the way. I went to bed somewhere in eastern Iowa--and woke up in Lincoln--where we were five hours late. The operating crews that come on Lincoln had been called for their regular time--and so had been on duty for five hours before they were able to work. Somewhere in the wilds of western Nebraaka they were relieved because their time had run out.
Johnny
JPS1Yesterday I took the Texas Eagle from Dallas to San Antonio. Although the train was approximately an hour late leaving Dallas, we still had a lengthy layover in Fort Worth. While the train was being serviced I was able to talk to the Fort Worth based engineer. She would be operating the locomotive from Fort Worth to Austin. Another engineer takes the Eagle from Austin to San Antonio. As I understand it Amtrak only assigns one engineer to a run if it is less than five hours. Otherwise two people are required in the cab. The scheduled time for the Eagle from Fort Worth to Austin is 4 hours, 12 minutes. Here is the question that I forgot to ask. What happens if the train is delayed so that it cannot get to Austin within the five hour window? Is there some wiggle room in the rule so that the Fort Worth based engineer can still take the train into Austin or does a relief engineer have to come out and take over? As an aside she confirmed that the fuel put on the locomotive in Fort Worth is enough to take the Eagle to San Antonio and back to Fort Worth. As a rule no fuel is put on the locomotive in San Antonio.
While the train was being serviced I was able to talk to the Fort Worth based engineer. She would be operating the locomotive from Fort Worth to Austin. Another engineer takes the Eagle from Austin to San Antonio.
As I understand it Amtrak only assigns one engineer to a run if it is less than five hours. Otherwise two people are required in the cab. The scheduled time for the Eagle from Fort Worth to Austin is 4 hours, 12 minutes.
Here is the question that I forgot to ask. What happens if the train is delayed so that it cannot get to Austin within the five hour window? Is there some wiggle room in the rule so that the Fort Worth based engineer can still take the train into Austin or does a relief engineer have to come out and take over?
As an aside she confirmed that the fuel put on the locomotive in Fort Worth is enough to take the Eagle to San Antonio and back to Fort Worth. As a rule no fuel is put on the locomotive in San Antonio.
The scheduled running time is the critical element. If the trip takes longer than scheduled the manning requirements don't change. Railroading Happens!
Yesterday I took the Texas Eagle from Dallas to San Antonio. Although the train was approximately an hour late leaving Dallas, we still had a lengthy layover in Fort Worth.
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