August 30th, 2023 by WCBC Radio

While CSX and the National Transportation Safety Board are still looking into what caused the two deaths of Conductor trainees this summer, one in the Cumberland rail yard – the union for sheet metal, air, railroad, and transportation workers is calling for all railroads to increase training.  The SMART-TD union is looking for action and enforcement against unsafe practices. The union says trainees are being rushed with no exposure in a controlled environment to hazards they may encounter in the field.  There is also a lack of consistency in the training and often trainees are paired with conductors with less than a year of experience themselves.  The Federal Railroad Administration is calling on railroads to identify areas of risk for conductors and ensure that adequate training has been given to those who oversee conductor trainees.