WASHINGTON—Capt. Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued the following statement today after the Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a mandate requiring most freight and passenger railroads to operate trains with two-person crews:
“The DOT has once again put safety first and reenforced its core belief that two-person crews are critical for the safe operations of trains and planes. Whether you’re on the rails or in the sky, safety should always be the top priority. It’s unfortunate that corporate interests continue to push for a reduction in crew counts at the expense of safety. However, we are extremely encouraged by today’s decision to mandate two-person crews on trains, which reaffirms the truth that safety demands at least two-person crews at all times.
“The fundamental belief that it takes at least two crewmembers to operate safely is as true in freight and passenger rail as it is in aviation, and we will not allow special interests to gamble with safety by eliminating the most important safety features on trains and airplanes: the people at the controls.”
