Railroad engineers gathered Wednesday to warn the public about hazards they say will result from converting to remote-control switching operations, scheduled to begin locally next year, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
Union Pacific officials, however, say the changes will improve safety.
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers said they fear plans by Union Pacific to install remote-control rail operations at terminals nationwide by late 2004 will put lives in jeopardy.
The systems will use unstaffed trains in rail yards, and often will put ground crew members too far away to watch for kids or others crossing the tracks, or potential car-to-car collisions, they said.
Some of the 60 protesters who stood for two hours outside Sunset Station also raised concerns that the new systems could be manipulated by computer hackers and others with ill intent.
"We love Union Pacific, and we love our jobs," said Russell Elley, the union's local chairman. "But this is not the time to take a shortcut approach, especially after 9-11."
