Union Officials Call on South Portland City Councilors to Ban Remote Controlled Trains Carrying Hazardous Materials

Rail union leaders are asking South Portland City Councilors to consider passing an ordinance banning remote control locomotives from moving hazardous materials on tracks that connect with those carrying Amtrak passenger service. As the Portland Press Herald reported last month, the company CSX Transportation is installing the remote control locomotive technology at South Portland’s Rigby Yard.

In a letter to the editor published on July 26, SMART-TD’s New England legislative director Dave Stevenson warned that the busy Rigby Yard is full of hazardous and explosive materials and introducing remote controlled locomotives will “compromise the ability to respond swiftly to dynamic situations and emergencies, potentially endangering both railroad workers and nearby residents.” He noted that in July of 1989 a railroad tanker car carrying 20,000 gallons of muriatic acid ruptured at the Rigby rail yard, releasing toxic fumes and forcing the evacuation of 100 households over a half-mile stretch and the closure of area roadways.

“There is also concern about the potential impact on local Maine jobs. Railroad operations at Rigby Yard provide stable employment for many individuals and families in our community,” Stevenson wrote. “[Remote control operation] risks displacing skilled workers who have dedicated themselves to maintaining the efficiency and safety of our rail infrastructure. We must prioritize preserving these jobs and ensuring fair employment practices amidst technological advancements and the railroad’s insatiable quest for profit.”