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Based on current safety data, Federal Railroad Administrator Allan Rutter believes there's no evidence suggesting that municipalities or the federal government should ban locomotive remote-control (LRC) operations.


"In fact, in cases where the FRA has identified potential problems associated with remote-control operations, railroads have been extremely responsive in addressing such issues," he said in a prepared statement.


In February 2001, FRA issued LRC guidelines, and since has monitored the technology's use by U.S. Class Is. Current regulations govern employee training and device inspection.


"Our commitment remains to proceed cautiously, closely monitoring the use of remote-control technology," said Rutter. "If we identify safety problems associated with this technology, we will move quickly to mitigate those safety risks, using the full range of enforcement and regulatory measures at our disposal."


However, some U.S. communities still question LRC safety and are taking matters into their own hands. Last week, Beardstown, Ill., became the ninth city to pass a resolution that either bans or controls LRC use.


Beardstown officials voted to ban LRC operations within city limits until safety regulations improve and called on FRA to issue comprehensive LRC regulations.


Baton Rouge and Shreveport, La., Detroit and Marysville, Mich., Pine Bluff and North Little Rock, Ark., Boston and Cleveland already have passed LRC-banning resolutions.