Transit agency sidelines 11 operators over new fatigue rules
NEWARK, N.J. — Eleven New Jersey Transit train engineers or conductors have been temporarily removed from duty under a new program to assess fatigue-related conditions begun after a deadly crash this fall, the agency said Wednesday.
The effort by the transit agency stems from a Sept. 29 crash of a train from New York in Hoboken that killed one person standing on a platform and injured more than 100 others. It was later revealed the engineer in that crash suffered from sleep apnea, a fatigue-inducing disorder.
Federal investigators have yet to release a probable cause for the crash, and a final report could take until next fall to be completed.
NJ Transit Executive Director Steve Santoro said that under the program begun in October, engineers and conductors who show indications of potential fatigue symptoms will be removed until they can document they’ve controlled or corrected their conditions. A spokeswoman said 11 operators have been removed since then.