Accelerated locomotive engineer training kicks off at NJ Transit
Written by Kyra Senese, Managing Editor
NJ Transit
New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) launched the agency’s new accelerated Locomotive Engineer Training class last week, with 14 assistant conductors learning how to become rail engineers, officials said.
NJ Transit said the new class is intended to fulfill the agency’s commitment to speed up the training of locomotive engineers.
The accelerated training program consists of 14 assistant conductors who are already rules-qualified, cutting down the participants’ training time from 20 months to 12 months.
“This accelerated class is part of our commitment to explore new ways to get engineers trained and qualified to operate our trains without reducing our rigorous standards of excellence ’’ said NJ Transit Executive Director Kevin Corbett. “This new class contains NJ TRANSIT Assistant Conductors, who are already familiar with complex rail rules and regulations, and leverages that railroad experience to dramatically reduce their training period. This will help alleviate some of our engineer shortage issues and will get more personnel in position to operate the trains on a more reliable schedule.”
The training is being conducted at the Rail Operations Center in Kearny, N.J., officials said. Corbett, other senior managers and training staff were also present to welcome the new trainees.
