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Questions and Answers — Canadian Pacific, Chicago Area Service Unit

  1. What are the boundaries of the CP C3RS pilot project?
  2. Will relief crews working within the boundaries be covered by the pilot project?
  3. Why do the boundaries of the pilot project exclude CP employees in adjacent territories?
  4. What close call events are accepted by C3RS?
  5. How do I report a close call?
  6. If a dispatcher or control operator observes an event, such as an authority violation on the control machine, and reports it to a manager, is the event covered by C3RS?
  7. Will there be a change in how Cardinal Rule Violations (CRV) events are handled by C3RS?
  8. Will an employee be removed from service due to a CRV?
  9. Can a C3RS report be used instead of a Hazardous Condition Report to report conditions requiring immediate response?
  10. Are PRT members permanent?
  1. What are the boundaries of the CP C3RS pilot project?
    From west to east, between Newport, MN (MP 402.5C, MP422.2B River Subdivision) and Tower A-20 (MP 20.5 C&M Subdivision), and all track in between, including track on the following subdivisions: River, Tomah, Watertown, M&P, the CN Valley, Fox Lake, and C&M.
    • Crews operating in Portage and Milwaukee will be covered during their entire tour of duty even while operating on foreign roads.
    • All ID crews working between St. Paul and Portage will be covered during their entire tour of duty.
    • River Subdivision road switch crews will be covered during their entire tour of duty, including H27 and H28 plus any extras working within these boundaries.
    • Crews operating to Waterloo Pit will be covered during their entire tour of duty.
  2. Will relief crews working within the boundaries be covered by the pilot project?
    Yes.
  3. Why do the boundaries of the pilot project exclude CP employees in adjacent territories?
    To prove the value of the C3RS concept, the demonstration pilot project requires measurement of incidents and other measures within a discrete area . The Portage crew base will be the discrete area for launching the pilot and collecting baseline measures.
  4. What close call events are accepted by C3RS?
    Event Category Example
    Event occurs frequently with minor consequences Almost running through a switch
    Event occurs infrequently with potential for major consequences Train proceeding beyond its authority in dark territory
    Event is below FRA reporting threshold Minor wheel derailment in yard operation
  5. How do I report a close call?
    • Call in your report to BTS using the secure toll-free telephone number posted at each C3RS site. Leave your information on the secure answering machine; you will receive a callback to confirm receipt of your message.
    • Call in the report to BTS within 48 hours after the event occurs to receive protection from discipline.
    • Mail the completed from to BTS within three Federal government business days after the phone call.
  6. If a dispatcher or control operator observes an event, such as an authority violation on the control machine, and reports it to a manager, is the event covered by C3RS?
    The event may still be reported as a close call but there will not be protection from CP discipline or FRA decertification.
  7. Will there be a change in how Cardinal Rule Violations (CRV) events are handled by C3RS?
    Yes. The officer(s) responding to the event will first interview crew and determine if it was a CRV event and which employees were directly involved.

    If the CRV is not a real-time event, there are two alternatives:
    1. If damages are under the FRA threshold ($9,200 CY 2010) the employee(s) can report the event using C3RS. If they verbally state they will submit a report, under current CP protocol they will be given a drug and alcohol test. The employee(s) will not be withheld from service until the hearing/investigation is completed. The scheduled investigation/hearing will be cancelled when the employee shows the BTS receipt.
    2. Because reporting is voluntary, the employee(s) may decide not to report the CRV event using C3RS and the CRV event will be handled under current CP protocol.
  8. Will an employee be removed from service due to a CRV?
    No, providing the CRV event is under the FRA reporting threshold ($9,200 CY 2010) and the employee agrees to submit a close call report. However, a scheduled hearing/investigation will be cancelled after the employee shows the BTS receipt. If the employee does not report the event using C3RS, the current CP protocol will be followed.
  9. Can a C3RS report be used instead of a Hazardous Condition Report to report conditions requiring immediate response?
    No. The Hazardous Condition Report must be used.
  10. Are PRT members permanent?
    No. CP PRT has developed a Succession Plan to rotate membership.

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