By MICHAEL R. SISAK, Associated Press

– Railroad unions are urging Amtrak to put a second crew member in locomotives in the wake of a deadly derailment last week in Philadelphia.

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and SMART Transportation say an engineer and an additional crew member would serve as a check and balance on each other.

Engineer Brandon Bostian was alone in the locomotive of Train 188 when it derailed May 12, killing eight people and injuring about 200.

Investigators are looking into why the train was going more than double the 50 mph limit around a sharp curve.

The unions say Amtrak hasn’t had a second crew member in the cab of Northeast Corridor trains since 1983, after Congress ended the requirement.

Also Tuesday, a lawyer for the lead conductor on the train says his client suffered a broken neck and broken back.

Source – http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/item/82132-unions-urge-amtrak-to-put-2nd-crew-member-in-locomotives-