Train Driver Caught Reading Paper Whilst At Controls

[LightOfTruth]

A train driver has been suspended after been photographed reading a newspaper at the controls of a high speed train:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...ught-reading-newspaper-controls.html?ITO=1490

The question is, Are the really needed or not in this electric age? :)

 

[Gymnotide]

Of course they're needed. Even though trains require a lot less maintenance nowadays than they did back then with steam engines, they still require maintenance in general. What if an incidence occurred and the train was stalled / needed to make last-minute route changes? I know you can program that into the train, but we haven't done that yet. Besides, humans can relay messages and unique announcements that automated voices can't (yet).

As for the topic starter, he's being paid to basically sit around and do nothing. He's expected to do that. It's the same as slacking in any other job. Even though nothing actually happened, it's the fact that something might happen and that he signed a working contract to always be attentive while on-duty.