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Passenger rail systems continue to tap technology as they seek new ways to sharpen their workforce management skills.



New Jersey Transit, for one, is implementing System for Crew Assignment and Tracking (SCAT) — a client/server-based package developed by Timera — as the foundation of its employee workforce management system. SCAT will help reduce NJ Transit's labor-intensive timekeeping functions, providing labor and cost savings in dispatching operations, said Alex Baker, the agency's director of crew management, in a prepared statement.



In addition to NJ Transit, Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corp. (Metra), New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Metro-North Railroad and VIA Rail Canada also have implemented SCAT, according to Timera, which will demonstrate the product at the June 10-14 American Public Transportation Association's Rail Transit Conference in Boston.



SCAT is designed to enable users to track crew availability and work history, and dynamically react to scheduling changes by contacting, re-scheduling and placing alternate crew members. System features include:



• Automated selection and placement of qualified crew members on the proper jobs;


• Seamless integration of crew scheduling and timekeeping with existing train control, human resources and payroll systems;


• Exclusive access to appropriate data levels;


• Management of dynamic service disruptions; and


• Ease of use through graphical user interfaces.



Timera is part of Fenix Enterprises, a holding company formed by Union Pacific Corp.