Director of Safety and Compliance Mark Labbe views the Belt’s nine new hires as an investment in BRC’s future and appreciates the opportunity to instruct them at the beginning of their railroad careers.

Labbe said this clean slate allows the conductor trainees to learn the BRC way from the start. The group, which includes individuals from the Chicago area and Indiana, who range in age from 18 to 38, quickly gelled, according to Labbe.

“They had instant camaraderie; they fed off each other and worked well together,” he said. 

From a training standpoint, the class is progressing well.

“Everyone is right where they should be or a little ahead,” Labbe said. “For a group this size, that’s pretty good.”

The trainees are expected to make their debut as conductors this spring.