Re: "A Bridge Too Far" (July 21).
Why is it that I think of the Luddites of 18th century Britain when I read your editorial on the CN Rail's plan to cut staff at the liftbridge and replace them with automated technology! We have equipment in outer space operated by staff on Earth. There are unmanned aircraft over Iraq being flown by technicians at controls in Texas. There are cameras recording automobiles using the Port Mann Bridge. So why is a human housed at the lift-bridge so much superior to modern technology? If it is for safety reasons, can we then accept that men never push the wrong button, pull the wrong lever, never make a human error, never fall asleep at the switch, never have a heart attack, never miss a shift while using rather limited technology which needs human input to operate?
Tommy Thomas
West Vancouver
