http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/metro-north-axes-conductors-cheated-exams-article-1.1851660<br /><br />02JUL2014<br /><br />One or more of the first-year conductors got access to a written test, photographed it with a smartphone, and shared it with others, sources said. Metro-North wants to determine if this is an isolated incident or part of a bigger problem.<br /><br />Metro-North [color=red]fired nine rookie conductors and reassigned three others [/color]Tuesday amid an investigation of cheating on critical safety exams.<br /><br />One or more of the first-year conductors, who were in a training program, apparently got access to the written test, used a smartphone to photograph it, then shared it with others, sources said. [color=red]The pictures of the exam were later posted on the Internet[/color], the sources said.<br /><br />The dozen represent the training class’s entire membership.<br /><br />Adam Lisberg, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Metro-North’s parent, declined comment on the investigation, but said the railroad has already taken action.<br /><br />“Metro-North Railroad is disbanding this conductor class,” Lisberg said.<br /><br />The test was taken from a class instructor’s bag, photographed and returned, one source said. It was administered about two months ago.<br /><br />Metro-North management was tipped off roughly two weeks ago and then alerted the office of the railroad’s Inspector General Barry Kluger, a source said. Kluger’s office also has contacted prosecutors, raising the possibility of criminal charges being filed, sources said. A spokesman for the IG’s office declined comment.<br /><br />Adam Lisberg, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Metro-North’s parent, said the railroad has already taken action.&nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><br />[color=red]The exam covered the “physical characteristics”[/color] of a section of the railroad, such as signals, curves and speed limits, sources said. It is used toward certifying conductors to work on particular segments of the system, including yards and branches.<br /><br />“It’s a rigorous program,” one source said. “There’s a lot more required than making announcements and punching tickets.”<br /><br />The test is generally given to new hires and employees seeking promotion to conductor, sources said. Employees with less than one year of experience as a conductor have a probationary status, and thus lack union protections that could thwart firing or reassignment. The nine who were fired fell into this category. The class’ other three members were Metro-North employees seeking permanent promotion to conductor. They were bumped back down to their previous titles.<br /><br />Metro-North and its inspector general’s office are investigating to determine if the class was “contaminated” and the cheating was an isolated incident, or whether there is a wider problem that must be rooted out, sources said.<br /><br />“This could be the tip of a larger iceberg,” said a source familiar with the investigation and Metro-North’s actions.