Train engineer/operator/driver shouldn't have to talk to the dispatcher whilest driving. He just goes according to his time table and follows the signals. If he ends up somewhere weird, he'll eventually come up on a red light and THAT'S the time to pick up the phone.
But they do talk to dispatchers quite a bit even in the US of A, no?
If they don't... I'm not sure who the heck I'm listening to on my scanner!?
(that's a joke by the way... yes engineers are always communicating by radio with dispatchers, Conductors, etc. here in the USA.)
jis - yes they do, but most of the conversation is between dispatcher and the non-driving conductor. Most communication is very short and to the point. Communication between the engineer and the conductor is generally when the train is stopped or during yard work, back up moves, etc.
Not in my experience on Amtrak trains, The Engineer who is alone in the engine, does communicate quite a bit with dispatchers on occasions. And sometimes even beyond dispatchers, doing things like asking the conductor to get the coffee ready for the next stop etc. too. So it is not at all as cut and dried as you are trying to make it seem.
As a matter of fact this is a major point of discussion on a thread at trainorders board. The general conclusion seems to be that it would be a bad thing if the FRA banned all radio use by Engineer. However, it remains the Engineer's responsibility to make sure that they use the radio responsibly and not get distracted at critical times.