FRA Issues Final Rule on Train Crew Size

Photo by William Beecher

WASHINGTON – Today, The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a final rule requiring two crew members on nearly all freight and passenger trains.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said “Common sense tells us that large freight trains, some of which can be over three miles long, should have at least two crew members on board – and now there’s a federal regulation in place to ensure trains are safely staffed. This rule requiring safe train crew sizes is long overdue, and we are proud to deliver this change that will make workers, passengers, and communities safer.” 

FRA Administrator Amit Bose added that “The volume of comments from rail workers and their families, as well as comments from the general public impacted by long trains and other issues, raised legitimate safety concerns that railroads, on their own, have not been able to adequately address.”

Association of American Railroads President and CEO Ian Jefferies said “FRA is doubling down on an unfounded and unnecessary regulation that has no proven connection to rail safety.” “Instead of prioritizing data-backed solutions to build a safer future for rail, FRA is looking to the past and upending the collective bargaining process.” Jefferies added that “Railroads are committed to working with our union counterparts and policymakers to build on this momentum and advance proven solutions that meaningfully advance safety. Unfortunately, the crew size rule takes the industry in the exact opposite direction.”

The statement from the AAR points out that “Historically, railroad staffing and crew size policies have been managed through the collective bargaining process, which provides for direct dialogue between rail carriers and the unions representing their employees. The FRA’s overreach into this area will diminish the importance of collective bargaining by inserting the regulator between parties.”

If you would like to read the final rule, you can access it here.

Ed. Note: While this news is outside of our normal scope of coverage, the idea of requiring two-person crews on trains has been debated vigorously for years, and we believe it is of interest to everyone who works in the rail industry. DCL