New federal rules mandate 2-person train crews to boost rail safety

Apr 3

Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Tuesday, April 2, announced a new safety rule requiring most trains to have at least two crew members, aiming to improve safety in the railroad industry. The move comes after a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, last year. The train had three crew members on board when it derailed, spilling hazardous vinyl chloride and igniting.

We just finalized a rule saying major railroads can't unilaterally decide to run a 2-mile-long freight train with only one crew member on board.

It’s as common-sense as it gets – yet the railroad lobby just came out and called this "overreach" by USDOT. I am not making this up.
— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) April 2, 2024

“America’s averaged more than one train derailment per day. For as long as I’ve been alive,” Buttigieg said, noting that the new federal mandate to prevent railroads from reducing crew sizes is supported by the review of over 13,000 comments during a four-month period.

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“The rate of derailments in this country is not preordained,” he said. “That’s something we know from experience because when good safety rules have been put in place over the years, especially after high-profile incidents, we see derailments come down on mainline tracks.”

Today is a good day for the safety of rail workers, rail passengers, and every American who lives near a rail line, all across this country. https://t.co/QchvaEjcUP
— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) April 2, 2024

Following 7,500 inspections by the Federal Railroad Administration of routes used by trains carrying highly flammable materials, the agency also issued updated policies on tank cars, train lengths, hazardous material spills and worker fatigue.

However, critics argue that requiring at least two people on the crew lacks a safety justification, citing the successful use of single-person crews both in the U.S. and internationally.

Modern tech is helping railroads get even safer, efficient & sustainable. For example, a new @CSX & @SiemensMobility digital solution will enable faster decision-making & route optimization while ⬇️ fuel usage. More: https://t.co/4MOwbXbKel……… #TechTuesday pic.twitter.com/sr0GxrpIW0
— AAR (@AAR_FreightRail) April 2, 2024

“As technology such as [Positive Train Control] systems has improved, and further advances in autonomous systems look promising, freight rail companies would like the flexibility of operating trains with less than two operators, not so they can raise profits, but so they can reduce prices to better compete with the trucking sector,” said Robert D. Atkinson, president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.

The Association of American Railroads points out that crew sizes have decreased from five to two, thanks to technological advancements, arguing that fixed crew size mandates could limit necessary flexibility in staffing and scheduling.

Tags: Department of Transportation, National Transportation Safety Board, Pete Buttigieg, Railroads, train derailment, Trains

PETE BUTTIGIEG
U.S. SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION

“America’s averaged more than one train derailment per day. For as long as I’ve been alive.

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY PETE BUTTIGIEG INTRODUCED A NEW SAFETY RULE TUESDAY REQUIRING MOST TRAINS TO HAVE AT LEAST TWO CREW MEMBERS TO ENHANCE SAFETY ACROSS THE RAILROAD INDUSTRY.

THIS DECISION FOLLOWS THE NORFOLK SOUTHERN TRAIN DERAILMENT IN EAST PALESTINE, OHIO, LAST YEAR THAT REIGNITED RAIL SAFETY DISCUSSIONS. IN THAT ACCIDENT, THE NORFOLK SOUTHERN TRAIN CARRYING HAZARDOUS VINYL CHLORIDE ACTUALLY HAD THREE CREW MEMBERS AS IT DERAILED AND BURST INTO FLAMES.

BUTTIGIEG EMPHASIZED THAT THE NEW FEDERAL MANDATE STOPS RAILROADS FROM CUTTING CREW SIZES ACROSS ALL STATES. THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION REVIEWED MORE THAN 13-THOUSAND WRITTEN COMMENTS OVER A 4 MONTH PERIOD BEFORE FINALIZING THE RULE — NOTING THAT RAIL WORKERS ARE SAFER WHEN NOT OVERBURDENED.

PETE BUTTIGIEG
U.S. SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION

“The rate of derailments in this country is not preordained. That’s something we know from experience because when good safety rules have been put in place over the years, especially after high profile incidents, we see derailments come down on mainline tracks.”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

THE NEW RULES FOLLOW 75-HUNDRED FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION INSPECTIONS OF ROUTES USED BY TRAINS CARRYING HIGHLY FLAMMABLE MATERIALS.

THE AGENCY HAS ALSO UPDATED ITS POLICIES FOCUSING ON THE TYPES OF TANK CARS, LENGTH OF TRAINS, HANDLING HAZARDOUS MATERIAL SPILLS, WORKER FATIGUE AND SAFETY.

CRITICS OF THE NEW TWO-PERSON RULE SAY THERE’S NO JUSTIFICATION FOR IT. THEY NOTE THAT SINGLE-PERSON CREWS HAVE BEEN USED INCREASINGLY SUCCESSFULLY IN THE U-S AND ABROAD FOR YEARS.

THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN RAILROADS SAYS CREW SIZES HAVE DROPPED FROM FIVE TO TWO THANKS TO TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES THEY ARGUE FIXED CREW SIZE MANDATES COULD HINDER THE FLEXIBILITY NEEDED TO ADDRESS STAFFING AND SCHEDULING CHALLENGES.