WASHINGTON – The Association of American Railroads has asked the Department of Transportation to scuttle the Federal Railroad Administration’s two-person train crew rule.
“For too long, outdated, arbitrary regulations have stood in the way of implementing data-backed solutions that can further strengthen railroads’ already remarkable safety record,” AAR CEO Ian Jefferies said in a statement. “As technology advances, railroads must be empowered to innovate — not be hamstrung by prescriptive rules, including some written more than 50 years ago. As a critical economic enabler, domestic growth and prosperity are contingent upon maintaining freight railroads’ ability to safely, reliably and affordably deliver for American businesses and communities.”
The controversial two-person crew rule, adopted during the Biden administration, conflicts with the Trump administration’s policy goals of regulatory reform, technological advancement, and data-driven rulemaking, the AAR said.
In its comments submitted this week regarding streamlining rail-related regulations, AAR called for an overall shift from rigid, obsolete regulations to performance-based standards that drive innovation and allow railroads to adopt modern technologies.
AAR also urged DOT to consider equity across all transportation modes when regulating new and emerging technologies. To align with the administration’s deregulatory priorities, AAR identified four specific actions USDOT should take:
- Repeal the Biden Administration’s 2024 crew staffing rule requiring each train be operated by a minimum of two crew members. The rule was a 2020 campaign promise that failed to quantify any safety benefit to justify its significant costs.
- Modernize track inspection regulations to facilitate the use of proven technology that offers enhanced safety benefits.
- Complete regulatory revisions initiated during the first Trump administration to reflect the ubiquitous use of modern, self-diagnostic signal equipment across the rail network.
- Finalize a previously proposed rule that would reflect advances in modern-day air brake technology by extending inspection intervals.
Some trains can be safely and efficiently operated by one person crews or, for that matter, autonomously.
To make a blanket rule that all trains have to have a two-person crew is just flat out silly.
George, what do you mean bypassing safety systems?
Let’s face it. Safety only fits when it is in the budget.
Let’s do away with all regulations. They just get in the way of making money. Management will do the right things.
These people can’t even keep fuel in their locomotives. Maybe start asking these railroads how many times this year one of their trains has died on the mainline due to their poor decision making….. yet they want to cut more jobs.
Looking at the size, weight, and speed of a mainline freight risking loss of control because of a medical event of a lone operator is beyond stupid and likely criminal. 1, 0ne, major accident caused by this would cost more than a decade of running a two man cab.
Hopefully with only one operator in the cab they would be less likely to bypass the safety systems and which would then allow the system do its job and bring the train safely to a stop.
2 person train crew is safer not a one person train crew
Is the 2 person rule linked to train size or Class of railroad? Can shortlines run with only an engineer in the cab?
To hell with the AAR. It is just a mouth for railroad “management”. No way would I ever do away with 2 person crews. Safety is more important.