A CSX train engine sits idle on tracks in Philadelphia Sept. 14, 2022. Major freight railroads will have to maintain two-person crews on most routes under a new federal rule that was finalized April 2, 2024.
Presented by Panasonic — The Biden administration issued a new rule aimed at bolstering freight rail safety after a high-profile derailment last year spilled toxic chemicals.
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Transportation Dept. issues railway safety rule
The Biden administration issued a new rule aimed at bolstering freight rail safety after a high-profile derailment last year spilled toxic chemicals.
The final rule, issued Tuesday by the Transportation Department, said that crews on freight trains will need to be at least two people.
Doing so meets a long-time ask for rail worker unions, who argue that having a second person prevents workers from overexerting themselves.
“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,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement.
Rail safety has come under intense scrutiny in Washington since a train carrying chemicals including toxic vinyl chloride derailed in Ohio last year.
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), who co-sponsored rail safety legislation with Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) in the wake of the East Palestine crash, praised the rule Tuesday morning — but will also keep pushing for his bill.
“Big rail lobbyists will do everything they can to roll this back. We must pass our bipartisan rail safety bill to make these changes permanent & require the railroads to do more to prevent derailments,” Brown said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, we’re Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.
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