On July 28, 2022, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) proposed new regulations to establish safe minimum train crews size requirements for various types of rail operations. The FRA proposal includes:
- A minimum requirement of two crewmembers for all railroad operations (with exceptions for operations that do not pose significant safety risks to railroad employees, the public, or the environment),
- Minimum requirements for the location of crewmembers on moving trains (to promote safe and effective teamwork), and
- A special approval procedure to allow railroads to petition FRA to continue legacy operations with one-person train crews and allow any railroad to petition FRA for approval to initiate a new train operation with fewer than two crewmembers.
Comments are due to FRA by Monday, September 26, 2022.
Read the Federal Register Notice at 2022-15540.pdf (govinfo.gov) and file comments at Regulations.gov (Docket No. FRA-2021-0032).
Advocacy contact: Assistant Chief Counsel Bruce Lundegren at bruce.lundegren@sba.gov or 202-205-6144.