FRA 12-22

July 27, 2022

Contact: FRA Public Affairs

Tel.: (202) 493-6024 

FRAPA@DOT.gov

FRA Issues Proposed Rule to Enhance Train Safety, Codify Train Crew Size

Requirements

WASHINGTON – To enhance safety, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad 

Administration (FRA) today announced a proposed rule requiring a minimum of two train crewmembers 

for over-the-road railroad operations, with some exceptions for certain low risk operations and 

circumstances where mitigating measures are in place to protect railroad employees, the public, and the 

environment. 

“For the past few years, our rail workers have worked hard to keep people and goods moving on our 

nation’s railroads, despite a global pandemic and supply chain challenges,” said U.S. Transportation 

Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This proposed rule will improve safety for America’s rail passengers—and 

rail workers—across the country.”

This proposal would also enhance safety nationwide by replacing the existing patchwork of State laws 

regarding crew size with a uniform national standard. Without consistent guidelines, railroads may be 

subjected to disparate requirements in every State in which they operate, resulting in potential safety 

risks, operational inefficiencies, and significant costs. The NPRM also proposes requirements for the 

location of crewmembers on a moving train, and would prohibit the operation of some trains with fewer 

than two crewmembers from transporting large amounts of certain hazardous materials. The risk 

assessment and annual oversight requirements in the NPRM are intended to ensure that railroads fully 

consider and address all relevant safety factors associated with using less than two person crews. 

“We are committed to data-driven decision making,” said FRA Administrator Amit Bose. “In cases 

where railroads wish to operate with fewer than two crewmembers, we are proposing that they perform a 

rigorous, thorough, and transparent risk assessment and hazard analysis, and FRA will provide an 

opportunity for public comment on these submissions.”

U.S Department of Transportation

Office of Public Affairs

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Washington, DC 20590

www.transportation.gov/briefingroom 

News
Historically, major technological breakthroughs led to gradual reductions in train crew sizes, from about 

five in the 1960s to two by the end of the 1990s. Current industry practice is to have two-person crews 

consisting of a locomotive engineer and conductor. Under the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), 

a special approval procedure would allow railroads to petition FRA: (1) to continue legacy operations 

with one-person train crews; and (2) for approval to initiate a new train operation with fewer than two 

crewmembers. FRA would carefully evaluate each request for fewer than two crewmembers and 

supporting documentation submitted by a railroad, as well as the input of employees, communities, and 

the public.

This proposed rule is complementary to, rather than duplicative of, other recent regulatory initiatives 

FRA has issued or is in the process of developing. Those initiatives include railroad safety risk reduction 

programs and the development of fatigue risk management programs. Further, this rule is consistent with 

safety analysis required by other FRA regulations, including positive train control (PTC).

Comments on the proposed rule can be submitted to the docket FRA-2021-0032 via 

www.regulations.gov and must be received by September 26. The NRPM is published in the Federal 

Register here.

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