Watch Now


Regulators gear up for rule setting minimum train crew size

FRA’s Bose tells lawmakers ‘patchwork’ of state laws among agency’s concerns

FRA to propose rule on one-man train crews. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

The nation’s top rail regulator confirmed that the Federal Railroad Administration is on track to issue a proposed rulemaking this fall on one-person train crews, including minimum requirements depending on the type of rail operation.

Testifying on Wednesday at his nomination hearing to fill the vacant FRA administrator post, Amit Bose, currently deputy administrator, told Senate lawmakers that one of the reasons the agency is moving forward on the issue is that “if there is not a rulemaking then we believe that states would have a patchwork of laws” regulating train crew sizes.

Bose added, “We are going to look at the potential safety impact of crew size on train operations and make sure there is a reason to do it. We’ll go through the [proposed rulemaking] process, and there will be input from the industry and other stakeholders.”

In May 2019, FRA withdrew a notice of proposed rulemaking that would have set guidelines for crew staffing in freight operations, and ordered that the withdrawal preempt all state laws attempting to regulate train crew staffing in any manner.


In February of this year, however, a federal appeals court vacated FRA’s order, ruling that the agency did not undergo an adequate public review process prior to issuing it. The court’s decision disappointed rail operators but was praised by rail labor unions.

In between the 2019 order and the appeals court decision, a handful of states either passed or proposed two-crew minimum regulations, asserting the requirements are needed to improve safety and reduce the risk of accidents.

Bose was asked during the hearing about the use of automation technology in the rail industry, specifically with regard to track inspections.

“Sometimes when innovative approaches are suggested, they run up against regulations which favor the old way,” said Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi. “If confirmed, I hope you’ll continue a forward-thinking approach to providing regulatory relief and consideration to test programs that could demonstrate how new technologies can improve safety.”


Bose responded that FRA makes it a point to keep up with technology changes through its Office of Railroads Systems and Technology.

“We’re absolutely aware that we have to give careful consideration to waivers and make sure they’re in the public interest and are consistent with rail safety,” he said. “And when you’re talking about track inspections and testing programs, those exist right now and are ongoing, and we want to see the results from those.”

Bose also committed to looking into a request by Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, to expand Alaska Railroad’s authorization for transporting 40-foot tanks of liquefied natural gas (LNG) on railroad flatcars. Authority to move the containers from Alaska refineries to the interior of the state was granted in 2015, but the railroad’s request to expand the authorization to include “commercially viable” shipments has languished for 10 months, Sullivan said.

“We were working with the railroads and thought we had addressed what their peak demand was going to be, but we will look at that and talk to them again,” Bose responded. “The Alaska Railroad has a productive relationship with FRA and we want to continue that.”

Click for more FreightWaves articles by John Gallagher.

3 Comments

  1. Onlooker

    Billions on billions in profit year after year…..but they need one man crews! It’s not about safety it’s about $$$$ that’s why they’re building bigger trains…cuts crew starts!! It’s sad!! All big business has lost all concern for their employees. It’s gonna be rough for thousands of families when these people with bonuses and stock options get what they want while the person losing their job is trying to figure out how to pay their one mortgage.

  2. Freight expediting LLC

    ***THIS IS A DISTASTER IN THE MAKING….. THERE IS ZERO REASON OTHER THAN BEING CHEAP AZZES THAT THE CREWS WOULD BE CUT!!!!⚠️🤑⚠️🤑🔥🔥

Comments are closed.

John Gallagher

Based in Washington, D.C., John specializes in regulation and legislation affecting all sectors of freight transportation. He has covered rail, trucking and maritime issues since 1993 for a variety of publications based in the U.S. and the U.K. John began business reporting in 1993 at Broadcasting & Cable Magazine. He graduated from Florida State University majoring in English and business.