Congress moves to gut railroad crew safety rules, favoring labor cuts over accident prevention
H.R. 5135 — Train Crew Choice Act · Filed by Eric Burlison (R-MO) · 2 cosponsors · Introduced Sep 4, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill voids a Federal Railroad Administration safety rule issued in April 2024 that set minimum crew sizes for trains. The rule required railroads to maintain staffing levels the FRA determined were necessary to prevent accidents. Nullifying it allows railroads to operate with smaller crews, reducing their labor costs but potentially increasing safety risks to workers and the public.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole operative function is to eliminate a safety staffing mandate, allowing railroads to reduce crew sizes and operating costs. The title 'Train Crew Choice Act' frames this as choice/flexibility, but the mechanism is straightforward deregulation of a labor-safety rule.
What the text implies
- Crew fatigue and response time may increase, raising accident probability during emergencies (derailments, hazmat incidents, grade-crossing collisions).
- Smaller crews reduce on-train supervision and emergency response capacity, potentially increasing injury severity when accidents occur.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
Class I railroads (BNSF, Union Pacific, CSX, Norfolk Southern, Kansas City Southern); Regional and short-line railroads; Railroad holding companies and investors