Bill would require two-person crews on US freight trains
Attempts by governments and private companies to cut costs by cutting corners on railroad safety are not unique to Australia – they are happening all around the world.
In the US there is a push back in Congress: a new bill has been introduced which, if passed, would require freight trains to operate with a minimum crew of two people (a certified engineer and conductor). The Safe Freight Act of 2017 has been referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
The Federal Railroad Administration is also currently in the process of creating a “train crew staffing” regulation with a tentative date for the final rule set for sometime this month.