U.S. House Approves Two-Person Crew Mandate US Freight Rail

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee approved a 54-11 bipartisan amendment on May 20, 2026, to integrate the Railway Safety Act (H.R. 7748) into the five-year BUILD America 250 Act (H.R. 8870). This legislative package succeeds the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 to set national transport funding priorities. The newly integrated amendment introduces strict operating regulations for Class I railroads, including mandatory two-person crews.

What Does This Regulation Cover?

The integrated Railway Safety Act amendment mandates a permanent two-person crew requirement for all Class I freight trains operating across the United States. Beyond crew size, the bill enforces heightened inspection standards, sets strict operational limits for trains transporting hazardous materials, and establishes federal regulatory oversight for wayside defect detectors. The White House has actively supported the measures to prevent major derailments, while industry groups oppose the rules due to projected supply chain cost increases. Specific federal funding allocations for implementing these detector networks were not disclosed in the immediate bill text.

Key Regulatory Data

How Does This Compare to Global Standards?

The U.S. mandate for a two-person crew contrasts sharply with European rail networks, where single-person train operation has been the standard for decades. In Europe, safety is maintained through widespread deployment of advanced cab signaling and automated train protection systems like the European Train Control System (ETCS) (Source: European Union Agency for Railways, 2024). While the U.S. rail industry argues that wayside detector regulations could stifle innovation and increase freight transit times, global suppliers are pivoting toward digitalized monitoring. For example, Siemens AG’s late 2025 capital allocation framework emphasizes focusing capital on digitalized rail infrastructure and automation to improve trackside safety without manual labor overhead (Source: Siemens AG, 2025).

Editor’s Analysis

This legislative shift reflects a growing regulatory skepticism toward autonomous and single-person freight operations in the United States, forcing railroads to prioritize labor retention over automation. By codifying wayside detector spacing and inspections, the bill will likely accelerate capital investments in digital trackside technologies rather than proprietary operator-led solutions. This alignment with stricter oversight mirrors a broader global trend where infrastructure managers must balance automated diagnostic rollouts with rigid federal safety compliance (Source: International Union of Railways, 2025).

FAQ

Q: What are the main requirements of the newly amended Railway Safety Act?
A: The act mandates a minimum of two crew members in the cab of all freight trains. It also imposes stricter rules for hazardous material transport and establishes standardized regulations for wayside defect detectors.

Q: How will the BUILD America 250 Act affect the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)?
A: The BUILD America 250 Act will succeed the IIJA as the primary U.S. surface transportation reauthorization bill. It will dictate federal funding priorities for roads, bridges, transit, and rail for the next five years.

Q: What is the rail industry’s stance on these new safety regulations?
A: The rail industry strongly opposes the amendment, claiming it lacks empirical safety justification. Operators argue that mandatory staffing rules and detector regulations will drive up costs across the global supply chain.