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HR 5135119th CongressIn Committee
Train Crew Choice Act
Introduced: Sep 4, 2025
Labor & Employment
Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs
The Train Crew Choice Act is a short bill introduced in the House by Rep. Burlison. Its central provision is to nullify a specific Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) rule known as the “Train Crew Size Safety Requirements,” which was published in the Federal Register on April 9, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 25052). If enacted, the bill would make that FRA final rule have no legal force or effect, effectively removing the new crew-size safety standards from governing railroad operations. In other words, this bill reverses the federal standard on train crew size that FRA put in place in 2024 and would leave that rule’s requirements inapplicable unless Congress or another rule replaces them.
Key Points
- 1The bill is titled the “Train Crew Choice Act” and is intended to nullify a specific FRA final rule.
- 2Targeted rule: FRA’s “Train Crew Size Safety Requirements” published April 9, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 25052).
- 3Legal effect: The bill states that the final rule “shall have no force or effect,” meaning it would be void and unenforceable.
- 4Scope: The bill directly addresses only the named FRA rule; no new safety standards or replacements are defined in the text.
- 5Status and sponsor: Introduced in the House by Rep. Burlison and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Impact Areas
Primary group/area affected- Railroad workers (e.g., conductors and engineers) and railroad operators, who would be affected by the presence or absence of federal crew-size requirements.Secondary group/area affected- Rail labor unions, safety regulators, and rail companies, which may face changes in compliance obligations, safety practices, and labor costs.Additional impacts- Passengers and freight customers could see changes in rail service dynamics if crew requirements influence operations, scheduling, or safety practices.- The broader federal safety regulation landscape could be impacted by removing the 2024 rule, potentially affecting future rulemaking or new standards.
Generated by gpt-5-nano on Oct 8, 2025