"Federal Mandate: Freight Trains Required to Maintain Two-Person Crews for Safety"

The Federal Railroad Administration has finalized a new rule requiring major freight railroads to maintain two-person crews on most routes, a move supported by rail unions for safety and job concerns. The rule comes after a fiery derailment in Ohio in 2023, but the industry argues that crew size should be determined by contract talks, not regulators. The Transportation Secretary and unions emphasize the importance of two-person crews, while the industry challenges the necessity of the regulation.