New York state bill would mandate two-person train crews

Legislation that would require certain trains and locomotives to have a crew size of not less than two people was introduced earlier this month in the New York State Senate with a companion bill in the Assembly.

A summary of S3953 says the legislation would provide that "no person operating or controlling any Class I railroad or Class II railroad shall allow the operation of any railroad train or locomotive for the movement of freight unless such railroad train or locomotive has a crew of not less than two individuals; provides exemptions; defines terms; imposes civil penalties."

Introduced by State Sen. Timothy Kennedy (D-Buffalo), the bill would not apply to any train or locomotive engaged in helper or hostling services.

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) is encouraging its members to lobby in favor of the legislation.

The Association of American Railroads opposes laws that mandate two-person crew sizes.

"These efforts would upend decades of meaningful collective bargaining and undermine the industry’s ability to compete in a rapidly changing transportation space," AAR's policy position states.