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5/5/2023
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly yesterday announced she's directed the Kansas Department of Transportation to draft a rule to require railroads operating in the state to have at least two train crew members in the lead locomotive.
The governor called for the regulation to improve the safety of rail operations in Kansas, she said in a press release. Kansas is among the top 25 states for grade crossing collisions, which resulted in five deaths and 14 injuries in 2022. Derailments resulted in nearly $10 million in damage last year.
"Railroads across the country have faced issues ranging from crew member fatigue to derailments, all of which pose a threat to Kansans’ safety and security," Kelly said. "Requiring a two-person crew is a commonsense, necessary measure to protect our state’s railroad crew members and keep every community along the tracks safe."
The proposed rule will be subject to at least a 60-day public comment period before it takes effect.
When the rule is promulgated, Kansas would become the ninth state in the country with a two-person train crew requirement. The majority of railroads in Kansas now operate two-person crews and will have no increased labor costs due to the new regulation, according to Kelly’s office.
Still, railroads generally oppose government-mandated train-crew size. Such rules lack a safety justification, according to the Association of American Railroads.