Federal court upholds challenge to FRA’s two-person rail crew rule

A federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld the two-person crew requirement established by the Federal Railroad Administration, turning down industry arguments that the rule adopted in 2024 was arbitrary and capricious and represented regulatory overreach. In a 93-page, 2-1 decision , the U. S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit turned down the challenge by the Association of American Railroads, American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, and six railroads, saying “none of the railroads’ arguments have merit.” The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division – which was granted status to take part in the case – hailed the ruling as “a major victory for railroad safety.”