Improved railroad safety standards–especially for hazardous materials are under discussion
Might include federal inspection of tracks. Requirement of minimum of two crew on trains.
'The bill would require various rail safety improvements, such as enhancing safety procedures for trains carrying hazardous materials, establishing requirements for wayside defect detectors, creating a permanent requirement for railroads to operate with at least two-person crews and increasing fines for wrongdoing by railroads."
Labor unions support the measures.
“Using a combination of human visual inspections and automated track inspection technology, FRA inspectors will assess the overall condition of rail infrastructure and railroads’ compliance with regulatory track requirements. Information will be shared with railroads and rail labor organizations, and will be periodically published to increase public transparency, FRA officials said in a press release.”