A federal appeals court on Tuesday (Aug. 11, 2026) 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.The FRA two-person crew rule, adopted in 2024, withstood legal challenges from railroads large and small.
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 hailed the ruling as “a major victory for railroad safety.” SMART General President Michael Coleman said, “The court’s decision reinforces what SMART-TD members and rail workers already know: having two qualified workers on a train crew is just common sense. It’s about safety, security and the well-being of workers and communities nationwide.”
A U.S. Department of Transportation representative said in an Aug. 14 statement, “The Eleventh Circuit delivered a massive victory, completely upholding FRA’s 2024 two-man train crew rule. … We are requiring a minimum of two crewmembers on every train as a default because we protect our rail workers, our communities, and our nation’s rail infrastructure.”