An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 7 of Chapter 13 of Title 56 a section numbered 56-425.1, relating to railroad safety; minimum train crew; movement of freight.
HB25 adds a new section to the Virginia Code establishing a minimum train crew requirement for freight operations. Under the bill, a railroad company may not use or permit the use of a train, locomotive, or light engine in connection with the movement of freight unless it has at least two qualified individuals in the crew. The bill expressly excludes hostler and utility service from this requirement.
The measure also directs the State Corporation Commission to include in its annual report to the Governor the number of probable violations of a federal railroad safety regulation, 49 C.F.R. § 218.123, that the Commission’s Division of Utility and Railroad Safety investigates and refers to the Federal Railroad Administration for enforcement. In effect, the bill creates a state-level crew-size rule for freight rail and adds a reporting obligation tied to federal safety enforcement.
HB25 amends Title 56 of the Code of Virginia by creating § 56-425.1, thereby imposing a statutory two-person minimum crew requirement for freight train operations in Virginia, subject to the stated exceptions. It also expands the State Corporation Commission’s reporting duties by requiring annual disclosure of probable federal railroad safety violations investigated and referred for enforcement. The bill affects railroad companies operating freight service in the Commonwealth, as well as the Commission’s Division of Utility and Railroad Safety and the Governor’s annual reporting process.
The available record shows the bill was enacted as Chapter 548, which indicates it received sufficient support to pass both chambers and become law. Although no committee transcripts or recorded vote details are provided, the final enactment suggests the bill had at least majority legislative backing. The subject matter—railroad safety and crew staffing—typically draws support from safety-focused advocates and rail labor interests, while potentially facing opposition from rail carriers concerned about operational flexibility and costs.
The main point of contention is likely the mandatory two-person crew requirement for freight movement, which can be viewed as a safety measure by supporters and as an operational mandate by opponents. Railroads may object to the added staffing requirement, especially for short-haul, remote, or automated operations, while proponents likely argue that a minimum crew improves safety and oversight. The reporting requirement is less controversial, but it reinforces state monitoring of federal railroad safety violations and could be seen as part of broader regulatory scrutiny of rail operations.