- Published: 13 August 2019
SPRINGFIELD – A proposal passed by State Senator Terry Link (D-Indian Creek) increasing rail safety in Illinois was signed into law on Friday by Gov. Pritzker.
Link’s new law requires freight trains in Illinois to be operated by a crew of at least two people – a move that comes after recent news that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is abandoning its efforts for minimum train crew staffing levels.
“With federal bureaucrats failing to act to protect public safety, it is clear states must act on their own,” Link said. “This is simply a matter of protecting the general public. Two-person crews can react more efficiently to mechanical failures or equipment malfunctions and can potentially save lives in a serious situation.”
Link’s new law – which passed under Senate Bill 24 – requires freight trains to be operated by a crew of at least two individuals. Illinois joins Wisconsin, Colorado, Nevada, California and Arizona in enacting some form of train crew requirement.