Feb. 18, 2025
ALTOONA – With nearly 5,600 miles of railroad track in Pennsylvania, Rep. Lou Schmitt (R-Blair) introduced two bills to improve rail safety standards in the Keystone State.
“The railroad is synonymous with Pennsylvania, and we should be a leader in the nation when it comes to making the rails safer for everyone,” Schmitt said. “My bills are the result of lessons learned from past rail incidents, particularly the tragic disaster in East Palestine, Ohio.”
To ensure freight locomotives are properly staffed, Schmitt’s
House Bill 540 would require a crew of at least two workers – an engineer and a conductor – on each engine. Some exceptions would be permitted, such as when a locomotive is in a repair or servicing facility. In addition, Schmitt introduced
House Bill 539 to limit the length of trains to 8,500 feet. As the length of trains has increased over the years, so have concerns about safety issues. There are also concerns that longer trains lead to traffic congestion and delayed response times of emergency crews due to waiting at rail crossings.
Both pieces of legislation would give the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) the authority to levy fines against rail companies that do not comply with the law.
While there are safety concerns about trains, the railroad remains a major piece of the transportation infrastructure. A train can carry a ton of freight 470 miles on a single gallon of diesel. Rail is also a key part of our economy, suppling 167,000 jobs in the United States.
“Rail continues to be the most economical mode of transporting goods and a big part of our economy here in Altoona and across the Commonwealth,” Schmitt said. “We must ensure the safety of the men and women who work on the lines, as well as all Pennsylvanians. My bills take a commonsense approach to improved safety standards.”
The bills now go to the House Consumer Protection, Technology and Utilities Committee for consideration.
Representative Lou Schmitt
79th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Greg Gross
717.260.6374
ggross@pahousegop.com
RepLouSchmitt.com /
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