USA — The FRA restricted-speed advisory warns railroads that positive train control cannot replace crew judgment when trains operate under restricted-speed rules across the national rail network.

Union Pacific freight train passing PTC trackside equipment in Echo, Utah
A Union Pacific freight train passes Positive Train Control trackside equipment in Echo, Utah.

The Federal Railroad Administration issued Safety Advisory 2026-01 after preliminary investigations tied seven incidents — three collisions and four derailments — between February 2024 and May 2026 to apparent failures to follow restricted-speed requirements.

The agency said:

“a significant safety gap has emerged due to a misunderstanding of the role of PTC in restricted speed compliance.”

FRA restricted-speed advisory centers crew duty

Under the federal definition, restricted speed is not simply a numerical limit. A train must be able to stop within half the crew’s range of vision, and speed cannot exceed 20 mph unless a railroad’s operating rules impose a lower limit.

The advisory states:

“In doing so,” it says, “crews may fail to account fully for visibility limitations, train length and tonnage, braking characteristics, grade, curvature, and other conditions that materially affect the ability to stop within one-half the range of vision. FRA emphasizes that the requirement to be able to stop within one-half the range of vision is the controlling element of restricted speed and takes precedence over any maximum authorized speed.”

FRA described PTC as a safety overlay. Even when Restricted Mode enforces an upper speed limit, the operating crew remains responsible for reducing speed as visibility, braking performance, train length, tonnage, grade and curvature require.

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Five actions recommended for railroads

The agency asked railroads to:

  • Review the seven incidents with employees and identify how restricted-speed compliance broke down.
  • Assess training and rules instruction, including how visibility, train length, tonnage and other operating factors affect stopping distance.
  • Reinforce that PTC does not remove the crew’s responsibility to select a safe speed.
  • Evaluate quarterly and six-month operational-testing reviews and increase restricted-speed testing where appropriate.
  • Emphasize shared situational awareness among locomotive crew members and eliminate unnecessary distractions.

Context

FRA’s incident table records speeds from 12 to 30 mph. The outcomes included a three-train collision on March 2, 2024, a passenger-equipment derailment with passenger and crew injuries on December 19, 2025, and the derailment of six freight cars on May 18, 2026.

The advisory also says restricted-speed violations may lead to suspension or revocation of locomotive engineer or conductor certification. It does not change existing regulatory duties, but FRA said it could pursue enforcement or other corrective measures.

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