Raised Bill No. 280, introduced to the General Assembly and referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION, addresses two main issues: train crew size requirements and the installation of hotbox detectors. The bill mandates that Class I and Class II freight railroads operating in the state must have a minimum crew of two persons on any train or locomotive, with exceptions for trains engaged in helper services or hostling services. Violations of this requirement will result in fines ranging from $250 to $10,000, depending on the number of offenses.

Additionally, the bill requires railroad companies to install hotbox detectors, which are devices used to monitor the temperature of railcar components to detect potential problems, along every twenty-mile segment of rail track where passenger trains operate. This installation must be included in new construction projects starting on or after October 1, 2024, and must be completed on existing rail lines by October 1, 2025. The purpose of the bill is to establish minimum crew size requirements for freight railroads and to enhance safety on passenger rail lines through the use of hotbox detectors. The bill is set to be effective from October 1, 2024, and introduces new sections to the law without any deletions from the current law.