US freight railroads no longer have to report safety spending, but must report service weekly

The US Surface Transportation Board has stopped requiring major freight railroads to report how much they spend on Positive Train Control safety systems. Instead, these railroads must now report two key service metrics every week. This means less public visibility into safety spending, but more transparency on how quickly trains are moving goods.

For years, freight railroads had to detail their spending on a specific safety technology, Positive Train Control, which helps prevent collisions. That reporting requirement is now gone. Instead, the focus shifts to how well they deliver service, measured by how long trains sit idle and how quickly they move. This change reflects a shift from monitoring specific safety investments to tracking operational efficiency.