Train Engineers Must Prove English Skills Under New FRA Rule
Published Date: 7/31/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
FRA proposes to amend its regulations governing the qualification and certification of locomotive engineers and conductors to establish English language proficiency as a requirement for a railroad carrier to certify and recertify locomotive engineers and conductors. FRA also proposes that each railroad carrier conducting a triennial examination of skill performance, and an annual operational monitoring observation for locomotive engineers, which are current requirements, conduct those examinations and observations without engaging energy management systems that limit the need for a locomotive engineer to operate the throttle or braking systems. Further, FRA proposes to codify limitations on operations at the southern border, including a 10 route-mile geographic limitation, to ensure domestic training, testing, and certification requirements for Mexican crew members are adequate. In addition, FRA proposes changes to clarify that a locomotive engineer or conductor's territorial qualification is limited to the specific direction of travel traversed during the qualification process.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
English Required for Certification
FRA would require English language proficiency (reading, speaking, and writing) as a formal condition to certify or recertify locomotive engineers and conductors; this ELP requirement is tied to President Trump's Executive Order 14224 issued March 1, 2025. FRA says all stages of training, testing, and certification must be in English and carriers are expected to enforce ELP once a final rule is effective.
All Training and Tests Must Be in English
FRA proposes that training, written tests, signage interpretation, and any supervisory clarifications used for certification be conducted in English (including written tests 'in English' and that consults with supervisors occur 'in English'). FRA will publish recommended ELP evaluation procedures in a new appendix.
Skill Tests Must Not Use Energy Management
FRA proposes that triennial skills examinations and annual operational monitoring of locomotive engineers must be performed without engaging energy management systems (EMS) that operate the throttle, unless that EMS is integrated with a critical-safety system such as positive train control (PTC).
Territorial Qualification Is Direction-Specific
FRA would clarify that a locomotive engineer's or conductor's territorial qualification applies only to the specific direction of travel experienced during the qualification move; a person is not qualified in the opposite direction unless they complete and demonstrate knowledge on a qualification ride for that direction.
Southern Border: 10‑Mile Limit and U.S. Certification
FRA proposes that Mexican-domiciled crews may operate no more than 10 route miles into the U.S.; U.S. host carriers must train, test, and certify Mexican-based engineers directly under the carrier's FRA-approved program, or the Mexican crewmember must be English proficient or be accompanied by a U.S. pilot proficient in English and Spanish who is certified as both an engineer and a conductor and qualified on the territory. FRA estimates about 93 Mexican-based crewmembers would be affected by domestic training needs.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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