New freight crew rule tests rail industry's clout, one year after East Palestine disaster

[ad_1] A Union Pacific freight train is seen traveling on April 21, 2023 in Round Rock, Texas. Brandon Bell | Getty Images One year after the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment created an environmental disaster, the Biden administration on Tuesday unveiled new regulations intended to shore up freight rail safety. A new rule finalized by the Federal Railroad Administration will require freight trains in the United States to operate with at least two crewmembers in most circumstances. The government previously instituted a two-person crew requirement, but a loophole allowed railroads…