Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HR661 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	25 LC 112 3453
2	2	House Resolution 661
3	3	By: Representatives McClain of the 109
4	4	th
5	5	, Buckner of the 137
6	6	th
7	7	, Alexander of the 66
8	8	th
9	9	, Taylor
10	10	of the 92
11	11	nd
12	12	, Tran of the 80
13	13	th
14	14	, and others
15	15	A RESOLUTION
16	16	Urging the Federal Railroad Administration to deny CSX's request to become the first
17	17	1
18	18	railroad to use Trip Optimizer's Zero-to-Zero feature; and for other purposes.2
19	19	WHEREAS, the safety of Georgians is the paramount duty of government; and3
20	20	WHEREAS, numerous train accidents have caused enormous damage to human life and4
21	21	property in recent years; and5
22	22	WHEREAS, the safety of train operations impacts communities across this state and the6
23	23	country; and7
24	24	WHEREAS, CSX has applied to the Federal Railroad Administration to become the first8
25	25	railroad to use Trip Optimizer's Zero-to-Zero feature, which allows the cruise-control system9
26	26	to automatically start and stop trains from beginning to end; and10
27	27	WHEREAS, a computer system or algorithm cannot replace the skill, judgment, and11
28	28	adaptability of a trained engineer and conductor; therefore, allowing a system that relies12
29	29	solely on technology to control the brakes—the train's most essential safety feature—is13
30	30	dangerous; and14
31	31	H. R. 661
32	32	- 1 - 25 LC 112 3453
33	33	WHEREAS, the Federal Railroad Administration finalized a two-person crew rule in 2024,
34	34	15
35	35	establishing two-person crews and barring engineer-only operation on most trains; and16
36	36	WHEREAS, Trip Optimizer with Air Brake Control is a precursor to autonomous train17
37	37	operation; and18
38	38	WHEREAS, Zero-to-Zero has yet to be tested systemwide and has only been tested on19
39	39	approximately 25 percent of CSX territory, leaving too many unanswered questions for it to20
40	40	be implemented systemwide; and21
41	41	WHEREAS, becoming a skilled and efficient locomotive engineer requires years of22
42	42	locomotive operation, but Zero-to-Zero usage does not allow newly promoted engineers to23
43	43	continually develop their train operation skills; and24
44	44	WHEREAS, Trip Optimizer usage does not allow experienced locomotive engineers to25
45	45	continue refining their skills as trains become longer and heavier, all of which handle26
46	46	differently, and its continued use diminishes the skills of experienced engineers due to the27
47	47	lack of manual operation; and28
48	48	WHEREAS, the Trip Optimizer system on locomotives malfunctions daily, failing to operate29
49	49	trains smoothly and allowing for excessive draft and buff forces within the train, which can30
50	50	cause train separation, block crossings, delay emergency response vehicles, and lead to31
51	51	derailments that put communities at risk; and32
52	52	WHEREAS, the Georgia Working Families Legislative Caucus urges the Georgia State33
53	53	Senate to call on the Federal Railroad Administration to deny CSX's request to use Trip34
54	54	H. R. 661
55	55	- 2 - 25 LC 112 3453
56	56	Optimizer's Zero-to-Zero feature, which allows the system to automatically start and stop
57	57	35
58	58	trains when moving from zero to nine miles per hour.36
59	59	NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that37
60	60	the members of this body urge the Federal Railroad Administration to deny CSX's request38
61	61	to use Trip Optimizer's Zero-to-Zero feature, which allows the system to automatically start39
62	62	and stop trains when moving from zero to nine miles per hour.40
63	63	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized41
64	64	and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the42
65	65	public and the press.43
66	66	H. R. 661
67	67	- 3 -