Six out of the seven largest U.S. freight railroads have implemented precision-scheduled railroading (PSR), a strategy intended to increase efficiency and reduce costs, according to a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) study.
There is no set definition of PSR, but the 28 freight rail industry stakeholders GAO interviewed associated PSR operational changes with reductions in staff, longer trains, and reductions in assets such as locomotives.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), which oversees railroad safety, and the Surface Transportation Board (STB), which is responsible for the economic regulation of freight rail, are pursuing ways to monitor and address safety and service concerns raised by PSR. The agencies asked GAO to examine the effect of PSR on freight rail safety and service.
GAO reviewed Association of American Railroads and STB data on railroad operations from 2011 through 2021 and FRA and STB documents and data on freight rail safety and service for 2011 through 2022.
FRA officials said the data from 2011 through 2021 is inconclusive regarding the extent to which operational changes associated with PSR may have affected rail safety, while STB officials said that the extent to which PSR-associated changes have affected freight rail service is unclear. Both agencies have taken steps to address safety.