May 26, 2026
Washington, D.C. – On May 21, 2026, Congresswoman Laura Gillen (NY-4) voiced concerns about the need for federal oversight governing Train Dispatching software systems during a markup session of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the U.S House of Representatives. In pointing out the urgent need for increased government scrutiny, Gillen noted that “when software problems are identified, the vendors who built the systems are often slow to fixes. This forces the Train Dispatchers responsible for operating these systems to troubleshoot the technology under live conditions and use workarounds until safety defects are corrected”.
While the dangerous nature of forcing Train Dispatchers to troubleshoot live system fixes is enough to demand government intervention, it’s not the only threat that Gillen cited in calling for increased oversight. She also stated that known threats exist for cyber-attacks on American rail infrastructure, and that the current lack of regulation on Train Dispatch systems could greatly increase vulnerability.
In closing, Gillen referred to the need for increased oversight as “...extremely serious for Long Islanders and all Americans”, before calling on the Committee Chairman and ranking member to work with her on addressing the issue. Finally, she stated her intent to address the issue as relief to “...the dedicated Dispatchers who keep our trains safe and running on time.”
ATDA Director of Government Affairs Jeffrey Robb thanked Gillen for her work, stating “For too long these problems have been occurring in the dispatching software used by our members. I am glad to see Congress begin to take this issue seriously and bring these critical rail safety topics to the forefront of Congressional action. ATDA thanks Congresswoman Gillen for her advocacy on this issue and we look forward to working with her to correct these problems that threaten public safety.”
While much work remains to secure the oversight needed for train dispatch software systems, American Train Dispatchers Association is encouraged that more lawmakers are recognizing its importance and amplifying those concerns within the Nation’s capital. ATDA supports Congresswoman Gillen’s efforts in this endeavor and calls upon others to join her in championing this vital public safety concern.
