The Association of American Railroads has taken legal action against the State of New Jersey, asking a federal court in Trenton to block a recently enacted rail safety statute it says improperly interferes with federal authority.
Filed on Monday, the complaint specifically challenges Senate Bill 3389, which was signed into law by Democratic former Governor Phil Murphy shortly before he left office in January. The trade group argues that five provisions of the law impose "severe restrictions" on rail operations and represent an unconstitutional intrusion into a domain the group says Congress has placed under exclusive federal control.
Among the targeted provisions is a requirement that trains carrying hazardous materials operate with two-person crews. The suit also contests the creation of a state-administered "wayside detector" program intended to monitor wheels, railcars and track conditions. Another challenged element permits labor representatives to inspect railroad property for potential hazards.
In its filing, the trade group asserts that "New Jersey is impermissibly attempting to assert its own regulatory authority over an area Congress has placed under exclusive federal control," and that the state action amounts to an unconstitutional "taking" of property. The complaint names New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and Transportation Commissioner Priya Jain as defendants.
Neither the attorney general's office nor the transportation department provided an immediate comment after market hours, according to the filing. The lawsuit requests an injunction to prevent enforcement of the statute while the legal challenge proceeds.
The Association of American Railroads counts the Class I freight carriers among its members, citing Berkshire Hathaway-owned BNSF, Canadian National Railway, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, CSX, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific. The complaint notes that CSX and Norfolk Southern operate in New Jersey.
Supporters of lighter regulation in the industry sometimes argue that fewer constraints can boost profitability, a point cited in public debate over rail oversight. The trade group's legal action frames the dispute as a conflict over regulatory authority and property rights rather than an operational disagreement about specific safety practices.
What this means
The case will test the balance between state-level safety initiatives and federal preemption in rail regulation. The immediate legal remedy sought is an injunction blocking the New Jersey law from taking effect while the courts review the constitutional and statutory claims raised by the railroads' trade association.