How to Report a Train Blocking a Road or Railroad Crossing

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 Freight trains may stop while occupying a railroad crossing for several reasons.

Common causes include:

• train traffic congestion on the rail network
• switching operations in rail yards
• mechanical or operational delays
• waiting for clearance from dispatchers
• traffic ahead on the rail line

Because freight trains can be over a mile long, when a train stops while crossing a roadway it can block traffic for extended periods. Understanding when and where these delays occur is important for transportation planning and public safety.

 If a train is blocking a railroad crossing for an extended period of time, it may be possible to report the incident to transportation authorities.

Information that may be helpful when reporting a blocked crossing includes:

• the street name or crossing location
• the time the crossing became blocked
• how long the crossing has been blocked
• were emergency vehicles blocked
• did pedestrians attempt to climb through

Providing accurate information helps agencies track patterns of blocked crossings and understand how rail operations affect roadways.

 The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) operates a national system that allows the public to report railroad crossings that are blocked by trains.

Reports submitted through this system are shared with the railroad companies and transportation agencies responsible for the rail line.

You can report a blocked crossing through the official FRA website here:

FRA Blocked Crossing Reporting System

https://www.fra.dot.gov/blockedcrossings/

The system allows drivers and communities to document incidents where trains block roadways for extended periods of time.

 When blocked crossings are reported consistently, transportation agencies can better understand where problems occur and how frequently crossings are affected.

This information may be used to:

• identify crossings with frequent delays
• evaluate traffic impacts on surrounding roads
• improve coordination between railroads and local agencies
• support transportation planning and safety improvements

Public reporting can help highlight locations where blocked crossings significantly impact communities.

 While reporting blocked crossings can help improve long-term awareness, many drivers simply want to avoid getting stuck behind a train in the first place.

BlockedTrax provides real-time alerts when trains approach monitored railroad crossings so drivers can plan alternate routes and avoid delays.

The BlockedTrax system detects:

• trains at a crossing
• trains occupying crossings
• trains that stop while blocking crossings
• when crossings clear again

By providing real-time crossing alerts, BlockedTrax helps drivers avoid unexpected delays caused by trains blocking the road.

 BlockedTrax also collects operational data about train activity at monitored crossings, including blockage duration, stop incidents, and time-of-day traffic impact.

This data can provide valuable insight into how rail traffic affects local transportation infrastructure.

Learn more about crossing data and reporting here:

https://blockedtrax.com/crossing-data

 BlockedTrax helps drivers stay informed about railroad crossing activity so they can avoid delays and plan their routes more efficiently.

Explore current crossing coverage and learn more about the BlockedTrax system on the website.