Blocked crossing laws
How long can a train block a crossing in Kansas?
Kansas law limits a train to 10 minutes blocking a road crossing, under Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 66-273, 66-274. A court has held that federal law preempts this limit, so it generally cannot be enforced against railroads. Checked 16 October 2026.
The rule
Kansas law says a railroad may not let its trains, engines or cars stand on a public road crossing or street for more than 10 minutes at a time without leaving an opening at least 30 feet wide. The Kansas Court of Appeals ruled in 2018 that federal law stops the state from enforcing it.
Exceptions and local rules
The rule also covers any public road within half a mile of a city, town, station or flag station. The railroad, not the crew, is fined: 100 dollars for 10-20 minutes, 300 dollars for 20-30 minutes, and 600 dollars for 30 minutes plus 600 dollars for each further 30 minutes. Crew members are not personally liable when the blocking was due to circumstances beyond their control or to follow employer orders.
Each and every railroad company or any corporation leasing or otherwise operating a railroad in Kansas is hereby prohibited from allowing its trains, engines or cars to stand upon any public road within one half mile of any incorporated or unincorporated city or town, station or flag station, or upon any crossing or street, to exceed ten minutes at any one time without leaving an opening in the traveled portion of the public road, street or crossing of at least thirty feet in width.
Does federal law override it?
No federal law sets a time limit for a train blocking a crossing. Federal law does control how railroads run trains, and courts have used it to set aside state time limits.
When a court holds a state limit preempted, the state cannot enforce it against the railroad. A limit no court has ruled on is still on the books, but railroads may challenge it the same way.
Where to report a blocked crossing
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) takes blocked crossing reports from the public for every state.
Report to the FRA blocked crossing reporter
We found no Kansas state page for blocked crossing reports, so the FRA reporter is the place to report.
If a train is blocking the crossing right now, call the railroad on the number shown on the blue sign at the crossing.
Crossings in Kansas
Kansas has 5,079 public crossings in the FRA crossing inventory.