Blocked crossings Guide 03
A train is blocking the crossing. Here is who to call.
If a blocked crossing creates an emergency, call 911 and give the crossing's location. For a railroad hazard, call the number on the blue sign; report a non-emergency blockage through FRA's reporter.
For residents and local staff documenting a blocked road.
Call 911 if someone needs emergency help.
Give the road, town and crossing ID if you can read it safely. Explain whether a person or vehicle is on the tracks, or the blockage is delaying an emergency response.
Stay clear of the tracks and train. Do not climb between railcars or drive around lowered gates.
Sources: TxDOT: rail questions and reporting; FRA: emergency notification signs.
Read the blue sign and crossing ID.
The blue-and-white Emergency Notification System sign carries the railroad's emergency phone number and the crossing ID. Tell the dispatcher both the ID and what is happening.
The railroad named in an inventory record helps identify the location. Use the contact on the posted sign at the scene.
Sources: FRA: emergency notification signs.
Learn where to find the crossing ID.
Blocked-crossing reports are not available for this publication. Use the FRA reporter linked in this guide.
Use the railroad contact posted for that crossing.
Use the crossing's blue sign first, including where several railroads operate. The contacts below were checked on 7 October 2026 and identify the railroad's own emergency contact page.
If the sign cannot be read safely and there is an emergency, give 911 the road and town. Do not walk onto the tracks to find a sign.
| Railroad | Emergency contact |
|---|---|
| BNSF | 1-800-832-5452, option 1. For a non-emergency blockage, option 3. |
| CN | 1-800-465-9239 |
| CPKC | Use the posted crossing sign and CPKC contact page; the number depends on the part of the network. |
| CSX | 1-800-232-0144 |
| Norfolk Southern | 1-800-453-2530 |
| Union Pacific | 1-888-877-7267 |
Sources: BNSF emergency contacts; CN emergency contacts; CSX emergency contacts; Norfolk Southern emergency contacts; Union Pacific emergency contacts; CPKC emergency contacts.
Report a non-emergency blockage to FRA.
Give the crossing ID, date, start and end times you observed, and effects on access. If it was already blocked when you arrived, say so instead of guessing the starting time.
Describe the event once and accurately. Keep your observations if you plan to contact the city.
Sources: FRA blocked-crossing reporter.
A submission does not confirm an event.
Reports submitted by the public are not independently confirmed, may overlap and are not a representative sample of all blockages.
FRA says this collection is unsuitable for budgetary requests or regulatory proposals. A funding case needs independently documented observations and the evidence required by the funding notice.
Contact the city about repeated access problems.
Send transport staff the crossing ID, dates and the affected route. Ask response agencies how they record emergency delays.
A local study can examine alternative routes and possible improvements. Keep submission counts separate from measured waits and confirmed emergency delays.
Common questions
Does an online report dispatch emergency help?
Use 911 for an emergency and the blue sign's railroad contact for a crossing hazard. Do not rely on an online submission to dispatch help.
Should I guess when the blockage started?
No. Record when you arrived and say the crossing was already blocked. Give an end time only if you observed it.
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