Stalled trains rack up thousands of complaints each year, data shows

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- 13 Investigates found thousands of complaints made by Houston residents to the federal government about trains blocking intersections across the City of Houston.

Data from the Federal Railroad Administration shows 23,000 complaints have been made since 2021 about the stalled trains in the City of Houston. So far this year, we are on track to see more complaints than we have in the past 5 years.

13 Investigates went through federal railroad administration data to see what side of town is dealing with this the most. The data shows most complaints are coming from people on the east side of town at crossings on Eastwood Street, Leeland, Milby, Cullen, and South Lockwood.

Many of the complaints reported are about emergency vehicles not being able to get through.

"These trains are longer and stop for longer and block crossings longer...that creates public safety issues all around - so I heavily disagree. So aside from the public safety issue, residents here deserve better," Lindsay Williams, the Super Neighborhoods president, said.

Union Pacific runs through Houston. ABC13 asked them about all the complaints, and they told Eyewitness News they're already having conversations with officials about finding short-term and long-term solutions for these problems.

Williams does acknowledge the work that's been done so far at the state and federal level to begin funding the addition of overpasses and underpasses at some of the dangerous train crossings. She says that could take years.