Traditional methods of rockfall mitigation on most railroad track systems involve placing a trip wire or slide fence near the track to signal dispatch operators of a possible problem. This low-cost approach requires train dispatchers to have the track surveyed to verify train safety won’t be compromised before the train can operate through that section at normal speeds. However, is this method’s total operating costs considered when comparing to a more modern hazard mitigation program which spans preventing the rocks from becoming loose on a rock face/slope to absorbing their energy/catching them as they near a pre-selected area at the slope’s bottom? This paper will explore current railroad mitigation programs, identify the often hidden costs associated with these solutions, identify the future direction of railroad operating requirements, present modern rockfall mitigation systems, and present a total cost analysis between the “traditional” and “modern” methods.