Secure Tracks Act

Key Points

• The bill requires railroads to have a qualified human inspector visually check all main line tracks rated for medium-to-high speeds at least twice per week, with at least one calendar day between inspections. This ensures physical eyes-on-the-ground detection of cracks, loose bolts, and other dangerous conditions.
• When any safety defect is found—whether by a person or a machine—railroads must fix it, protect it, or take that track out of service immediately. The qualified inspector has sole authority over whether trains can move on that section of track during repairs.
• Within one year of enactment, the Department of Transportation must update federal regulations to require automated Track Geometry Measurement System (TGMS) inspections at frequencies ranging from once a year for lower-class track to twice every 30 days for the highest-speed track (Class 9).
• The bill prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from granting waivers, exemptions, or modifications to railroad safety inspection rules unless the alternative method can detect every single defect condition recognized as unsafe under existing federal regulations.