Skip to content
Congress·In Committee·about 2 months ago

Congress targets assaults on passenger train crews with new federal penalties up to 20 years

Also known as: Passenger Rail Crew Protection Act

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
Senate
House
President

Impacts

Negative Impacts(1)
Criminal Record
Hurts

Key Points

  • Creates a new federal crime for assaulting or intimidating passenger train crew members in a way that disrupts their work.
  • Covers incidents on board passenger trains, on platforms serving trains, and inside rail stations.
  • Protects a wide range of workers, including engineers, conductors, onboard staff, safety-sensitive workers, and some station employees.
  • Sets penalties of up to 8 years in prison, and up to 20 years if a dangerous weapon is used.
  • Defines “dangerous weapon” broadly, including items like a small pocket knife (under 2.5 inches) and a box cutter.
TransportationCriminal Justice

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Jan 15, 2026Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Jan 15, 2026

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

As soon as the bill is signed into law and becomes effective (effective date not stated in the text).

Federal prosecutors gain clear authority to charge interference with passenger train crew members once the law takes effect.

Assaults or threats on trains, platforms, or in stations that interfere with a crew member’s duties could be handled as federal crimes, which may change how quickly and how seriously cases are pursued.

Related News

6 articles
Trains.com·about 2 months ago

Senate bill would increase legal protections for passenger rail crews

Covers the Passenger Rail Crew Protection Act introduced Jan. 15, 2026, outlining the new federal offense for assaulting/intimidating passenger-rail crews, with penalties up to 8 years (20 with a dangerous weapon).

C=
Progressive Railroading·about 1 month ago

Sens. Duckworth, Hoeven introduce bill to protect passenger-rail crews

Rail-industry coverage of S.3665 describing scope (onboard, platforms, stations), covered roles, and penalty structure (up to 8 years; up to 20 years with a dangerous weapon).

=
Railway Age·about 2 months ago

Senators Introduce Passenger Rail Crew Protection Act

Safety-sector roundup item noting introduction of the Passenger Rail Crew Protection Act and its goal of extending uniform legal protections to passenger rail crew members.

=

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Passenger Rail Crew Protection Act

Bill NumberS 3665
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionRead twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(1)
R: 1

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.