Railway Safety Act of 2026

Key Points

• The bill creates strict new safety rules for trains hauling dangerous cargo. It caps all hazardous material trains at 50 mph and slows high-hazard trains carrying flammable liquids to 40 mph in major urban areas. Railroads must share real-time digital lists of hazardous materials on each train with emergency responders and fusion centers.
• Class I railroads must install networks of defect detectors along main lines to catch dangerous conditions like overheating wheel bearings before they cause derailments. On routes near cities of 75,000+, detectors must be placed at least 10 miles before entering those areas, and otherwise spaced every 15 to 20 miles depending on the technology used.
• Most freight trains on Class I railroads must have a minimum two-person crew — a certified conductor and a certified locomotive engineer. Exceptions exist for short movements and operations that already ran with smaller crews, but not for high-hazard trains or trains 7,500 feet or longer.
• Older tank cars that don't meet modern DOT-117 safety standards would be banned from carrying flammable liquids starting December 31, 2027. If manufacturers can't build or retrofit enough cars in time, the deadline can be pushed to the end of 2028.
• Fines for railroad safety violations jump dramatically — up to $1 million per violation, or $5 million if the violation causes death or serious injury. Penalties can be doubled for repeat offenses or deliberate disregard for safety. Small railroads face lower maximums.
• The bill creates new grants and funding for local emergency responders to buy protective equipment, get training for hazmat incidents, and receive quick financial reimbursement after major rail accidents involving dangerous materials. A new emergency response assistance program would provide up to $10 million per incident.

Votes

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