Congress·In Committee·S. 3903

Sen. Husted Leads Bipartisan Push to Toughen Rail Safety and Limit Train Speeds

Railway Safety Act of 2026

29 days ago·View on Congress.gov·Read full text

Legislative Progress

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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.
From policy text
“for main lines traveling within an urbanized area with a population of at least 75,000, at a distance that provides for any train operating along the railroad's route to undergo detection not less than 10 miles before entering such an area”
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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.
From policy text
“a freight train operated by a Class I railroad may not be operated without a 2-person crew consisting of at least 1 appropriately qualified and certified conductor and 1 appropriately qualified and certified locomotive engineer”
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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.
From policy text
“establish an emergency response assistance program to provide immediate financial assistance to communities responding to a significant hazardous materials transportation incident”
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Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Who is affectedScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

StateScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Feb 24, 2026Senate

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

Feb 24, 2026

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

1-2 years after enactment

New speed limits, hazmat information-sharing rules, and defect detection requirements take effect via rulemaking

Within 1-2 years of enactment, the Department of Transportation must finalize rules limiting hazmat train speeds to 40-50 mph, requiring real-time train consist sharing with first responders, and mandating defect detector networks on main lines.

180 days after enactment

Two-person crew mandate and railroad toll-free reporting lines go into effect

Freight trains on Class I railroads must carry both a conductor and an engineer. Every railroad must also have a toll-free number for the public to report blocked crossings, improving both crew safety and community access.

Related News

2 articles

Trains Magazine·29 days ago

Senators introduce new version of Railway Safety Act

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators led by Maria Cantwell and Jon Husted introduced the Railway Safety Act of 2026. The bill mandates wayside defect detectors every 10-20 miles, a two-person crew requirement, and a 40 mph speed limit for high-hazard trains in big cities.

Progressive Railroading·16 days ago

Bipartisan House group revives Railway Safety Act

House lawmakers introduced H.R. 928, the Railway Safety Act of 2026, to strengthen hazardous materials oversight and rail safety standards. The legislation incorporates NTSB recommendations and requires defect detectors, two-person crews, and improved emergency response notifications.