Railway Safety Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7748
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-03: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-03T08:08:59Z
AI-Generated Summary
Railway Safety Act of 2026 (H.R. 7748)
Purpose
The legislation aims to improve rail safety, particularly for trains carrying hazardous materials (high-hazard trains), by imposing stricter operational rules, enhancing inspections and technology, mandating minimum crew sizes, increasing penalties for violations, phasing out older tank cars, and strengthening emergency response and preparedness for hazardous material incidents.
Key Provisions
Title I: Rail Safety
- High-Hazard Trains (Sec. 102): Defines high-hazard trains (e.g., those with 20+ tank cars of flammable liquids or fewer cars of highly toxic materials). Requires Secretary of Transportation (via regulations within 1 year):
- Speed limits: 50 mph general, 40 mph in high-threat urban areas unless using advanced tank cars.
- Real-time electronic train consist data (hazardous materials details) shared with fusion centers and emergency responders.
- Annual commodity flow reports to state/Tribal emergency commissions.
- Hazardous materials emergency response plans for Class I railroads (largest railroads).
- Long Trains (Sec. 103): Requires review/update of safety rules based on prior reports; mandates reporting train weight/length in accidents.
- Blocked Crossings (Sec. 104): Funds National Academy of Sciences study on blocked highway-rail crossings; requires railroads to provide toll-free hotlines for reports.
- Inspections (Sec. 105): Prohibits limiting inspection time; mandates pre-departure/periodic freight car inspections, more frequent locomotive checks, and audits of compliance.
- Defect Detection (Sec. 107): Requires Class I railroads to develop/implement risk-based defect detector networks (e.g., for overheated bearings) within 3 years.
- Crew Size (Sec. 108): Mandates 2-person crews (engineer + conductor) for most Class I freight trains, with limited exceptions (not for high-hazard or very long trains).
- Penalties (Sec. 109): Increases civil penalties for safety violations (up to $1M+, $5M+ for serious cases); deems railroads responsible for employee acts in hours-of-service violations.
- Tank Cars (Sec. 110): Phases out non-upgraded tank cars for certain flammable liquids by Dec. 31, 2027 (possible 1-year delay).
- Other: Emergency brake signal reviews; research grants; FRA safety culture review; roadway worker tech report; workforce improvements; alcohol/drug testing expansion.
Title II: Hazardous Materials Emergency Response and Preparedness
- Fees (Sec. 201): Adds annual registration fees ($250–$5,000 based on business size) for hazardous materials handlers to fund preparedness.
- Training (Sec. 202): Promotes virtual training options equivalent to in-person.
- Grants (Sec. 203): Expands grants for training, exercises, personal protective equipment (PPE), and gap analyses; prioritizes local pass-through (70%+).
- Assistance Program (Sec. 204): Creates rapid reimbursement (up to $10M+) from a dedicated fund for communities responding to major hazmat incidents if responsible party delays payment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Title 49 U.S.C.: Rewrites high-hazard train section (20155); adds new sections on inspections (20172), defect detection (20173), crew size (20154); revises penalties (21301), grants (5116), and fees (5108).
- Phases out legacy tank cars (e.g., DOT-111) faster than prior rules.
- Introduces mandates: 2-person crews (previously voluntary/waivable); real-time data sharing; periodic freight car inspections (previously less standardized).
- Repeals outdated penalty sections (21302/21303).
- Hazardous materials: Increases grant federal share (to 90–100%); adds PPE purchases, emergency assistance fund.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increased workload/enforcement for Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)/DOT (audits, rulemakings, reviews); new funding for grants/research ($25M+ authorized).
- Citizens/Communities: Reduced derailment risks near populated areas; fewer blocked crossings disrupting traffic/emergency access; better local emergency readiness.
- Railroads/Shippers: Higher compliance costs (tech, inspections, crews, tank upgrades); potential delays from speed limits/inspections.
- Emergency Responders: Improved access to train data, PPE/training funds, rapid incident reimbursements.
- No direct international relations impact.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Railroads: Class I (e.g., major freight lines) bear most new requirements/costs; Class II/III have lighter burdens.
- Federal Agencies: FRA, DOT Inspector General, GAO, OPM (workforce reviews).
- Emergency Responders: Fire/EMS departments, state/Tribal/local governments (grants, data access).
- Hazardous Materials Handlers/Shippers: Higher fees, reporting.
- Rail Labor: Benefits from crew mandates, inspection protections.
- Communities: Near rail lines/highways (safety gains).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Enhances FRA enforcement (higher penalties, audits); preserves Secretary waivers/authority; protects collective bargaining (no changes to labor agreements); responsible parties liable for reimbursements (with small business discretion).
- Constitutional: No apparent issues; federal safety preemption over states consistent with commerce clause.
- Political: Balances safety (post-derailment push) with industry costs (e.g., crew size debated); mandates reports/studies for accountability; potential litigation over penalties/phase-outs.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
Cosponsors (9)
Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-NY-1], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6], Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-03: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
- 2026-03-02: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-03-02: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-03-02: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-02: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Railway Safety Act of 2026 — issued 2026-03-02 — PDF (86 pages)