Railway Safety Act of 2026

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Introduced 2026-03-02Topic: transportation

Summary

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This bill would change federal rail safety rules, with a focus on trains carrying hazardous materials. It would require the Department of Transportation to set speed limits, add inspection and defect-detector requirements, and require large railroads to share hazardous cargo information with state emergency officials and first responders. It would require most Class I freight trains to have a two-person crew, raise civil penalties for rail safety violations, and phase out older tank cars for certain flammable liquids starting at the end of 2027. It would also fund research grants and order studies on blocked railroad crossings, worker protections, and the Federal Railroad Administration's staffing.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Action history

Date	Chamber	Action	Status effect
2026-03-03	House	Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.	refer
2026-03-02	House	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.	refer
2026-03-02	House	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.	refer
2026-03-02		Introduced in House	introduce
2026-03-02		Introduced in House	introduce

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