The RAIL Act would set new safety rules for trains carrying hazardous materials. It directs the Transportation Secretary to create requirements for route planning, train operations, maintenance, emergency notices, and reducing blocked crossings. It would strengthen railcar and locomotive inspections, require rules for wayside defect detectors, increase some rail safety penalties, and bar certain older tank cars from carrying flammable liquids starting May 1, 2030. It would also fund first-responder training and generally require Class I freight trains to have a conductor and locomotive engineer. The bill was introduced in the House and referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
Communities and emergency response agencies could receive advance information about hazardous materials shipments and written gas discharge plans. First responders could receive training grants. The bill also sets additional safety requirements for rail carriers. It does not describe direct benefits or requirements for individual members of the public.
The bill would require each Class I rail carrier to pay an annual $1 million fee for emergency response training grants. It would increase the maximum amount available for supplemental training grants from $2 million to $4 million. It would also raise certain civil penalty amounts and link some penalties to a person's or company's annual income or operating income. No publicly available information on the bill's total costs or funding impact.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.