Sponsors (2)
The bill strengthens rail safety and oversight—requiring human engineers on main-line trains, faster FRA audits, and clearer rules—but does so at the cost of higher operating and compliance expenses, potential short-term service disruptions, and the risk that heavy fines and reduced automation flexibility will disproportionately burden carriers, shippers, and small businesses.
Passengers, nearby communities, and rail workers will face fewer accidents because main-line trains must have a certified human engineer in the lead cab who can take control, reducing risks from remote or fully remote operation.
Class I railroads will be audited within 180 days (and non‑Class I subject to inspections within a year), increasing oversight that should identify and correct safety and compliance problems for rail workers and the public.
Directing DOT to issue conforming regulatory changes and making certain rules effective immediately provides clearer standards and speeds implementation of safety protections for operators and regulators.
Shippers, consumers, and small businesses are likely to face higher freight and goods costs because carriers will incur increased operating and compliance costs (onboard engineers, inspections, updating procedures, and potential fines).
Rail service and schedules could see short‑term disruptions as carriers hire or reassign many more certified engineers and cannot use waivers or remote operations, producing operational strain during the transition.
FRA will need to reallocate staff and resources to meet tight audit/inspection deadlines and manage new penalty processes, increasing agency costs and administrative/litigation burdens for regulators and regulated parties.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Requires a certified engineer physically in the lead locomotive cab for main‑line trains, bans remote‑control locomotives on main lines, mandates FRA audits, and creates large civil penalties for violations.
Official title: To prohibit certain operations of remote control locomotives, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 23, 2026 by Timothy M. Kennedy · Last progress June 23, 2026
Prohibits railroad carriers from operating trains on main lines or outside yards unless a certified locomotive engineer is physically in the lead locomotive cab and able to take control; remote‑control locomotive operation by a person offsite is banned on main lines. Requires the Federal Railroad Administration to audit railroads for compliance, directs the Department of Transportation to issue implementing regulations, and creates large civil penalties for violations.