Remote Control Locomotives Safety Improvement Act of 2026

This bill prohibits certain operations of remote control locomotives to improve safety. It bans operating a train outside a yard without a human engineer in the lead locomotive's cab and bans remote control locomotives on main lines. It also requires audits, inspections, and fines for violations.

Sec. 2, Limitations on remote control locomotives: A railroad carrier cannot operate a train outside a yard without a certified locomotive engineer physically inside the lead locomotive's cab who can take control. It also cannot operate a remote control locomotive on a main line. For main line operation, the train must have a lead locomotive with a cab operated by a certified engineer physically inside. This does not allow a remote-control operator to operate such a train. The Secretary cannot waive these requirements for class I or II railroads or any train on track classified as class 1 or above. This section takes effect immediately upon enactment and is not subject to standard rulemaking procedures.

Sec. 3, Audits and inspections: The Federal Railroad Administration must audit and inspect each class I railroad within 180 days of enactment to ensure compliance. Within one year, it must carry out unscheduled audits and inspections on any other rail carrier covered by this Act.

Sec. 4, Regulatory authority: The Secretary of Transportation must issue regulations to carry out this Act, including updates to part 229.15 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, except as provided in section 2(d).

Sec. 5, Fines for violations: A person violating this Act or related regulations is liable for a civil penalty. A separate violation occurs each day the violation continues. The penalty is the greater of 1 percent of the person's annual income or operating income, or $1,000,000. Certain procedural requirements from title 49 apply.

Sec. 6, Definitions: Defines key terms including class I, II, and III railroads, railroad carrier, lead locomotive, locomotive cab, main line (tracks with 5 million or more gross tons annually), remote control locomotive (operated via radio link by a person not in the cab, excluding distributed power arrangements), remote control operator, train (one or more locomotives coupled with or without cars, except during switching service), and yard (system of tracks not including main tracks and sidings for classifying cars, making up trains, or storing equipment).