Amtrak crash payouts capped higher at $402 million
Published Date: 8/5/2026
Notice
Summary
This notice details the adjustment made to the rail passenger transportation liability cap as required by section 11415(b) of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (December 4, 2015). Pursuant to the FAST Act, the rail passenger transportation liability cap is raised from $322,864,228 to $401,900,000.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Rail passenger liability cap raised
If you are a rail passenger injured in a single accident, the total amount that all passengers can recover together (including punitive damages) has been raised from $322,864,228 to $401,900,000. This new cap becomes effective September 4, 2026.
Cap tied to CPI-U and five-year updates
The Department used the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) to adjust the cap from the December 1997 base ($200,000,000) using the December 1997 index (161.300) and the November 2025 index (324.122), and rounded the result to the nearest hundred thousand. The FAST Act directs the Secretary to update the liability cap every fifth year after the Act's December 4, 2015 enactment; the November 2025 CPI-U was used because October 2025 data were unavailable.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-15835, Accessible Lavatories on Single-Aisle Aircraft and Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air Travelers With Disabilities Using Wheelchairs
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT or Department) is extending its previously announced enforcement discretion for four provisions of the final rule on "Ensuring Safe Accommodations for Air Travelers With Disabilities Using Wheelchairs" (Wheelchair Rule I) related to airline liability for mishandled wheelchairs, refresher training frequency, pre-departure notifications, and fare difference reimbursements from December 31, 2026 to April 30, 2027. To maintain regulatory consistency, the Department is also expanding this enforcement discretion to include the 12-month hands-on training mandate for flight attendants regarding on-board wheelchair (OBW) assistance and lavatory accessibility in the final rule titled "Accessible Lavatories on Single-Aisle Aircraft" (Accessible Lavatory Rule). These provisions will be formally addressed in an upcoming rulemaking titled "Airline Obligations to Accommodate Air Travelers with Disabilities Using Wheelchairs" (Wheelchair Rule II). This extension is necessary to allow sufficient time for the Department to review and analyze public comments, and to make final determinations regarding the content of the final rule. This exercise of enforcement discretion is intended to remove the burden of complying with the requirements under review by DOT and does not prejudge the outcome of the new rulemaking. This notice does not affect the enforcement of requirements in the Accessible Lavatory Rule other than the one identified.
2026-15529, Enhancing Flexibility of Air Fare Price Advertising
The U.S. Department of Transportation (Department or DOT) is extending the comment end date for interested persons to submit comments to its proposed rule on Enhancing Flexibility of Air Fare Price Advertising from July 31, 2026, to August 21, 2026.
2026-13805, Pipeline Safety: Repair Criteria for Hazardous Liquid and Gas Transmission Pipelines
The government wants to update pipeline safety rules to make fixing gas and liquid pipelines smarter, safer, and cheaper. These changes affect pipeline operators who’ll use new tech and clearer guidelines to spot and repair problems faster. Comments are open until September 8, 2026, so get ready to weigh in before the rules get final—and yes, this could save money and prevent accidents!
2026-13675, Airline Refunds and Other Consumer Protections
If your flight gets a new flight number but still flies on time without big changes, airlines don’t have to treat it as canceled or give you a refund right away. This rule helps airlines and passengers by giving the government more time to update the official cancellation rules. This change affects anyone buying plane tickets and lasts until July 7, 2027.
2026-13440, Enabling Supersonic Overland Flight
The FAA wants to let supersonic planes fly over land again by updating old rules that banned them because of loud sonic booms. Thanks to new tech that keeps booms quiet, this change will open the door for faster, cooler flights across the U.S., helping America lead the world in supersonic travel. People and companies interested in supersonic flight should share their thoughts by August 17, 2026.
2026-13450, Increasing Flexibility on Disclosure of Airline Ancillary Fees
The Department of Transportation is rolling back its 2024 rule about how airlines must share extra fees, like baggage or seat upgrades, with travelers. This change affects airlines and passengers by returning to the older 2011 rules for fee disclosure starting July 2, 2026. It means airlines have more flexibility in how they show these fees, and travelers might see less detailed info for now.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-15846, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Comment Request; Food and Drug Administration Advisory Committees
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing that a proposed collection of information has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
Next: 2026-15848, Proposed Information Collection Activity; Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Unaccompanied Alien Child Health Forms
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) is requesting to move the Serious Medical Procedure Request (SMR) Form (Office of Management and Budget (OMB) #: 0970-0561, expiration date December 31, 2026) under the Medical Assessment Form and Dental Assessment Form (OMB #: 0970-0466, expiration October 31, 2026) information collection and update the title of OMB # 0970-0466 to Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Unaccompanied Alien Child Health Forms. Revisions are proposed to the forms. The proposed restructuring and revisions will improve transparency, lessen burden, improve data quality, and ensure alignment with ORR requirements. In addition, to ensure continuity of care, the request has been revised to include the sharing of health information with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in specific circumstances.