No More Mandatory Train Honks at Passenger Stations, FRA Says
Published Date: 8/31/2026
Rule
Summary
This final rule amends safety standards related to the use of the locomotive horn to clarify that no Federal regulation requires a railroad to sound a locomotive horn because of the presence of a passenger station. The final rule clarifies that a railroad has discretion to determine policies for sounding a locomotive horn at a passenger station through railroad operating rules. The final rule also provides that if a railroad decides to sound a locomotive horn at a passenger station, the minimum sound level requirements in FRA's Railroad Locomotive Safety Standards do not apply to the sound produced by the horn.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Station horn sound-level exemption
If a railroad chooses to sound a horn at a passenger station, the sound produced by that horn is not subject to the minimum sound level requirement in 49 CFR 229.129(a). Railroads may therefore set station horn practices without being bound by that minimum sound-level rule.
Railroads get horn-use discretion
The rule clarifies that no Federal regulation requires a railroad to sound a locomotive horn because of the presence of a passenger station. You (railroad operators) can decide through your railroad operating rules whether to sound a horn at a passenger station.
Locomotives must keep compliant horns
The rule clarifies that locomotives must still be equipped with a horn that produces the minimum sound level required by 49 CFR 229.129(a), even though horn sounds at passenger stations may be exempt from that minimum when used under railroad discretion.
Small entities may see cost savings
FRA certified that this final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities and states that many regulated entities, including small entities, could experience cost savings from this regulatory relief.
Passenger station definition clarified
The rule adds a definition: 'Passenger station' means a location designated in a railroad's timetable where passengers are regularly scheduled to get on or off any train. This clarifies where the discretion over sounding horns at passenger stations applies.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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