CBP Wants Train Traveler Info Sent Ahead for Safer Borders
Published Date: 10/13/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
U.S. Customs and Border Protection wants train companies to send traveler info ahead of time for anyone coming into or leaving the U.S. by rail. This helps keep travel safe and smooth for passengers and crew. The rule is open for comments until December 14, 2026, and could mean new tech or process updates for rail carriers.
Analyzed Economic Effects
9 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 7 costs, 0 mixed.
Cargo Rail Carriers Face Net Costs
CBP's economic analysis estimates cargo rail carriers would experience net negative benefits of -$1,691,802 using a 3% discount rate and -$1,458,042 using a 7% discount rate, with annualized net benefits of -$380,495 over the 2026–2030 analysis period.
Passengers Projected Aggregate Benefit
CBP's analysis estimates rail passengers would experience net benefits of $36,330,246 using a 3% discount rate and $31,310,416 using a 7% discount rate for 2026–2030, with annualized net benefits of $8,170,861.
24‑Hour Advance Train Notice
Rail carriers must send an advance notice of arrival or departure for any train with a traveler arriving in or departing from the United States. That notice must be transmitted no later than 24 hours prior to the train's arrival at the U.S. border crossing location and must include items such as the carrier code, trip number, train number, car numbers, origination and destination, estimated times, full itinerary, and a 24‑hour emergency point of contact.
60‑Minute Advance Traveler Data and Vetting
For each individual (passengers and crew) who will arrive in or depart from the United States on a train, rail carriers must transmit advance electronic traveler information. The required traveler data must be sent no later than 60 minutes prior to the train's departure and includes passport-style fields (name, date of birth, sex, citizenship, country of residence, travel document type/number/issuance/expiration), status on board (e.g., crew or passenger), complete itinerary, U.S. address (except transit), alien registration number if applicable, passenger name record locator, known traveler number, redress number, baggage tag info, seat location, and contact phone and email if available; after transmission CBP will vet and send a response stating acceptance or instructing the carrier to contact CBP prior to departure.
CBP Response Can Block Boarding
After a carrier transmits required advance data, CBP will vet the information and send a response either accepting the transmission or instructing the carrier to contact CBP. If CBP identifies a traveler of concern during vetting, the response will direct the carrier to call CBP and CBP may recommend that the carrier not board that traveler.
Certified or Approved Transmission Systems
Rail carriers must transmit advance notices and traveler data either through a CBP‑certified transmission system (which must be submitted to CBP for testing and certification) or through any CBP‑approved electronic data interchange system such as the eAPIS web portal.
Updates, 30‑Minute ETA Rule, and Inspections
Carriers must transmit any change to an advance notice or traveler information after the original transmission and prior to the train crossing the U.S. border; updated information must be sent prior to the train leaving the station where the update was received (or the next station). If the estimated time of arrival at the border changes by 30 minutes or more, the carrier must contact CBP to confirm inspection resources, and if CBP lacks resources the train would not be inspected immediately upon arrival.
Passenger Rail Carriers Small Net Gain
CBP's economic analysis estimates passenger rail carriers would experience net benefits of $1,542,478 using a 3% discount rate and $1,329,350 using a 7% discount rate for 2026–2030, with annualized benefits of $346,911.
Carriers Must Verify Travel Documents
CBP proposes that making reporting mandatory will be combined with a requirement for rail carriers to verify travel documents against the transmitted information so that CBP receives accurate and timely data in an acceptable format.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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