Remote Control Locomotives Safety Improvement Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would require a human locomotive engineer physically located in the lead cab for main-line trains, and ban remote-control operation outside yards. It would bar remote-control-only certified operators from running main-line trains and task the Federal Railroad Administration with audits and enforcement.
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- Locomotive workers: Main-line trains would have to be operated by an engineer certified under 49 CFR part 240 who is physically inside the lead cab, and remote-control-only certified operators could not operate those trains.
- Railroads and operations: Remote control locomotives would be prohibited outside yards and on main lines defined as routes with 5,000,000 or more gross tons annually. The Secretary could not waive these requirements for class I or class II railroads or for trains on track classified as class 1 or above.
- Enforcement and penalties: The Federal Railroad Administration would be required to audit each class I railroad within 180 days and conduct unscheduled inspections of covered non-class I railroads within 1 year. Violations would carry daily civil penalties processed under 49 U.S.C. 21301 and a fine equal to the greater of 1% of annual income or annual operating income or $1,000,000.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Million-dollar daily penalties for violators
If enacted, anyone who violates the bill, a regulation, or an order under the bill would owe a civil penalty for each day the violation continues. The daily penalty would be the largest of: 1% of the person's annual income, 1% of the person's annual operating income, or $1,000,000. The total penalty would be the daily amount multiplied by the number of violation days. Penalties would be processed under 49 U.S.C. 21301 and 21304 procedures.
Ban on remote-control main-line trains
If enacted, the bill would bar remote-control locomotives on a defined "main line." A "main line" would mean a route carrying 5,000,000 or more gross tons each year. Trains outside a yard would need a human locomotive engineer physically inside the lead cab, certified under 49 C.F.R. part 240. The bill would also forbid using a worker certified only as a remote-control operator in place of that engineer and would block waivers for class I and II railroads and for tracks classified class 1 or above under 49 C.F.R. part 213.
FRA audits and inspections for railroads
If enacted, the Federal Railroad Administration would be required to audit and inspect rail carriers to enforce the bill. The FRA would audit each class I railroad within 180 days of enactment and take actions needed to ensure compliance. The FRA would also carry out unscheduled audits and inspections of non-class I carriers within one year, as necessary.
Faster rulemaking without public comment
If enacted, the Secretary of Transportation would issue rules needed to carry out the bill and could update 49 C.F.R. part 229.15. The bill specifies that the usual public notice-and-comment process (5 U.S.C. 553) would not apply to the section limiting remote-control operations. That would speed regulatory changes but would limit formal public input before the rules take effect.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26]
NY • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov