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Title 49 — TransportationRelease 119-73not60

§20137 Event Recorders

Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE V— RAIL PROGRAMS › Part A— SAFETY › Chapter 201— GENERAL › Subchapter II— PARTICULAR ASPECTS OF SAFETY › § 20137

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Requires trains to have an event recorder to help monitor safety. Event recorder: a device that records things like train speed, hot-box detection, throttle and brake actions, time and signal information, and other safety data the Secretary of Transportation requires, and is made to resist tampering. The Secretary of Transportation had to write rules by December 22, 1989. Trains must be equipped within one year after those rules are issued, but the Secretary can extend the deadline up to 18 months if one year is impractical.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §20137

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In this section, “event recorder” means a device that—
(1)records train speed, hot box detection, throttle position, brake application, brake operations, and any other function the Secretary of Transportation considers necessary to record to assist in monitoring the safety of train operation, such as time and signal indication; and
(2)is designed to resist tampering.
(b)Not later than December 22, 1989, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations and issue orders that may be necessary to enhance safety by requiring that a train be equipped with an event recorder not later than one year after the regulations are prescribed and the orders are issued. However, if the Secretary finds it is impracticable to equip trains within that one-year period, the Secretary may extend the period to a date that is not later than 18 months after the regulations are prescribed and the orders are issued.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 2013745:431(m).Oct. 16, 1970, Pub. L. 91–458, 84 Stat. 971, § 202(m); added June 22, 1988, Pub. L. 100–342, § 10, 102 Stat. 629. In subsection (b), the words “Not later than December 22, 1989” are substituted for “within 18 months after June 22, 1988” for clarity. The words “may extend the period to a date that is not later than 18 months after the

Regulations

are prescribed and the orders are issued” are substituted for “may extend the deadline for compliance with such requirement, but in no event shall such deadline be extended past 18 months after such rules,

Regulations

, orders, and standards are issued” to eliminate unnecessary words.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 20137

Title 49 — Transportation

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60