Passenger Train Safety Act

Passenger Train Safety Act

This bill addresses passenger safety issues aboard trains.

Specifically, the bill

• directs the Federal Railroad Administration to research safety issues relating to speed signs, seat securement mechanisms, and methods for mitigating derailment injuries;
• requires the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) to address various safety issues, including developing policies for the safe use of child safety seats and implementing enhanced crew training;
• directs the Department of Transportation to require each railroad carrier that provides regularly scheduled intercity rail passenger or commuter rail passenger transportation to install inward- and outward-facing audio recording devices in or on all controlling locomotive cabs and cab car operating compartments on such passenger trains;
• prohibits entities providing regularly scheduled intercity or commuter rail passenger transportation from beginning service on certain routes unless a positive train control system is fully implemented and operational on such routes; and
• requires railroad carriers to periodically review and update their speed limit action plans.