The Secure Tracks Act strengthens railroad safety by requiring more frequent inspections of train tracks. The bill mandates that main line tracks used for faster train speeds undergo visual inspections by qualified inspectors at least twice per week, with at least one day between inspections, and requires any detected defects to be fixed immediately. The legislation also establishes new automated inspection requirements using Track Geometry Measurement Systems, with frequency varying by track class and usage level—ranging from inspections once per year for lightly used tracks to inspections every six to twelve days for high-speed tracks. The bill prohibits the Transportation Secretary from granting waivers that would weaken safety standards, and requires the Secretary to update federal railroad regulations within one year to implement these new inspection protocols. The legislation affects all freight and passenger railroads operating in the United States and aims to prevent derailments and accidents through enhanced oversight of track conditions.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.