“A bill to amend title 49 to include certain requirements regarding visual track inspections, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes requirements for visual and automated railroad track inspections under regulations of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), including definitions of terms such as Class 1-5 track (i.e., FRA track classifications based primarily on maximum speed), main line track, qualified inspector (i.e., FRA-designated person to inspect for defects), and Track Geometry Measurement System (TGMS). Specifically, the section (1) requires visual inspections by a qualified inspector at least twice weekly, with at least one calendar day between inspections, on all main line track designated for Class 3 speeds or higher; (2) mandates immediate correction, protection, or removal from service of any defect or unsafe condition detected by any method, consistent with FRA track safety standards; (3) requires qualified inspectors to immediately initiate remedial action upon finding deviations and grants them sole authority to authorize movements on out-of-service track for repairs; (4) prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from granting waivers, exemptions, or modifications to FRA safety regulations if an alternative inspection method fails to detect all defined unsafe conditions; and (5) directs the Secretary to update FRA regulations within one year of enactment to (a) require TGMS inspections at specified minimum frequencies on Classes 1-9 track, crossovers, and track with qualified cant deficiency over 5 inches—varying by track class, annual gross tons (15 million threshold), and for higher classes by fixed intervals (e.g., Class 5: at least 4 times per year with 43 days between; Class 9: twice within any 30-day period with 6 days between)—and (b) require immediate remediation of any deviations found by inspectors or TGMS.