Sec. 9507. Rail safety improvements
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/bill/116/hr/2/rh/section-9507A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall carry out the following: Complete a study on how signage can be used to improve safety in the rail industry that includes— a review of how signs used for other modes of transportation may be effectively used in the rail industry; a review of how signs used in the railroad industry differ; and an analysis of whether a uniform system for speed signs across the United States rail system would benefit the railroad industry and improve safety.
Reevaluate seat securement mechanisms and the susceptibility of such mechanisms to inadvertent rotation, and identify a means to prevent the failure of such mechanisms to maintain seat securement. Conduct research to evaluate the causes of passenger injuries in passenger railcar derailments and overturns and evaluate potential methods for mitigating such injuries. Based on the research conducted under paragraph (3), develop occupant protection standards for passenger railcars that will mitigate passenger injuries likely to occur during derailments and overturns.
Develop policies for the safe use of child seats to prevent uncontrolled or unexpected movements in intercity passenger trains from disrupting the secure position of such seats. Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, Amtrak shall— ensure operating crewmembers demonstrate proficiency, under daylight and nighttime conditions, on the physical characteristics of a territory by using all resources available, including in-cab instruments, observation rides, throttle time, signage, signals, and landmarks; ensure the proficiency required under paragraph
(1)is demonstrated on written examinations; revise classroom and road training programs to ensure that operating crews fully understand all locomotive operating characteristics, alarms, and the appropriate response to abnormal conditions; when possible, require that all engineers undergo simulator training— before operating new or unfamiliar equipment (at a minimum, experience and respond properly to all alarms); and to experience normal and abnormal conditions on new territory before operating in revenue service on such new territory; ensure that simulator training specified in paragraph
(4)supplements the hours engineers spend training on new equipment before becoming certified on such equipment and performing runs on new territory before becoming qualified on such territory; implement a formal, systematic approach to developing training and qualification programs to identify the most effective strategies for preparing crewmembers to safely operate new equipment on new territories; work in consultation with host railroad carriers and States that own infrastructure over which Amtrak operates to complete a comprehensive assessment of the territories to ensure that necessary wayside signs and plaques are identified, highly noticeable, and strategically located to provide operating crews the information needed to safely operate trains; update the safety review process to ensure that all operating documents are up to date and accurate before initiating new or revised revenue operations; incorporate all prerevenue service planning, construction, and route verification work into the scope of a corporate-wide system safety plan, including through rules and policies, risk assessment analyses, safety assurances, and safety promotions; and conduct risk assessments on all new or upgraded services that occur on Amtrak-owned territory, host railroads, or in States that own infrastructure over which Amtrak operates. Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and Amtrak shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on their progress on meeting the requirements under subsections
(a)and (b), respectively, including a description of all completed elements of the requirements.