119th Congress · introduced in the House · Feb 4, 2025
RAIL Act
Official title from Congress.gov
Latest action (Feb 4, 2025): Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
View on Congress.govPolicy area: Transportation and Public Works
Congressional Research Service summary, version: Introduced in House (Feb 4, 2025)
Reducing Accidents In Locomotives Act or the RAIL Act
This bill addresses safety requirements for rail carriers and trains transporting hazardous materials.
Specifically, the Department of Transportation (DOT) must issue safety regulations for trains carrying hazardous materials to require that rail carriers (1) provide state emergency response commissioners with advance notice and information about the hazardous materials; (2) reduce blocked rail crossings; and (3) comply with certain requirements regarding train length and weight specifications, track standards, speed restrictions, and response plans.
DOT must also establish requirements for wayside defect detectors. These are used by railway systems alongside the tracks to detect defects and failures (e.g., wheel bearing failures). Current federal regulations do not require their use, but federal guidance does address their placement and use. Under the bill, DOT must issue regulations establishing requirements for the installation, repair, testing, maintenance, and operation of wayside defect detectors for each rail carrier operating a train carrying hazardous materials.
Further, DOT must update rail car inspection regulations and audit related inspection programs. This includes prohibiting a railroad from limiting the time required for an employee to complete a railcar, locomotive, or brake safety inspection.
The bill also
• increases the maximum fines DOT may impose on rail carriers for violating safety regulations;
• establishes a statutory requirement for freight trains to have at least two crew members, with exceptions;
• phases out certain railroad tank cars by May 1, 2030;
• expands training for local first responders; and
• imposes a new fee on certain rail carriers.
Show less of the summaryIncludes amendment, cloture, and procedural votes. Each is labeled with its exact question; only a passage question is a vote to pass the bill.
No recorded roll calls on this bill in coverage.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Actions from Congress.gov, newest first.
LD-2 reports whose issue descriptions explicitly cite this bill (bill type and number validated against Congress.gov records). A citation does not establish the client's position or any contact with a member.
Loading lobbying reportsCoverage: reports for 2025 onward, posted Jan 1, 2025 through Oct 24, 2026.
19 citations.
HITACHI, LTD · lobbying firm or registrant: HITACHI, LTD
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Transportation
$40,000
Spent on own lobbying
Inclusion of digitalization and data optimization language in DOT appropriations and surface transportation reauthorization. H.R.971 - RAIL Act Railway Safety Act Surface transportation reauthorization. H.R.8870 - BUILD America 250 Act
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CSX CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: THE SMITH-FREE GROUP, LLC
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Railroads
$70,000
Paid to lobbying firm
Discussions regarding H.R. 928, the Railway Safety Act of 2025 Discussions regarding H.R. 971, the RAIL Act Discussions involving freight rail regulation Discussions pertaining to truck size and weight Discussions involving nominations to federally auth…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
INT'L ASS'N OF SHEET METAL AIR RAIL & TRANSP WORKERS TRANSP DIV · lobbying firm or registrant: INT'L ASS'N OF SHEET METAL, AIR, RAIL & TRANSP. WORKERS, TRANSP. DIV.
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Railroads
$488,681
Spent on own lobbying
H.R.971 - Reducing Accidents in Locomotives (RAIL) Act H.R.854 - Decreasing Emergency Railroad Accident Instances Locally (DERAIL Act) - To direct the Secretary of Tra…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CSX CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: CSX CORPORATION
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 19, 2026 · issue area: Railroads
$297,700
Spent on own lobbying
…ated to Amtrak and passenger rail; Issues related to rail labor; Issues related to railroad right of way, including safety, encroachments, and property rights; HR 971: RAIL Act; HR 341: Railroad Responsibility Act of 2025; HR 928: Railway Safety Act of 2025; HR 8870: BUILD America 250 Act-5-year Transportation Reauthorizatio…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CSX CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: THE SMITH-FREE GROUP, LLC
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Railroads
$70,000
Paid to lobbying firm
Discussions regarding H.R. 928, the Railway Safety Act of 2025 Discussions regarding H.R. 971, the RAIL Act Discussions involving freight rail regulation Discussions pertaining to truck size and weight Discussions involving nominations to federally auth…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
INT'L ASS'N OF SHEET METAL AIR RAIL & TRANSP WORKERS TRANSP DIV · lobbying firm or registrant: INT'L ASS'N OF SHEET METAL, AIR, RAIL & TRANSP. WORKERS, TRANSP. DIV.
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Railroads
$470,905
Spent on own lobbying
H.R.971 - Reducing Accidents in Locomotives (RAIL) Act H.R.854 - Decreasing Emergency Railroad Accident Instances Locally (DERAIL Act) - To direct the Secretary of Tra…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CSX CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: CSX CORPORATION
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Railroads
$310,000
Spent on own lobbying
…o railroad right of way, including safety, encroachments, and property rights; HR 853: Assistance for Local Heroes During Train Crises Act; HR 854: DERAIL Act; HR 971: RAIL Act; HR 341: Railroad Responsibility Act of 2025; HR 928: Railway Safety Act of 2025; Monitor HR 2569: Train Noise and Vibration Reduction Act; HR 2166:…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
HITACHI, LTD · lobbying firm or registrant: HITACHI, LTD
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 16, 2026 · issue area: Transportation
$140,000
Spent on own lobbying
Inclusion of digitalization and data optimization language in DOT appropriations and surface transportation reauthorization. H.R.971 - RAIL Act Railway Safety Act Surface transportation reauthorization. H.R.8870 - BUILD America 250 Act
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
INT'L ASS'N OF SHEET METAL AIR RAIL & TRANSP WORKERS TRANSP DIV · lobbying firm or registrant: INT'L ASS'N OF SHEET METAL, AIR, RAIL & TRANSP. WORKERS, TRANSP. DIV.
2025 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2025) · amended · posted May 19, 2026 · issue area: Railroads
$272,922
Spent on own lobbying
H.R. 971 - Reducing Accidents in Locomotives (RAIL) Act H.R.854 - Decreasing Emergency Railroad Accident Instances Locally (DERAIL Act) - To direct the Secretary of Tra…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
INT'L ASS'N OF SHEET METAL AIR RAIL & TRANSP WORKERS TRANSP DIV · lobbying firm or registrant: INT'L ASS'N OF SHEET METAL, AIR, RAIL & TRANSP. WORKERS, TRANSP. DIV.
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 20, 2026 · issue area: Railroads
$361,475
Spent on own lobbying
H.R.971 - Reducing Accidents in Locomotives (RAIL) Act H.R.854 - Decreasing Emergency Railroad Accident Instances Locally (DERAIL Act) - To direct the Secretary of Tra…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CSX CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: THE SMITH-FREE GROUP, LLC
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 17, 2026 · issue area: Railroads
$70,000
Paid to lobbying firm
Discussion regarding H.R. 971, the RAIL Act Discussions involving freight rail regulation Discussions pertaining to truck size and weight Discussions involving nominations to federally auth…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CSX CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: CSX CORPORATION
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 17, 2026 · issue area: Railroads
$620,000
Spent on own lobbying
…o railroad right of way, including safety, encroachments, and property rights; HR 853: Assistance for Local Heroes During Train Crises Act; HR 854: DERAIL Act; HR 971: RAIL Act; HR 341: Railroad Responsibility Act of 2025; HR 928: Railway Safety Act of 2025; Monitor HR 2569: Train Noise and Vibration Reduction Act; HR 2166:…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
INT'L ASS'N OF SHEET METAL AIR RAIL & TRANSP WORKERS TRANSP DIV · lobbying firm or registrant: INT'L ASS'N OF SHEET METAL, AIR, RAIL & TRANSP. WORKERS, TRANSP. DIV.
2025 Q4 report (Oct 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025) · posted Jan 20, 2026 · issue area: Railroads
$452,616
Spent on own lobbying
H.R.971 - Reducing Accidents in Locomotives (RAIL) Act H.R.854 - Decreasing Emergency Railroad Accident Instances Locally (DERAIL Act) To direct the Secretary of Trans…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CSX CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: CSX CORPORATION
2025 Q4 report (Oct 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025) · posted Jan 20, 2026 · issue area: Railroads
$251,005
Spent on own lobbying
…o storm impacted infrastructure projects - Blue Ridge Subdivision restoration; HR 853: Assistance for Local Heroes During Train Crises Act; HR 854: DERAIL Act; HR 971: RAIL Act; HR 341: Railroad Responsibility Act of 2025; HR 928: Railway Safety Act of 2025; Monitor HR 2569: Train Noise and Vibration Reduction Act; HR 2166:…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CSX CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: CSX CORPORATION
2025 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2025) · amended · posted Oct 20, 2025 · issue area: Railroads
$1,436,000
Spent on own lobbying
…o storm impacted infrastructure projects - Blue Ridge Subdivision restoration; HR 853: Assistance for Local Heroes During Train Crises Act; HR 854: DERAIL Act; HR 971: RAIL Act; HR 341: Railroad Responsibility Act of 2025; HR 928: Railway Safety Act of 2025; Monitor HR 2569: Train Noise and Vibration Reduction Act; HR 2166:…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CSX CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: CSX CORPORATION
2025 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2025) · amended · posted Oct 20, 2025 · issue area: Railroads
$1,167,465
Spent on own lobbying
…o storm impacted infrastructure projects - Blue Ridge Subdivision restoration; HR 853: Assistance for Local Heroes During Train Crises Act; HR 854: DERAIL Act; HR 971: RAIL Act; HR 341: Railroad Responsibility Act of 2025; HR 928: Railway Safety Act of 2025; Monitor HR 2569: Train Noise and Vibration Reduction Act; HR 2166:…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
INT'L ASS'N OF SHEET METAL AIR RAIL & TRANSP WORKERS TRANSP DIV · lobbying firm or registrant: INT'L ASS'N OF SHEET METAL, AIR, RAIL & TRANSP. WORKERS, TRANSP. DIV.
2025 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2025) · posted Jul 21, 2025 · issue area: Railroads
$444,813
Spent on own lobbying
H.R. 971 Reducing Accidents in Locomotives (RAIL) Act H.R.854 Decreasing Emergency Railroad Accident Instances Locally (DERAIL Act) - To direct the Secretary of Transpo…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
CSX CORPORATION · lobbying firm or registrant: CSX CORPORATION
2025 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2025 – Mar 31, 2025) · posted Apr 21, 2025 · issue area: Railroads
$1,150,000
Spent on own lobbying
…o storm impacted infrastructure projects - Blue Ridge Subdivision restoration; HR 853: Assistance for Local Heroes During Train Crises Act; HR 854: DERAIL Act; HR 971: RAIL Act; HR 341: Railroad Responsibility Act of 2025; HR 928: Railway Safety Act of 2025; Monitor HR 2569: Train Noise and Vibration Reduction Act; HR 2166:…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
INT'L ASS'N OF SHEET METAL AIR RAIL & TRANSP WORKERS TRANSP DIV · lobbying firm or registrant: INT'L ASS'N OF SHEET METAL, AIR, RAIL & TRANSP. WORKERS, TRANSP. DIV.
2025 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2025 – Mar 31, 2025) · posted Apr 17, 2025 · issue area: Railroads
$391,531
Spent on own lobbying
H. R. 971 Reducing Accidents in Locomotives (RAIL) Act. H. R. 854 Decreasing Emergency Railroad Accident Instances Locally (DERAIL Act). To direct the Secretary of Trans…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing