No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes visual and automated track inspection requirements for main line track (i.e., principal railroad routes). It requires visual inspections by a qualified inspector (i.e., person designated under FRA regulations) at least twice weekly, with at least one calendar day between inspections, for all main line track designated for Class 3 speeds or higher (i.e., 40 mph or more under FRA standards); mandates immediate remediation of any defects or unsafe conditions consistent with existing FRA track safety regulations (part 213, CFR); grants qualified inspectors sole authority to initiate remediation and authorize movements on out-of-service track; and prohibits the Secretary of Transportation from granting waivers of FRA safety regulations if alternative methods fail to detect all defined defects. It further directs the Secretary, not later than one year after enactment, to update FRA track safety regulations (subparts F and G of part 213, CFR) to require Track Geometry Measurement System (TGMS) inspections at the following minimum frequencies for specified track classes (i.e., FRA designations by maximum speed and condition), with required intervals between inspections: (1) Class 1-5 track at qualified cant deficiency over 5 inches: at least 4 times per year (43 days between); (2) Class 1 track over 15 million gross tons annually: once per year (170 days between); (3) Class 2 track: once per year (170 days) if 15 million gross tons or fewer, twice per year (120 days) if more; (4) Class 3 track: twice per year (120 days) if 15 million gross tons or fewer, 3 times per year (90 days) if more; (5) Class 4 track: 3 times per year (90 days) if 15 million gross tons or fewer, 4 times per year (43 days) if more; (6) Class 5 track: 4 times per year (43 days); (7) Class 6-7 track: twice in any 120-day period (25 days between); (8) Class 8 track: twice in any 60-day period (12 days between); (9) Class 9 track: twice in any 30-day period (6 days between); and (10) crossovers over 30 mph: twice per year (120 days between). It also requires regulatory updates to mandate immediate remediation of TGMS or other inspection deviations and ensures applicability to relevant track classes. (Thus, these measures enhance detection and correction of track defects that could cause derailments.)