H.R. 9409 — Remote Control Locomotives Safety Improvement Act of 2026

This section prohibits railroad carriers from operating any train outside a yard without a human locomotive engineer physically located in the lead locomotive cab who can assume control, or from operating remote control locomotives on main lines. It requires a locomotive engineer certified under 49 CFR part 240 to be physically present in the cab for all main line operations, bars waivers for Class I and II railroads and any train on track class 1 or above, and takes effect on enactment.

This section requires the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration to audit and inspect each Class I railroad within 180 days after enactment and take any necessary actions to ensure compliance with the Act. It also directs unscheduled audits and inspections of non-Class I rail carriers within one year after enactment.

This section directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations necessary to carry out the Act, except as provided in section 2(d), including any updates or conforming changes to part 229.15 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.

This section imposes civil penalties for violations of the Act or related regulations or orders issued by the Secretary, with the amount set at the greater of 1 percent of the person's annual income or annual operating income or $1,000,000. A separate violation occurs for each day the violation continues, and the procedural requirements of subsections (a)(3), (a)(4), (b), and (c) of section 21301 of title 49, United States Code, apply to imposition of the penalty.

This section defines terms used in the Act, including class I, II, and III railroads and railroad carriers under section 20102 of title 49, United States Code; lead locomotive; locomotive cab; main line as a segment carrying at least 5,000,000 gross tons of traffic annually; remote control locomotive operated by radio link from outside the cab; remote control operator; train; and yard.