Remote Control Locomotives Safety Improvement Act of 2026

This bill, the Remote Control Locomotives Safety Improvement Act of 2026, prohibits railroads from operating trains on main lines or outside rail yards using remote control locomotives without a human engineer physically present in the lead locomotive's cab. It mandates that any train moving on a main line must be led by a certified engineer inside the cab and explicitly excludes remote control operators from performing these duties. To enforce these rules, the Federal Railroad Administration must conduct mandatory audits of Class I railroads within 180 days and perform unscheduled inspections of other carriers within a year, while violations can result in civil penalties of up to one percent of annual income or $1 million per day.