H.R. 9182: Southeastern Rail Technologies Mapping Act of 2026

This bill, known as the Southeastern Rail Technologies Mapping Act of 2026, aims to enhance rail performance and integrate new rail power technologies, specifically in the southeastern United States. The key components of the bill include:

Study Requirements

The bill mandates the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, through its Associate Administrator for Research, Data, and Innovation, to conduct a comprehensive study focused on the following areas:

• Evaluating how to improve rail performance in the southeastern U.S.
• Assessing the integration of modern rail power technologies, such as electrification, fuel cells, or batteries.

Considerations for the Study

During the study, the Administrator must take the following factors into account:

• Identification of Suitable Rail Segments: The study will identify rail corridors between Florida and Washington, DC that could potentially benefit from new technologies.
• Challenges: The study must outline any challenges that might arise when implementing these technologies along identified corridors.
• Recommendations for Non-Suitable Segments: If a segment is found unsuitable for the suggested technologies, the study must:
• Provide explanations for these determinations.
• Offer recommendations on how the rail corridor could be updated to make it suitable for implementing such technologies and include estimated costs for these updates.

Report Submission

Finally, the bill requires that a report detailing the findings from the study be submitted to Congress within 18 months of the bill being enacted. This report will provide insights into how rail technologies can be improved and integrated in the specified region.

Relevant Companies

None found.