PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 16, 2002
Railroad Safety Reform Act of 2002 - Amends Federal transportation law to revise: (1) the hours of duty limitations with respect to train employees, signal employees, dispatching service employees, and power directors; and (2) certain sleeping quarters limitations with respect to train employees (including signal employees), and individuals employed to maintain the right of way of a railroad carrier. Requires the carrier to provide, among other things, a separate bedroom for each employee or individual.Requires each Class I and Class II railroad carrier to submit to the Secretary of Transportation a fatigue management plan designed to reduce fatigue experienced by railroad employees and the likelihood of accidents and injuries caused by such fatigue.Sets forth certain limitations on duty hours of transport vehicle drivers.Revises certain employee protection requirements prohibiting a railroad carrier from discharging or discriminating against an employee. Prohibits the carrier from threatening, intimidating, or disciplining for, or preventing an employee from notifying such carrier of certain railroad accident/injury-related or hazardous condition information.Makes it unlawful for any person to interfere with a railroad safety investigation, or to influence the testimony of any person or prevent a person from attending such investigation.Sets forth both civil and criminal penalties for violations of this Act.Revises grade crossing safety requirements to require each railroad carrier to: (1) establish a toll-free telephone service to report grade crossing problems; (2) notify trains operating near a grade crossing of any problems there; and (3) ensure placement of signs at each grade crossing displaying toll-free telephone information.Prescribes requirements for: (1) all passenger railroad cars to have emergency windows; (2) installation of passenger railroad signals; and (3) internal and compartmentalized fuel tanks on passenger locomotives.Sets forth certain railroad safety rulemaking and enforcement provisions.
People & committees
Rep. Oberstar, James L. [D-MN-8] · D–MN
Legislative record
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads.
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 19, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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