Railroad Safety and Positive Train Control Extension Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Aug 1, 2013

Railroad Safety and Positive Train Control Extension Act - Revises the railroad safety risk reduction program.

Extends from December 31, 2015, to December 31, 2020, the deadline for submission to the Secretary of Transportation (DOT) by each Class I railroad carrier and each entity providing regularly scheduled intercity or commuter rail passenger transportation of a plan for implementing a positive train control (PTC) system on certain of its tracks.

Authorizes the Secretary to extend the implementation deadline, upon application, in one-year increments, if specified circumstances exist.

Directs the Secretary to revise federal regulations requiring a Class II or III railroad (including a tourist or excursion railroad) to equip its locomotives with an onboard PTC system to operate in PTC territory.

Extends for five years the time for such railroad to meet the deadline for equipping its locomotives with a PTC system.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Thune, John [R-SD] · R–SD

Committees

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

15 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Aug 1, 2013
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Aug 1, 2013
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Aug 1, 2013 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Analyze S.1462 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.1462, 113th Congress: Railroad Safety and Positive Train Control Extension Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/1462

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2013-08-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/s1462/BILLS-113s1462is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:03:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.1462 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.1462, 113th Congress: Railroad Safety and Positive Train Control Extension Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/1462

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2013-08-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/s1462/BILLS-113s1462is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:03:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1462 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Examine S.1462 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.1462, 113th Congress: Railroad Safety and Positive Train Control Extension Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/1462

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2013-08-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/s1462/BILLS-113s1462is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:03:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1462 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.1462, 113th Congress: Railroad Safety and Positive Train Control Extension Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/1462

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2013-08-01.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/s1462/BILLS-113s1462is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:03:40Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1462 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.