Data / Federal rules / 2026-15724
High-Speed Train Noise Emission Standards
The Federal Railroad Administration published this proposed rule in the Federal Register on August 3, 2026. Comments closed on October 2, 2026.
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What the agency says
This NPRM seeks to amend the noise emission regulations to address the unique noise emission characteristics of trains operating at speeds exceeding 160 miles per hour (mph). Specifically, the proposed regulation would provide an alternative standard for noise emissions from train operations exceeding 160 mph, up to 220 mph, and also provide a special approval process for noise emissions from train operations exceeding 220 mph. This alternative noise emission standard and compliance process would effectively remove an existing regulatory barrier to the railroad industry for high-speed rail operations, while continuing to protect public health and welfare. Existing noise emission limits for all train operations at speeds up to 160 mph would continue to apply, and these existing limits would remain available for demonstrating compliance at higher speeds as well.
Key facts
- Document number
- 2026-15724
- Type
- Proposed rule
- Action
- Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); request for comments
- Agency
- Transportation Department; Federal Railroad Administration
- Published
- August 3, 2026
- Comments due
- October 2, 2026
- Dates
- Comments on the proposed rule must be received by October 2, 2026. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.
- Docket
- Docket No. FRA-2025-0786, Notice No. 1
- Regulation ID (RIN)
- 2130-AC83
- Code of Federal Regulations
- 49 CFR 210
- Topics
- Noise control; Railroads
- Pages
- 18
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|---|---|---|
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| Repealing Special Approval Requirement for Freight Cars More Than 50 Years Old 2026-17787 | Final rule | Aug 31 |
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Everything from the Federal Railroad Administration · Rules on noise control · Rules on railroads · Published in August 2026
Read from the Federal Register API, last updated 2026-10-23. The document on federalregister.gov is the official record; dates and dockets can change through later corrections. Free to reuse with credit to SpecStream under CC BY 4.0.