RSA celebrates full completion of SAFE TRAINS Act implementation

Today the Rail Security Alliance, which represents 65,000 domestic and North American freight railcar manufacturers and suppliers, celebrated the complete implementation of the SAFE TRAINS Act. The legislation was passed in 2021 and implemented last year under the Trump Administration’s Federal Railroad Administration, following a comprehensive rulemaking process.

“This milestone is a win for all domestic and North American freight railcar manufacturers and suppliers, and it’s a win for our national and economic security,” said RSA Executive Director Erik Olson.

“We are profoundly grateful to the Trump Administration for its unwavering commitment to finalizing this implementation and for prioritizing national security in the freight rail sector,” Olson added.
The final rule of the SAFE TRAINS Act was published in the Federal Register on December 19, 2024 with an effective date set for January 21, 2025.

It provided a one-year grace period to allow North American freight railcar manufacturers to ensure that any freight railcar entering service after December 19, 2025 complies with the SAFE TRAINS Act national security standards. The rule prohibits Chinese freight railcars and Chinese-sourced sensitive technology (including any active components) physically located on freight railcars from being placed on the U.S. railroad interchange system.