49 U.S.C. § 20142 — Track safety

(a) Review of Existing Regulations. By March 3, 1993, the Secretary of Transportation had to begin reviewing Department of Transportation track safety regulations. The review had to evaluate at least (1) procedures for maintaining and installing continuous welded rail and its supporting structure, including cold-weather installation; (2) whether to revise regulations on track excepted from track safety standards; and (3) employee safety.

(b) Revision of Regulations. By September 1, 1995, the Secretary had to issue rules and orders revising track safety standards, considering the safety information from the review in (a) and the Comptroller General's report under (c).

(c) Comptroller General's Study and Report. The Comptroller General had to study how well the Secretary enforces track safety standards, paying close attention to recent relevant railroad accident information. By September 3, 1993, the Comptroller General had to report the study's results to Congress and the Secretary, with recommendations for improving enforcement.

(d) Identification of Internal Rail Defects. While carrying out (a) and (b), the Secretary had to consider whether to issue rules on (1) inspection procedures to find internal rail defects — before they grow to failure size — in rail with significant shelling; and (2) what specific steps to take when a rail surface condition, like shelling, blocks the detection of internal defects.

(e) Track Standards. (1) Within 90 days after this subsection was enacted, the Federal Railroad Administration had to (A) require each track owner using continuous welded rail to add procedures, in its filings under section 213.119 of title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, to better identify cracks in rail joint bars; (B) instruct Administration track inspectors to get copies of each railroad's latest continuous welded rail programs in their area and use those programs during inspections; and (C) set up a program to periodically review continuous welded rail joint bar inspection data from railroads and Administration inspectors. (2) Whenever the Administration decides it is necessary or appropriate, it may require railroads to inspect joint bars in continuous welded rail more often or with better methods.