(a) In General.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, the Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe standards, guidance, regulations, or orders governing the development, use, and implementation of rail safety technology in dark territory, in arrangements not defined in section 20501 or otherwise not covered by Federal standards, guidance, regulations, or orders that ensure the safe operation of such technology, such as—(1) switch position monitoring devices or indicators;
(2) radio, remote control, or other power-assisted switches;
(3) hot box, high water, or earthquake detectors;
(4) remote control locomotive zone limiting devices;
(5) slide fences;
(6) grade crossing video monitors;
(7) track integrity warning systems; or
(8) other similar rail safety technologies, as determined by the Secretary.
(b) Dark Territory Defined.—In this section, the term “dark territory” means any territory in a railroad system that does not have a signal or train control system installed or operational.
Structure US Code
SUBCHAPTER II— PARTICULAR ASPECTS OF SAFETY
§ 20131. Restricted access to rolling equipment
§ 20132. Visible markers for rear cars
§ 20134. Grade crossings and railroad rights of way
§ 20135. Licensing or certification of locomotive operators
§ 20136. Automatic train control and related systems
§ 20138. Tampering with safety and operational monitoring devices
§ 20139. Maintenance-of-way operations on railroad bridges
§ 20140. Alcohol and controlled substances testing
§ 20143. Locomotive visibility
§ 20144. Blue signal protection for on-track vehicles
§ 20145. Report on bridge displacement detection systems
§ 20146. Institute for Railroad Safety
§ 20147. Warning of civil liability
§ 20148. Railroad car visibility
§ 20149. Coordination with the Department of Labor
§ 20150. Positive train control system progress report
§ 20152. Notification of grade crossing problems
§ 20153. Audible warnings at highway-rail grade crossings
§ 20156. Railroad safety risk reduction program
§ 20157. Implementation of positive train control systems
§ 20158. Railroad safety technology grants
§ 20159. Roadway user sight distance at highway-rail grade crossings
§ 20160. National crossing inventory
§ 20161. Fostering introduction of new technology to improve safety at highway-rail grade crossings
§ 20162. Minimum training standards and plans
§ 20163. Certification of train conductors
§ 20164. Development and use of rail safety technology
§ 20165. Limitations on non-Federal alcohol and drug testing
§ 20166. Emergency escape breathing apparatus
§ 20167. Reports on highway-rail grade crossing safety
§ 20168. Installation of audio and image recording devices
§ 20169. Speed limit action plans
§ 20170. Pre-revenue service safety validation plan
§ 20171. Requirements for railroad freight cars placed into service in the United States