June 8, 2026
Mr. Beyer (for himself, Mrs. Foushee, and Mr. Soto) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To require the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration to establish a pilot program relating to integrating the use of multiple power sources into the rail system, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Rail Motive Power Source Integration Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Pilot program on integrating use of multiple motive power sources into rail system
(a) In general
The Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration shall establish a pilot program to improve the ease of rotating between multiple motive power sources during operation within the passenger and freight rail systems.
(b) Requirements
In carrying out the pilot program established under subsection (a), the Administrator shall—
(1)
research—
(A)
the integration of the use of multiple different or new rail technologies or motive power sources such as battery, electrification, hydrogen, and diesel into the rail system; and
(B)
any challenges relating to implementing such technologies, including cost or additional land requirements;
(2)
develop rail car designs that facilitate rotation between multiple power sources, which may include different rail electrification systems; and
(3)
perform demonstration projects to test the feasibility of integrating such designs into the rail system.
(c) Study
The Administrator shall conduct a study to identify each location at which a train must be changed during operation within the passenger and freight rail systems because such train uses a power source that is inoperable in the rail system past such location.
(d) Report
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall provide to Congress a report describing the results of the pilot program established under subsection (a) and the study conducted under subsection (c).