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Rail speed limits in the United States are regulated by the Federal Railroad Administration. Railroads also implement their own limits and enforce speed limits. Speed restrictions are based on a number of factors including curvature, signaling, track condition, and the presence of grade crossings.
As part of its jurisdiction, FRA categorizes all track in six classes, segregated by maximum speed limits. They are: Class 1: 10 mph for freight, 15 mph for passenger. Much yard, branch line, short line, and industrial spur trackage falls into this category. Class 2: 25 mph for freight, 30 mph for passenger.
Does FRA regulate the speed of trains? FRA’s Track Safety Standards, found at 49 CFR Part 213 , establish track structure and track geometry requirements for nine separate classes of track (Sec. 213.9 and Sec. 213.307) with maximum speeds designated for each class. Railroads indicate the class to which each track belongs.
§ 213.9 Classes of track: operating speed limits. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section and §§ 213.57 (b), 213.59 (a), 213.113 (a), and 213.137 (b) and (c), the following maximum allowable operating speeds apply— Expand Table.
OpenRailwayMap - An OpenStreetMap-based project for creating a map of the world's railway infrastructure.
Technical Specifications for Design and Construction of Track and Other Rail Related Infrastructure. These conditions, specifications and guidelines are provided by Union Pacific to assist in the design and construction of track and other rail related infrastructure. This information will be revised periodically.
When one speed is shown, it indicates the speed for all trains. When two speeds are shown, the higher speed indicates the speed permitted for passenger trains and the lower speed indicates the speed permitted for other trains. If the same speed restriction applies to all tracks, only one sign may be used.
(a) The maximum elevation of the outside rail of a curve may not be more than 8 inches on track Classes 1 and 2, and 7 inches on track Classes 3 through 5. The outside rail of a curve may not be lower than the inside rail by design, except when engineered to address specific track or operating conditions; the limits in § 213.63 apply in all cases.
The classification of a track dictates specific construction details, including tolerance requirements for the geometrical measurements of the track. These tolerances also determine the speed limits for both freight and passenger trains, and the ability to run passenger trains.
A speed restriction is an area in which trains are required to run at slower-than-normal speeds because of track wear and tear or other problems. Speed restrictions are put in place to ensure rider safety. Line-wide speed restrictions apply across an entire line.