U.S. Representative Don Beyer (VA-08) Introduces Legislative Package to Modernize Rail Infrastructure

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Press Release
Beyer Introduces Legislative Package to Modernize Rail Infrastructure

By Office of Congressman Don Beyer
June 9, 2026

June 9, 2026 (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Representative Don Beyer (VA-08) introduced a three-bill legislative package to prepare America’s rail system for the next generation of passenger and freight transportation by supporting the deployment of clean technologies, identifying electrification opportunities, and strengthening rail network planning. {snip} The three-bill legislative package includes:

• The American Electric Rail Mapping Act, co-led with Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA), to direct the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to assess rail electrification opportunities across the U.S. The study would identify rail corridors where electrification may be feasible and evaluate opportunities to deploy clean rail technologies throughout our national rail network.

{snip}

• The Rail Motive Power Source Integration Act to establish a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) research and development pilot program to support the integration of multiple power sources into a locomotive, including clean rail technologies such as electrification, batteries, and hydrogen. The legislation would support research into interoperability challenges, evaluate the feasibility of integrating multiple power sources, and develop railcar designs that facilitate transitions between power sources. Flexible power source designs would enable railcars to seamlessly pass through corridors where they otherwise would be restricted by their power source and the track’s infrastructure, such as the passenger rail transfer between Virginia and the Northeast Corridor.

• The Southeastern Rail Technologies Mapping Act to direct the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to evaluate opportunities for rail electrification and other advanced rail technologies along the rail corridor connecting Florida and Washington, D.C. The study would identify suitable segments for deployment of new and clean rail technologies, assess implementation challenges, and recommend infrastructure improvements to enable adoption of cleaner rail technologies.

Full text of the American Electric Rail Mapping Act, Rail Motive Power Source Integration Act, and Southeastern Rail Technologies Mapping Act is available at the links provided.

[lamp_shade]

1. Yes... democrat.