SF 40: Requiring the installation and maintenance of train defect detectors on railway branch lines, and providing penalties

What it does

trains operate. If the branch line is longer than miles, one defect detector is required at least every miles. Railroad companies that operate trains on the same railway may share such costs and are jointly and severally liable in any suit arising from the installation and maintenance of all defect detectors, or lack thereof, on or along the railway branch line.5 for every mile of the branch line, or every mile that is more than miles away from a defect detector, as applicable. A railroad company is also subject to a schedule “five” penalty for each time a train crosses or passes by a defect detector that fails to notify the train crew of a detected defect.

Senate subcommittee · named January 15, 2025

• Sen. Tom Shipley (R) · tom.shipley@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Kerry Gruenhagen (R) · kerry.gruenhagen@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Cindy Winckler (D) · cindy.winckler@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 2 for, 6 against

For: Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen; SMART-Transportation Division

Against: BNSF Railway Co.; Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad; Burlington Junction Railway; Davenport Industrial Railroad; Iowa Interstate Railroad; Union Pacific Railroad

In plain words

1. January 14, 2025Filed in the Senate and sent to the Transportation committee
2. January 15, 2025Senate subcommittee named: Shipley, Gruenhagen and Winckler
3. January 29, 2025Subcommittee recommended passing it