# Enhancing Railroad Discretion in Sounding Locomotive Horns at Passenger Stations

**Action Urgency Score:** 30/100

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | Transportation Department; Federal Railroad Administration |
| Type | Final rule |
| Action | Final rule. |
| Published | 2026-08-31 |
| Effective | 2026-09-30 |
| Significant | No |
| CFR parts | 49 CFR 222 |
| Summary | This final rule amends safety standards related to the use of the locomotive horn to clarify that no Federal regulation requires a railroad to sound a locomotive horn because of the presence of a passenger station. The final rule clarifies that a railroad has discretion to determine policies for sounding a locomotive horn at a passenger station through railroad operating rules. The final rule also provides that if a railroad decides to sound a locomotive horn at a passenger station, the minimum sound level requirements in FRA's Railroad Locomotive Safety Standards do not apply to the sound pro |
| Document number | 2026-17786 |

## Why this score
- Final rule.

Source: Federal Register API (Office of the Federal Register) (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/31/2026-17786/enhancing-railroad-discretion-in-sounding-locomotive-horns-at-passenger-stations). Last refreshed: 2026-11-04T21:40:49.974Z.
Data from the Federal Register API; the published Federal Register document is authoritative. Informational only, not legal advice.