49 U.S.C. § 20101 - Purpose

• Cite as: 49 U.S.C. § 20101

The purpose of this chapter is to promote safety in every area of railroad operations and reduce railroad-related accidents and incidents.

Cite as 49 U.S.C. § 20101

Source: <actcitation href="" statecd="US" sessionyear="1994" actaltid="103-272" description="To revise, codify, and enact without substantive change certain general and permanent laws, related to transportation, as subtitles II, III, and V-X of title 49, United States Code, "Transportation", and to make other technical improvements in...">Pub. L. 103-272</actcitation>, §1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 863.</note></notes-src>

current through 7/7/2021

The words "The Congress declares that" are omitted as surplus. The words "accidents and incidents" are substituted for "accidents" for consistency with the source provisions restated in section 20105(b)(1)(B) of the revised title. The words "and to reduce deaths and injuries to persons and to reduce damage to property caused by accidents involving any carrier of hazardous materials" are omitted as obsolete because they applied to 49 App.:1761 and 1762, that were repealed by section 113(g) of the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act ( Public Law 93-633 88 Stat. 2163).

SHORT TITLE OF 2015 AMENDMENT

Pub. L. 114-94, div. A, title XI, §110011001,, 129 Stat. 1622, provided that: "This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015'."

Pub. L. 114-94, div. A, title XI, §115011501,, 129 Stat. 1690, provided that: "This subtitle [subtitle E (§§11501-11504) of title XI of div. A of Pub. L. 114-94 enacting sections 24201 and 24202 of this title, amending section 303 of this title and section 138 of Title 23, Highways, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 4370m of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare] may be cited as the 'Track, Railroad, and Infrastructure Network Act' or the 'TRAIN Act'."

Pub. L. 114-73, title I, §1302(a), Oct. 29, 2015, 129 Stat. 576, provided that: "This section [amending section 20157 of this title] may be cited as the 'Positive Train Control Enforcement and Implementation Act of 2015'."

SHORT TITLE OF 2008 AMENDMENT

Pub. L. 110-432, div. A, §1(a), Oct. 16, 2008, 122 Stat. 4848, provided that: "This division [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008'."

Pub. L. 110-432, div. B, §1(a), Oct. 16, 2008, 122 Stat. 4907, provided that: "This division [enacting chapters 227, 244, and 285 of this title and sections 24105, 24310, 24316, 24702, 24710, 24711, 24910, and 26106 of this title, amending sections 103, 24101, 24102, 24302, 24308, 24706, 24904, 24905, 26101, and 26104 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 24101, 24302, 24305, 24307, 24308, 24405, 24702, 24709, 24711, 24902, and 26106 of this title, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 24101 of this title] may be cited as the 'Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008'."