United States: FRA Proposes New Noise Rules for Trains Above 160 mph

The US Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has proposed new noise emission standards for high-speed trains, the Department of Transportation announced on 31 July 2026, with the rule published in the Federal Register.

Existing federal noise standards cover trains operating up to 160 mph and are built around engine and mechanical noise. The proposed rule sets standards for services running between 160 and 220 mph that account for aerodynamic noise generated at higher speeds, and establishes an approval pathway for operation above 220 mph. FRA estimates the change could save high-speed rail developers about $100 million over 30 years.

FRA Administrator David Fink said the current rules "disadvantage trains that generate most of their noise from sources other than their engines." Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy framed the change as clearing a long-standing regulatory obstacle to genuine high-speed operation in the United States.

No train currently operates above 160 mph in the United States. Projects that could be affected include Brightline West, targeting completion in 2029, California High-Speed Rail, whose first trains are projected for 2033, and the Cascadia corridor, where a service development plan is expected in 2028. The Department separately terminated $4 billion in FRA grants to the California project and withdrew a further $175 million.