--- kind: "section" citation: "6 U.S.C. § 1167" title: "6" title_heading: "Domestic Security" number: "1167" heading: "Railroad security training program" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/1167" units: - "Chapter 4 — Transportation Security" - "Subchapter IV — Surface Transportation Security" - "Part B — Railroad Security" --- # §1167. Railroad security training program - (a) **In general—** Not later than 6 months after August 3, 2007, the [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) shall develop and issue regulations for a training program to prepare railroad frontline employees for potential security threats and conditions. The regulations shall take into consideration any current security training requirements or best practices. - (b) **Consultation—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) shall develop the regulations under [subsection (a)](#a) in consultation with— - (1) appropriate law enforcement, fire service, [emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) response, security, and [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18) experts; - (2) railroad carriers; - (3) railroad shippers; and - (4) nonprofit employee labor organizations representing railroad employees or [emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) response [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15). - (c) **Program elements—** The regulations developed under [subsection (a)](#a) shall require security training programs described in [subsection (a)](#a) to include, at a minimum, elements to address the following, as applicable: - (1) Determination of the seriousness of any occurrence or threat. - (2) Crew and passenger communication and coordination. - (3) Appropriate responses to defend or protect oneself. - (4) Use of personal and other protective equipment. - (5) Evacuation procedures for passengers and railroad employees, including individuals with disabilities and the elderly. - (6) Psychology, behavior, and methods of terrorists, including observation and analysis. - (7) Training related to psychological responses to terrorist [incidents](/usc/6/677a.md?p=6), including the ability to cope with hijacker behavior and passenger responses. - (8) Live situational training exercises regarding various threat conditions, including tunnel evacuation procedures. - (9) Recognition and reporting of dangerous substances, suspicious packages, and situations. - (10) Understanding security [incident](/usc/6/677a.md?p=6) procedures, including procedures for communicating with governmental and nongovernmental [emergency response providers](/usc/6/101.md?p=6) and for on-scene interaction with such [emergency response providers](/usc/6/101.md?p=6). - (11) Operation and maintenance of security equipment and systems. - (12) Other security training activities that the [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) considers appropriate. - (d) **Required programs—** - (1) **Development and submission to Secretary—** Not later than 90 days after the [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) issues regulations under [subsection (a)](#a), each railroad carrier shall develop a security training program in accordance with this section and submit the program to the [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) for approval. - (2) **Approval or disapproval—** Not later than 60 days after receiving a security training program proposal under this subsection, the [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) shall approve the program or require the railroad carrier that developed the program to make any revisions to the program that the [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) considers necessary for the program to meet the requirements of this section. A railroad carrier shall respond to the [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2)’s comments within 30 days after receiving them. - (3) **Training—** Not later than 1 year after the [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) approves a security training program in accordance with this subsection, the railroad carrier that developed the program shall complete the training of all railroad frontline employees who were hired by a carrier more than 30 days preceding such date. For such employees employed less than 30 days by a carrier preceding such date, training shall be completed within the first 60 days of employment. - (4) **Updates of regulations and program revisions—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) shall periodically review and update as appropriate the training regulations issued under [subsection (a)](#a) to reflect new or changing security threats. Each railroad carrier shall revise its training program accordingly and provide additional training as necessary to its frontline employees within a reasonable time after the regulations are updated. - (e) **National Training Program—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) shall ensure that the training program developed under [subsection (a)](#a) is a component of the National Training Program established under [section 748 of this title](/usc/6/748.md). - (f) **Reporting requirements—** Not later than 2 years after the date of regulation issuance, the [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) shall review implementation of the training program of a representative sample of railroad carriers and railroad frontline employees, and report to the [appropriate congressional committees](/usc/6/101.md?p=2) on the number of reviews conducted and the results of such reviews. The [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) may submit the report in both classified and redacted formats as necessary. - (g) **Other employees—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/1101.md?p=2) shall issue guidance and best practices for a railroad shipper employee security program containing the elements listed under [subsection (c)](#c). ## Source credit (Pub. L. 110–53, title XV, § 1517, Aug. 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 439.)