Rail Motive Power Source Integration Act of 2026

This bill directs the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to establish a pilot program aimed at improving the ease of rotating between multiple motive power sources within passenger and freight rail systems. The program will involve comprehensive research into integrating various new rail technologies, including battery, electrification, hydrogen, and diesel, while also identifying challenges such as cost and land requirements. A key component is the development of rail car designs specifically engineered to facilitate seamless transitions between these diverse power sources, potentially accommodating different electrification systems.

To test the practical feasibility of these designs, the pilot program mandates the performance of demonstration projects. Concurrently, the Administrator must conduct a study to pinpoint specific locations in the rail system where trains currently require power source changes due to operational limitations. The FRA is then required to submit a report to Congress within one year of the bill's enactment, detailing the results of both the pilot program and the conducted study.