The "Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2026" seeks to significantly improve rail safety, with a particular focus on the transportation of hazardous materials. It redefines a "high-hazard train" to include a broader range of dangerous goods, such as explosives, toxic inhalation materials, and radioactive waste, beyond just flammable liquids. The bill mandates new regulations for these trains, including specific speed limits: a maximum of 50 miles per hour generally, and 40 miles per hour within high-threat urban areas for trains carrying certain flammable liquids unless equipped with upgraded tank cars. To enhance emergency preparedness, the legislation requires Class I railroads to generate and share accurate, real-time electronic train consist information , including hazardous material details and emergency contacts, with fusion centers. They must also provide commodity flow reports to State and Tribal emergency response commissions, detailing expected hazardous material routes and volumes. Furthermore, Class I railroads operating high-hazard trains must submit comprehensive hazardous materials emergency response plans to the Secretary of Transportation, outlining response teams, equipment, and liability claim procedures. The bill addresses operational safety by requiring the Secretary to evaluate and update regulations concerning the impact of train length and weight on safety, and mandates reporting of this data in accident records. It also introduces new requirements for inspections, prohibiting railroads from limiting the time employees need for railcar, locomotive, or brake inspections. Class I railroads must ensure pre-departure inspections are conducted by designated inspectors at specified locations, and locomotive inspection regulations will be reviewed for enhanced training and daily inspection requirements. Significant provisions are made for technological improvements, including a mandate for the Secretary to develop a research program for defect detection systems . This will lead to rulemaking requiring Class I railroads to implement risk-based defect detector network plans with specific spacing requirements for hot bearing detectors and other wayside systems. Additionally, the bill establishes a 2-person crew mandate for most freight trains operated by Class I railroads, explicitly applying this requirement to high-hazard trains and trains exceeding 7,500 feet in length, with limited exceptions. To deter non-compliance, the legislation substantially increases civil penalties for rail safety violations, with maximum fines reaching up to $5 million for incidents causing death, serious injury, or substantial property damage. It also accelerates the phase-out of older, non-DOT-117 compliant tank cars for Class 3 flammable liquids by December 31, 2027, with a potential one-year extension based on manufacturing capacity. The bill also directs reviews of the Federal Railroad Administration's safety culture and workforce management to ensure effective oversight. Finally, the bill enhances hazardous materials emergency response and preparedness by revising annual registration fees and expanding eligible uses for grants to include personal protective equipment and simulated exercises. It establishes an emergency response assistance program , allowing the Secretary to provide immediate financial aid, up to $10 million, to communities responding to "significant hazardous materials transportation incidents" if the responsible party's reimbursement plan is deemed unacceptable. This program ensures quicker support for local responders and holds responsible parties accountable for incident costs.