Introduced Version
HOUSE BILL No. 1278
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DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 8-3-23.
Synopsis: Restrictions on train length. Prohibits a railroad from
operating a train longer than 8,500 feet in length on a main line or a
branch line.
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Gore
January 13, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Roads and Transportation.
2025 IN 1278—LS 6569/DI 137 Introduced
First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
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word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
HOUSE BILL No. 1278
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
transportation.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 8-3-23 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS
2 A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
3 1, 2025]:
4 Chapter 23. Train Length Limit
5 Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "branch line" means a secondary
6 railroad track that branches off from a main line.
7 Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "main line" means a Class I
8 railroad, as established by the United States Surface
9 Transportation Board, that satisfies at least one (1) of the
10 following:
11 (1) The railroad has five million (5,000,000) or more gross
12 tons of railroad traffic transported annually.
13 (2) The railroad is used for regularly scheduled intercity or
14 commuter rail passenger service.
15 Sec. 3. A railroad may not operate a train longer than eight
16 thousand five hundred (8,500) feet on a main line or a branch line.
17 Sec. 4. The Indiana department of transportation may impose
2025 IN 1278—LS 6569/DI 137 2
1 a civil penalty of five thousand dollars ($5,000) on a railroad for
2 each violation of section 3 of this chapter.
2025 IN 1278—LS 6569/DI 137