Rail Passenger Accidents
In 2008, the United States Congress enacted the Rail Safety Improvement Act that included the Rail Passenger Disaster Family Assistance Act (Title 49 U.S.C. sections 1139 and 24316), which charged the NTSB, an NTSB-designated non-profit disaster relief organization, and interstate and intercity high-speed rail passenger carriers involved in the accident with assisting survivors and families of those involved.
This legislation applies to rail accidents involving the following:
- An inter- and intrastate high-speed rail passenger carrier or an interstate rail passenger carrier (i.e., Amtrak)
- Occurs in the United States
- Results in any loss of life
- NTSB serves as the lead investigative agency
The provisions of this federal family assistance legislation do not apply to light (or commuter) rail including subways or metros, tourist, historic, scenic, excursion, and freight rail carriers.
Information for Affected Rail Passenger Carriers
The following documents are intended for interstate and intercity high-speed rail passenger carriers that meet the criteria defined under 49 USC 1139 to assist them in their family assistance operations planning, preparedness, and response efforts:
• Rail Passenger Carrier Contact Listing
• Rail Passenger Accident Notification Supplemental Form
Passenger List & Manifest Distribution
Affected rail passenger carriers and the response community should contact the NTSB
[email protected] with questions related to the distribution of information on passenger lists following a rail passenger accident.
Federal Family Assistance Plan for Rail Passenger Disasters
The NTSB is responsible for coordinating federal government resources to support local, state, and tribal governments, disaster relief organizations, and the rail passenger carrier to meet the needs of families after aviation disasters in accordance with 49 USC § 1139.
The NTSB relies on support from federal partners to meet its family assistance obligations. The NTSB Federal Family Assistance Framework for Rail Passenger Disasters identifies family support tasks that facilitate the collaborative interagency response to those needs
Visit the NTSB’s Family Assistance Resources to learn more about partner organizations.
For questions related to the federal family assistance legislation and the NTSB Federal Family Assistance Framework for Rail Passenger Disasters, please contact us at [email protected].
at [email protected]. Visit our TDA
Operations Planning, Preparedness, and Training page to learn more.
Updated July 8, 2025
