CBP is proposing new advance electronic data requirements for rail carriers transporting passengers and crew across U.S. borders.
The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, published in the Federal Register on October 11, 2026, would add Subpart K to 19 CFR Part 123. Rail carriers would need to transmit an advance notice of arrival or departure at least 24 hours before a train reaches the U.S. border crossing. Traveler data, including full name, date of birth, sex, citizenship, residence, travel document details, status on board, itinerary, and U.S. address if applicable, must be sent no later than 60 minutes before departure.
The rule would apply to any train carrying travelers arriving from or departing to a foreign location, including trains in transit across the border. A military exemption is proposed, and penalties for noncompliance are outlined. The proposal is modeled on existing advance passenger information systems used for other transportation modes and seeks to enhance security while supporting legitimate travel.
Comments on the proposed rule are due by December 14, 2026, under Docket No. USCBP-2026-0992.