---
title: "How do maximum allowable operating speeds vary by class of track under federal track safety standards? Answer in under 100 words."
canonical: https://www.m-i-n-d.ai/minds/rail/maximum-allowable-operating-speeds-vary-class-track-under-federal-track-safety
jurisdiction: "US Federal · 49 CFR § 213.9"
last_verified: 2026-08-26
license: CC BY 4.0 — https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
attribution: "Source: MIND (m-i-n-d.ai)"
---

# How do maximum allowable operating speeds vary by class of track under federal track safety standards? Answer in under 100 words.

Under 49 CFR § 213.9, the maximum allowable operating speed rises with track class: freight speeds run 10 mph on Excepted and Class 1 track, 25 mph (Class 2), 40 mph (Class 3), 60 mph (Class 4), and 80 mph (Class 5); passenger speeds run 15, 30, 60, 80, and 90 mph for Classes 1–5, with no passenger limit for Excepted track. These limits apply to track meeting all requirements of the class, as currently codified.

## Details / How it works

49 CFR § 213.9(a) sets maximum allowable operating speeds by track class. Over track that meets all requirements prescribed in the part for a given class, the stated freight and passenger speed limits apply. Speeds increase monotonically from Excepted track through Class 5 track.

## Numbers & thresholds

| Track class | Freight (mph) | Passenger (mph) |
|---|---|---|
| Excepted track | 10 | N/A |
| Class 1 | 10 | 15 |
| Class 2 | 25 | 30 |
| Class 3 | 40 | 60 |
| Class 4 | 60 | 80 |
| Class 5 | 80 | 90 |

## Exceptions & edge cases

Under § 213.9(b), if a segment of track does not meet all requirements of its intended class, it is reclassified to the next lowest class for which it meets all requirements. If the track does not even meet Class 1 requirements, operations may continue at Class 1 speeds for up to 30 days, under the authority of a person designated under § 213.7(a), after that person determines operations may safely continue, subject to any limiting conditions they specify.

## Sources

- [1] U.S. National Archives, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations — 49 CFR 213.9 — Classes of track: operating speed limits · https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-213.9 · as of 2026-08-26