Currently, FRA "crashworthiness" standards require passenger locomotives to be of excessive weight in order to increase their crash survivability. However, such regulations cost Amtrak and other rail providers millions annually without any demonstrable safety gains. In Europe and Japan, such regulations are nonexistent even though ridership is far greater in bth countries.
By reducing the weight requirement, US passenger rail will be able to increase speed and trip frequency while cutting both variable (fuel) and fixed (train set and track wear) costs. It will also accomplish the administration's stated goal of reducing GHG emissions.
Such archaic regulations should be rescinded and the funds reappropriated toward proven safety measures such as upgraded signals and derailment control.