Rail speed limits in the United States are regulated by the Federal Railroad Administration. Railroads also implement their own limits and enforce speed limits. Speed restrictions are based on a number of factors including curvature, signaling, track condition, and the presence of grade crossings. Like road speed limits in the United States, speed limits for tracks and trains are measured in miles per hour (mph).

Signal speeds

Federal regulators set train speed limits based on the signaling systems in use. Passenger trains were limited to 59 mph (95 km/h) and freight trains to 49 mph (79 km/h) on tracks without block signals, known as "dark territory." Trains without an automatic cab signal, train stop, or train control system were not allowed to exceed 79 mph (127 km/h). This rule, issued in 1947 and effective by the end of 1951, was a response to a serious 1946 crash in Naperville, Illinois, involving two trains. Following a 1987 train collision in Maryland, freight trains in high-speed areas were required to have speed limiters that could forcibly slow trains, rather than just alerting the operator through in-cab signals. In the Maryland crash, the signal panel had been partially disabled, including a muted whistle and a missing light bulb. In response to the 2008 Chatsworth train collision in California, a federal law required that positive train control (PTC) be implemented nationwide by 2015. After several extensions, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced on December 29, 2020, that PTC was operating on all required freight and passenger rail routes. While PTC’s main purpose is to prevent collisions, it also allows higher speeds in some cases. Different PTC systems are used in various regions across the country.

Track classes

In the United States, the Federal Railroad Administration has developed a system of classification for track quality. The class of a section of track determines the maximum possible running speed limits and the ability to run passenger trains.

Curves

Assuming a suitably maintained track, maximum track speed through curves is limited by the "centrifugal force" which acts to overturn the train. To compensate for this force, the track is superelevated (the outer rail is raised higher than the inner rail). The speed at which the centrifugal force is perfectly offset by the tilt of the track is known as the balancing speed. Maximum speed can be found using the following formula, which provides an allowance for trains to operate above the balancing speed: where: Normally, passenger trains run above the balancing speed, and the difference between the balancing superelevation for the speed and curvature and the actual superelevation on the curve is known as unbalanced superelevation. Track superelevation is usually limited to 6 in, and is often lower on routes with slow heavy freight trains in order to reduce wear on the inner rail. Allowed unbalanced superelevation in the U.S. is restricted to 3 in, though 6 in is permissible by waiver. Tilting trains like the Acela operate with even higher unbalanced superelevation, by dynamically shifting the weight of the train. The actual overturning speed of a train is much higher than the limits set by the speed formula, which is largely in place for passenger comfort. There is no hard maximum unbalanced superelevation for European railways, some of which have curves with over 11 in of unbalanced superelevation to permit high-speed transportation. The allowed unbalanced superelevation will cause trains to run with normal flange contact. The points of wheel-rail contact are influenced by the tire profile of the wheels. Allowance has to be made for the different speeds of trains. Slower trains will tend to make flange contact with the inner rail on curves, while faster trains will tend to ride outwards and make contact with the outer rail. Either contact causes wear and tear and may lead to derailment if speeds and superelevation are not within the permitted limits. Many high-speed lines do not permit the use of slower freight trains, particularly with heavier axle loads. In some cases, the wear or friction of flange contact on curves is reduced by the use of flange lubrication.