This bill establishes new safety requirements for railroad operations in New Jersey, particularly concerning dangerous hazardous trains. It mandates that the owner or operator of such trains must have a minimum of two crew members on board, with specific exceptions for certain situations, such as when assisting another train or operating within a rail yard. Additionally, the bill prohibits any train from exceeding 8,500 feet in length on main or branch lines, imposing civil penalties for violations that range from $500 to $1,000 per foot over the limit, with a maximum penalty of $250,000 for gross negligence or repeated violations that pose imminent hazards.

Furthermore, the bill requires railroad companies to submit bridge inspection reports to the Commissioner of Transportation and mandates the installation of wayside detector systems to monitor train safety. If a railroad company fails to cooperate with safety standards, the Board of Public Utilities and the Department of Transportation are tasked with investigating and reporting non-compliance to the Federal Railroad Administration. The bill also allows non-profit labor organizations to inspect railroad properties for safety hazards and encourages collaboration with local emergency services to apply for federal safety grants. Certain Class III carriers are exempt from most provisions of the bill, except for the maximum train length requirement.